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Home › Articles › Sleep Issues › The Family Bed

The Family Bed

Is it for You?

By Shel Franco

Pages:  1  2  3  

Overlying, or the act of rolling over and suffocating your baby, might very well be the most often cited reason parents shouldn't sleep with their children. The fact is, in order to sleep with your child safely, you must be willing to make compromises in your behavior. The down comforter and feather bed you are so fond of become hazards to your child. Your wife's long hair, unless secured in a ponytail, can entangle your baby. And the occasional dependence on medication or indulgence in alcohol can be deadly.

"To claim that there is no chance of an adult overlying a baby would be irresponsible," says McKenna. But he is quick to add that a crib does not ensure your child's safety, since overly soft mattresses and slats that are too wide also can be deadly.

The Bottom Line
Before making your final decision, McKenna offers these words of wisdom. "I do not recommend to any parents any particular type of sleeping arrangement since I do not know the circumstances within which particular parents live," he says. "What I do recommend is to consider all of the possible choices and to become as informed as possible, matching what you learn with what you think can work the best for you and your family."

And remember, no matter what you decide, you can always change your mind.

*Name changed to protect privacy.


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