Substance Abuse Causes Co-sleeping!

The ridiculous things that get spouted about co-sleeping just keep getting more ridiculous. 

This quote from a Ft. Myer, Florida, newspaper really takes the cake though:

"Substance abuse is the leading factor in the harm caused to children. It's
been linked to abuse and neglect, such as the cases of co-sleeping -
where parents or other relatives sleep with children – which has led to
infants suffocating."

 OK, let's break this down:

Cosleeping while abusing drugs or alcohol is dangerous. Absolutely, no question, no argument.

But saying substance abuse leads to "cases of co-sleeping, which has led to infants suffocating" is like saying irresponsible drinking causes cases of driving, which has led to fatal car crashes. It's nonsense that implies it's sleeping next to an adult, not the drugs (or anything else about the context), that's dangerous.

Safe sleeping depends on all kinds of things. Bedsharing can be safe. Cribs can be unsafe. And vice versa. The search for the universal right answer keeps us from making both safer and identifying when is the right time for each.

Photo by matsuyki.