If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it. ~Anthony J. D’Angelo
More than half of sudden infant deaths involve babies who share a bed or sofa with a parent, and alcohol or drug use by parents appears to be a factor in many of the cases, according to a new study from England.
Researchers analyzed 80 cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in southwest England between January 2003 and December 2006. Of the deaths, 54 percent occurred while parent and child were sharing a bed or sofa. Parental use of alcohol or drugs before falling asleep occurred in 31 percent of the cases.
One-fifth of babies were found with a pillow and one-quarter were swaddled, the study noted. The study included a number of different social groups, and the results suggest that the risk factors were similar throughout the community.
The safest place for an infant to sleep is in a bassinet or crib. The study authors, from the University of Bristol and the University of Warwick, urged parents to never put themselves in a situation where they might fall asleep and never co-sleep if they have been using drugs or alcohol.