Safe Infant Sleep: Expert Answers to Your Cosleeping Questions

by James J. McKenna PhD, Stephen Bowlby (Narrator)

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 listeners 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 the book introduces the concept of "breastsleeping". This term, coined by Dr. McKenna himself, is based on the inherent biological connection between breastfeeding and infant sleep. An essential resource for both parents and professionals, this book teaches you how to confidently choose a safe sleeping arrangement as unique as your family.

Audible Audio

Published August 17, 2021

Reviews

[Annette Ridenour · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a bit beyond my knowledge base so it was harder to absorb and process the difference in nuances on different sleep practices. But I appreciated his depth of research and design to create a more natural sleep environment for families. I also appreciated all the specifics of what makes breast sleeping okay and what makes it still dangerous. That was clarifying.

[Katherine Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book!! so good!! lots of supporting science too for my moms who want the hard evidence. it went through the myth behind why “co sleeping is dangerous” and how co sleeping actually lowers your chances of SIDS and promotes better growth for baby in the longterm in SO many ways. I learned the difference in breastsleeping, room sharing, co sleeping—-I found interesting that most parents will claim they do not do sleep for fear of judgement, but they actually do co sleep regularly. I find that fact important in terms of educating my parents on how to safely co sleep if they ever change their minds. I also loved all the education on how to do it properly, if you’re a good fit to co sleep, if you should rather choose XYZ. I liked how he emphasized that every family is difference and needs can be met in different ways for different babies. 10/10, and it was short with lots of graphics!

[Hannah Ferguson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I DNF’d this book because my baby is mostly formula fed and it felt very much on the side of anti-formula-feeding. I tried and managed to make it halfway through the book, but it says that there is no safe way to bed share if a baby is formula fed, and that’s the last thing a mom needs to hear when that’s her only option and her baby feels safest next to her. Society preaching abstinence from bed sharing rather than explaining ways to mitigate risk was why I wanted to like this book, but it did that too. Would not recommend unless exclusively breastfeeding.

[Shelby Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I love that there is so much science referenced to back up what he says but that he ultimately refers to the parents to know what is best for their little ones. It alerted me to some things that I was doing that was potentially dangerous and how to make safe sleep a priority without depriving my baby of her needs.