In reply: Our position on bed-sharing was not based on the assumption that it is intrinsically dangerous, but that there is an increased risk of mortality for bed-sharing babies of “parents affected by alcohol, extreme overtiredness, overcrowded housing, or where the sleeping environment was unsuitable” (to quote Buckley). These risk factors were not mentioned by the telephone health advice line quoted in our letter,1 which rather commented that mortality in bed-sharing babies was such a rare event that the caller should not worry about it — little consolation if a fatality occurred.
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- 1 Discipline of Pathology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA.
- 2 Forensic Science SA, , Adelaide, SA.
- 3 Kidsafe SA, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide, SA.
- 4 SIDS and Kids South Australia, Adelaide, SA.
- 1. Byard RW, Cains G, Noblet H, et al. Lack of consistency in safe-sleeping messages to parents [letter]. Med J Aust 2007; 187: 62. <MJA full text>
- 2. Asphyxiation of neonate during breast feeding. Aust J Med Def 1992; 6: 6-7.
- 3. Byard RW. Is breast feeding in bed always a safe practice? J Paediatr Child Health 1998; 34: 418-419.
- 4. UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative with the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths. Sharing a bed with your baby. A guide for breastfeeding mothers. http://www.babyfriendly.org.uk/pdfs/sharingbedleaflet.pdf (accessed Aug 2007).