Mayim Bialik—better known as Blossom from the sitcom of the ‘90s—is the spokesperson for the non-profit organization Holistic Moms Network and contributor for TODAY Moms. In a recent post, Bialik discussed her family’s sleeping arrangements. Bialik and her husband have slept on futons with their two children since they were born. She dismissed concerns about family bed-sharing and claimed the practice is not dangerous. There is no question Bialik is an educated woman—with a Ph.D. in neuroscience—and a dedicated mother. But sleep authority? I wasn’t convinced.
I contacted Sherry Blair, project director of Child and Family Health for the Summit County Health District, for her professional opinion.
“I adamantly disagree with Mayim Bialik’s decision and feel it is unfortunate that she is using her popularity to misinform families about this very unsafe and potentially deadly practice,” said Blair.
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According to Blair, Summit County suffered eight unsafe sleep deaths in 2010. She described these cases as, “very real, tragic cases of Summit County infants dying from a preventable death.” I was shocked when she added, “Babies die at the rate of three per week in Ohio from unsafe sleep practices.”
The major risks of bed-sharing include: accidental covering of baby’s mouth causing suffocation; baby getting smothered by soft bedding; blankets wrapping around baby’s neck causing strangulation; and baby getting entrapped between mattress, wall or dresser.
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Blair stated, “After reviewing these cases month after month, I feel there is no safe way to share a sleep surface with your child.” Blair said bed-sharing increases the risk of death 40 times. Room-sharing is the safest way to sleep close to infants and toddlers. Children sleep in the same room as their parents, but in a safety-approved crib with a tight fitted mattress and sheet.
Blair shared, “The guidelines for safe sleep are as easy as ABC: put baby Alone on his/her Back in an empty, safety-approved Crib.” Cribs should never contain pillows, blankets, bumpers, sleep positioners, or stuffed animals. Parents should use wearable blankets, sleep sacks or fitted sleepers to keep babies warm.
Dr. Lisa Kohler, Summit County Medical Examiner, agreed with Blair’s concerns and recommendations. Kohler stated, “It is not safe for a parent to co-sleep with an infant in an adult bed. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents room-share but does not recommend sharing sleep surfaces. New parents are typically quite sleep deprived and are not aware of their position during sleep. They can easily lay an arm or leg over the child and interfere with the child’s ability to breathe.”
Summit County Health District offers free presentations on safe sleep for agency staff members who work with families. They will also provide a 14-minute safe sleep video for doctors’ offices and agencies for a limited time at no charge. Contact Sherry Blair for more information at 330-926-5629 or sblair@schd.org.
Additional safe sleep resources for local parents include: Back to Sleep Campaign; First Candle; SID Network of Ohio.
Please listen to the experts, not the actress, for sleep recommendations and rest easy knowing you made the safest choice for your children.