3 ms·
So much to unpack here but as a parent that just got my kid over the worried about sids stage, it’s easily the most overrated worry once you unpack things and f
by laborcontract 3y ago
So much to unpack here but as a parent that just got my kid over the worried about sids stage, it’s easily the most overrated worry once you unpack things and figure out what’s generally going on.
Most important piece of the discussion is that most parents conflate suffocation with SIDS. They are totally different things.
Suffocation risks can be mitigated. Avoid sleeping with little ones on the couch, don’t put too many blankets in a crib, etc etc.
Actual SIDS is a real thing, and it’s not certain that SIDS risks can actually be mitigated. Theres a genetic factor, birth related factors, and smoking factors.
The SIDS survey is wholly unsatisfying because it doesn’t control for stuff like loose blankets in cribs.
- dustincoates 3y agoSo my critique here isn't whether back sleeping is necessary or co-sleeping should be avoided. I have my own thoughts on those, but I'm also aware that you have to balance risks. My critique is that the appeal to tradition and the appeal to, I don't know what to call it, "not American" by someone who isn't trained in this area is not the right approach for making that calculation.
- laborcontract 3y agoThat's fair; such appeals lack rigor. All I can say is that the early months became so much easier after developing a rational framework for thinking about SIDS and learning to not worry about it at all, after controlling for suffocation risks.