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'Co-Sleeping' Puts Babies At High Risk

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"Babies need their own separate safe place to sleep,"said Mary Jo Plews, executive director of the coalition. "They should not be in the crib with another baby or child, and they should not be in an adult bed or on the couch."

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By MANDY SHEETS | Highlands Today

Published: June 2, 2008

SEBRING — Of Highlands County's nine baby deaths in 2007, three are a result of mothers sleeping with their babies.

It's called co-sleeping, and officials say it's a big problem in Highlands County.
Deborah Hadley, program manager of Healthy Families for Highlands County, said family support workers with Healthy Families, who visit mothers in the home, are reporting many teen mothers sleeping with babies in their bed.

"We have a huge problem with co-sleeping," Hadley said. "Some of our parents use drugs or alcohol, and it concerns us greatly that that have babies in the bed with them."

Hadley said some mothers say co-sleeping is a cultural habit they don't want to change and others say they cannot afford cribs for their babies.

Cribs are available to needy families through the Beds for Babies program, which was started by the Healthy Start Coalition for Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties after the number of sleeping-related infant deaths increased.

"Babies need their own separate safe place to sleep,"said Mary Jo Plews, executive director of the coalition. "They should not be in the crib with another baby or child, and they should not be in an adult bed or on the couch."

Ann Berner, district administrator for Florida Department of Children and Families, said the most recent baby death happened when a baby fell off the bed and landed between the bed and the nightstand. Other deaths happen when sheets become wrapped around the baby's face and strangle or suffocate the baby.

"There are all sorts of scenarios that can happen as a result of co-sleeping," Berner said.
Co-sleeping deaths are investigated by the state for abuse and, if no mal-intent is found, they are reported as child neglect cases, but Berner said the deaths often happen because mothers are not educated about the risks of sleeping with the baby.

"A lot of times mothers don't even realize co-sleeping is a problem," Berner said. "They don't intent to do anything wrong, and they don't know any different."

Plews said babies should sleep in a crib with a fitted sheet in a tight fitting-outfit.

"When you go in the department store, you see cribs with fluffy stuff around the edge and the big comforters," Plews said. "It may look like a snuggly place for a baby to sleep, but it's not."

If a light blanket is needed, it should be tucked into the bottom of the mattress.

Babies should always be put on their back to sleep.

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