Teaching Baby Care and Breastfeeding (virtually). I have been struggling to figure out ways to teach parents their options without the guilt and fear that so often seems to accompany infant sleep education. This is an emotionally charged topic, but we need to look at all the research and not just the chosen studies we tag to support our favored approach, because even though we have done extensive education in this area, babies are still dying and that rate hasn't changed in about 10 years. We have to do better.

Here are the facts: Parents are told to keep their babies on their back in a crib in their room, but the vast majority aren't following this guideline. Parents are bedsharing with their infants. Most of them are breastfeeding families. The majority are not telling their doctors. Many are going to a couch or chair to avoid falling asleep in the bed with their babies. Or they put their babies in an inclined position, a swing, or on a padded surface to make the firm surface more inviting.

What I see is that parents feel guilty and are doing what they think works and what will get them the most sleep because this newborn sleep thing can be HARD. So I want parents to know all of their options, and what the risks actually are.

Here is what the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine says about risks of bedsharing. If you want to read the whole report, it is here: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/bfm.2019.29144.psb

While we primarily support breastfeeding families (we have an initiation rate of 97% in Oregon) I still get this question in every class. I wanted to make something to summarize what the actual risks are so my families know what they can do to reduce the risks.

Yes, I could have said, "Here are the things to do to avoid risks while bedsharing," but La Leche League International already did that here: https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/sleep-bedshare/

More resources on how to approach this topic with research and allowing parents to make this decision intelligently:

https://www.basisonline.org.uk/

https://cosleeping.nd.edu/safe-co-sleeping-guidelines/