1st Edition
by James J. McKenna (Author), Alison Kreckmann (Illustrator)
In the
world of pediatric care, sleep safety guidelines are controversial and
often misguided. Health professionals broadly discourage all forms of
cosleeping, which, along with the potentially devastating consequences,
makes deciding how and where your baby should sleep both confusing and
frightening. Parents who cherish the closeness, security, and warmth of
cosleeping are finding themselves conflicted, concerned, and exhausted.
Cosleeping,
a term which encompasses sleeping in the same room or on the same bed
as your infant, is a common parental instinct driven by physiology and
seen throughout human history. Despite mainstream opposition, thousands
of parents continue the practice, whether intentionally, accidentally,
or out of necessity.
So,
why do current medical guidelines insist that cosleeping is unsafe?
What is the difference between SIDS and SUID, and are they related to
cosleeping? What should parents do to make a safe sleep space for their
infant? If a family chooses to cosleep, how should they respond to
reproach from friends, family, or medical professionals?
In Safe Infant Sleep,
the world's authority on cosleeping breaks down the complicated
political and social aspects of sleep safety, exposes common
misconceptions, and compares current recommendations to hard science.
With the latest information on the abundant scientific benefits of
cosleeping, Dr. James J. Mckenna informs readers about the dangers of
following over-simplified recommendations against the age-old practice,
and encourages parents to trust their knowledge and instincts about what
is and is not safe for their baby.
This
book offers a range of options and safety tips for your family's ideal
cosleeping arrangement. These include variations of roomsharing and
bedsharing, and introduce the concept of “breastsleeping.” This term,
coined by Dr. McKenna himself, is based on the inherent biological
connection between breastfeeding and infant sleep, and provides readers
with everything they need to know about safely sharing a bed with their
baby. Complete with resource listings for both parents and
professionals, this book teaches you how to confidently choose a safe
sleeping arrangement as unique as your family.