The Nursing Baby - Q&A

One mom asks:
Our baby is due soon and my husband and I are smokers. We have cut down considerably and are working towards quitting. This may be easier for myself than my husband, which is why I am writing. We intend to breastfeed and possibly cosleep with our baby, if not cosleep, we plan to keep the baby next to the bed in our room. I recently read this statement online: "Most Dangerous Parental smoking, whether in the bedroom or not, (toxins come out of the lungs through the night), is a high SIDS risk factor for co-sleeping." My question is, if we are unable to quit, but continue to smoke only outside as we are doing currently, will the toxins from our breath be too much for the baby? I have never heard of this before! Even if I quit and my husband is unable to, should we not cosleep with our baby because of toxins that my husband might release in his breath during the night? Will it be safe to sleep the baby in our room if we are not smoking in the house?

First, be aware that some research shows that babies exposed to smoking prenatally have a harder time arousing from deep sleep than other babies. This is a slight, small risk factor. The sooner you can quit, the better for your baby's health (and incidentally for maternal complications during pregnancy as well).

Second, I am of the belief that any level of toxins you breathe out during the night is negligible. Smoking increases SIDS rates for babies in cribs. Smoking increases SIDS rates for babies in family beds. There is no evidence that rates are higher in one situation or the other. Unfortunately, SIDS research is by its very nature unclear. There is a big "Why" in every case, no clear reason, and when maternal smoking is reported, they don't all ask mothers if they smoked in their bedrooms, if they smoked around their babies, or if they smoked outdoors.

Let me tell you of some similar suppositions that have been debunked. It was once theorized that more toxins were released into breastmilk of women dieting compared to those who weren't dieting - that losing more than a pound a weak would contaminate the milk. Research has since shown that was untrue.

So I recommend that you follow your instincts, and if you do share sleep, do it safely:

Never share sleep on a sofa.
Use a firm mattress, no comforters over baby and no pillows needed - just like in a crib. Dress your baby as you are dressed, with a little blanket for warmth if needed.
A guard rail is a must. Your mattress, if up against the wall, must be pushed as close as possible, with no more than a one inch gap.
Parents under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or prescription drugs which cause sleepiness should not share sleep.

And if you do decide on separate sleeping accomodations, some SIDS researchers suggest that you use a monitor to let your baby hear normal maternal movements. These sounds help baby with normal, small arousals necessary for healthy sleep. Current SIDS research is focusing on infectious causes. It is important in either case to wash sheets frequently and not to change baby's diapers on bedding surfaces.

These tips are not intended to be medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have questions.

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