Infant Deaths Related to Co-Sleeping Go Unnoticed

Rensselaer County’s Child Fatality Review Team began meeting in 2004. The group reviewed several cases involving co-sleeping in the Capital District. As a result, the team created a brochure about co-sleeping that is handed out in hospitals and pediatricians’ offices.  

Last month, the Philadelphia Human Services Department launched a television and radio campaign telling parents to never sleep with their babies. In the past two years, Philadelphia recorded 57 deaths of infants who were sleeping in beds or on couches and chairs with adults.  

The Philadelphia commercials say more children die from co-sleeping accidents than abuse or neglect. 

In Rochester, concern about co-sleeping has not risen to that level. 

A spokesman for the Monroe County Health Department said the issue is not on the agency’s radar and declined our request for an interview with the director, Dr. Andrew Doniger. 

13WHAM News asked the Monroe County Medical Examiner for statistics on co-sleeping deaths. The office told us that since 2000, there have been only two rulings that babies have died from suffocation as a result of co-sleeping. 

Baby Yarimyl’s death was not among the cases cited by the Medical Examiner. The cause of her death was ruled “undetermined.” 

DeBellis says the Medical Examiner rules the cause of death in a majority of co-sleeping incidents undetermined. Police say it’s difficult to prove a baby was suffocated in a co-sleeping situation, if the adult involved was sleeping when the baby stopped breathing. 

DeBellis said it’s rare that a parent wakes up on top of an infant, and can say for sure that’s what killed the baby.  

DeBellis says co-sleeping is considered a “risk factor,” not a cause in the deaths. 

Monroe County District Attorney Mike Green has reviewed co-sleeping cases. He considers them accidents, not crimes. 

“What is the solution for this issue? I don't think the solution is necessarily locking people up who sleep with their children. I think the solution is education,” Green said.

The Wolfs sleep in the same bed with Arianna, 4, and Ostara, 5 months. 

“We all got the best sleep we could get,” said Rebecca Wolf, who blogs on parenting at thrivingbabies.com. 

The Wolfs are not alone. Studies show more than 1 in 10 U.S. parents regularly sleep with their children. Researchers think the number may be higher, because many people don’t admit to the practice. 

“My pediatrician has told me we shouldn't co-sleep but she has children of her own and admitted she does it,” said Andrew Wolf. 

The Wolfs say their children are happier in a bed-sharing environment. The Wolfs say they get better sleep, by not having to get up to tend to the baby. 

Experts disagree on whether co-sleeping with infants can be done safely, but all agree there are ways to minimize the risk. 

• Parents should not be exhausted.

• Never use drugs, alcohol, or medication.

• Parents should not be obese.

• Bedding must be firm, without heavy pillows and blankets.

The Wolfs object to the message parents should never co-sleep with their babies. 

“I think it really robs parents of the opportunity to make an informed choice, when you just come down and say ‘no’ you absolutely cannot do this,” Rebecca Wolf said.

“In my mind, one death is too many deaths,” said DeBellis. 

Yaritza Acevedo remembers being warned against co-sleeping when she took Yarimyl home from the hospital, but she didn’t understand the risks.  

“Me, as a first time mom, I had no clue,” she said. 

Acevdeo now has four other children. She hopes other parents take her story to heart. 

“I think they shouldn't have their babies in bed with them. I learned that the hard way.”