Subj : Re: This Train Just Went Splat!
To   : alt.tv.er
From : npardue
Date : Mon Sep 26 2005 06:32:30

From Newsgroup: alt.tv.er


kelley30 wrote:
> tell that to all the families who have dead babies because someone
> rolled over and killed the babies.  again cribs were invented for this
> reason no denying it.

Can you quote me a source?  Cribs were invented (and became popular)
for many reasons ... fear of overlying being only one of them. (Add to
that increased size of living spaces, so it became more
practical/possible for babies to sleep apart from their mothers,
improved household heating (stoves and then furnacces rather than open
fireplaces) so babies didn't have to sleep with mom for warmth, concern
about the need for fresh air (colonial and early 19th century beds were
often curtained for warmth, and doctors worried about the baby
breathing all that adult CO2 trapped inside the curtains, and (perhaps
most important) the belief that it was harmful to feed/cuddle babies at
night or rock them to sleep, so cribs came to replace both adult
bedsharing AND cradles. Moms were told firmly to give the baby his 10
p.m. feeding, then put him in his bed  in the nursery, shut the door,
and leave him until it was time for the 6 a.m. feeding.

 This happened all the time in colonial days and
> cribs were were invented...but I'm not in the mood to argue with you
> about it.  I've seen up close what this practice can do to a family.
>
> Kelley

Look, I'm not telling you that you have to do it if you are uneasy
about it.  Nor does any other family have to do it. Obviously a family
that is nervous about it would sleep poorly, negating any benefit.  I'm
just presenting the facts of the situation -- 'tragedies' are
statistically VERY rare. Provided that common-sense safety measures are
followed (no heavy blankets or squishy mattresses, no gap between bed
and wall or bed and headboard that baby could be trapped in, baby
doesn't sleep bewteen the two parents, no alcohol or drugs involved,
non-smoking parents), co-sleeping is, as far as can be determined, at
least as safe for baby as crib sleeping.  

Naomi

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