Throughout history and across cultures, sleeping with your baby has been the norm. Yet, in our modern world, the practice is fraught with questions, fear, and guilt. In Safe Infant Sleep, a globally recognized cosleeping authority explores why health professionals broadly recommend against all forms of cosleeping, shares the latest scientific research on the benefits of the practice, and helps you determine the best cosleeping arrangement for your family--from breastsleeping to room sharing.

Introductions Breastsleeping: What it Means and Why it's Important I. Cosleeping is NormalChapter 1: Why I Care So Much About This Subject Chapter 2: What is Cosleeping? Cosleeping vs. Breastsleeping Cosleeping: The Normal and Safe Way for Mothers and Babies to SleepChapter 3: The History of Cosleeping Cosleeping Around the World History of Infant Sleep in Western Industrialized Societies How the Animals Do It-What Happens When Deprived of It II. The Politically-Charged Conversation Around Cosleeping Chapter 4: "Never Cosleep!" Why Public Health Officials Tell You This Why the Message Doesn't WorkUnderstanding the Statistics Bedsharing and the American Academy of Pediatrics How Current Recommendations Ignore Evidence Based Medicine The Misguided Public Health Goal: One Message to Curb Two Kinds of Infant DeathChapter 5: The Silent PThe Relationship Between Cosleeping Deaths and Poverty III. Everything You Need to Know About Cosleeping Chapter 6: What the Research Tells UsThe Science Behind Breastsleeping Bedsharing for FathersWhy Cosleeping is Important for Breastfeeding, Bottlefeeding, and Formula Feeding Chapter 7: Benefits of Cosleeping Cosleeping is Good for Babies Benefits of Increased Breastfeeding Breastsleeping and Colic How Parents Can Benefit from Breastsleeping IV. How to CosleepChapter 8: Safety First How to Breastsleep SafelyThe Proper Way to Bedshare Breastsleeping Do's and Don'ts Is There A Risk of Rolling Onto My Baby?Chapter 9: If You Choose to Breastsleep What is the Best Cosleeping Arrangement for Your Family?Chapter 10: Special Considerations Breastsleeping With Twins or Multiples Cobedding Twins Cosleeping with an Adopted BabyCosleeping with Premature or Underweight Babies V. Fitting Cosleeping Into Your Life Chapter 11: Cosleeping in the Long-Term Long-Term Effects on Your BabySleeping Through the Night Weaning in a Breastsleeping SituationDeciding How Long to CosleepHow Do I Get My Baby Out of My Bed? Chapter 12: Dispelling Myths "Cosleeping will Change Your Relationship with Your Child""Cosleeping will Get in the Way of Your Child's Independence" "Cosleeping will Negatively Affect Your Relationship with Your Partner" "Cosleeping Creates a Bad Habit" "Babies Need Silence to Fall Asleep""We Won't Get a Good Night's Sleep" VI. Frequently Asked Questions Question 1: What constitutes a safe sleep environment, regardless of where my baby sleeps?Question 2: What do I do about naptime? Question 3: When visiting friends and family, where can I put my baby down for a nap? Question 4: What should a cosleeping family know about traveling together? Question 5: Does SIDS run in families? Question 6: How useful are apnea monitors for sleep safety? Question 7: What other infant care practices protect and contribute to an infant's health, including nighttime safety? Question 8: What will happen if I tell my healthcare provider that I bedshare with my baby? Should I lie to avoid controversy? VII. Final Thoughts Chapter 13: Is the Tide Turning? Chapter 14: The State of Our Parenting: Where We Stand, and Where Our Babies Sleep Appendices