A new study, the largest ever analysis of five major case control studies, was published online May 20 in the BMJ Open. It concludes that bed sharing presents a five-fold increased risk of SIDS, even when the baby is breastfed, neither parent is a smoker and mom is not under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.  Add other risk factors, including an increased risk of accidental suffocation, falls and entrapment and you have a recipe for disaster.

First Candle, the American Academy of Pediatrics and experts and infant health organizations worldwide are urging parents to seriously consider these risks and err on the side of caution: place your baby’s crib, play yard, bassinet or other separate, safety-approved sleep space alongside your bed (room sharing). Bring baby into bed for brief bonding or calming moments and feedings, but ALWAYS place baby back in his or her own space when it’s time to go to sleep. This minimizes the risks and everyone gets some much needed rest.

The conclusion of this and other studies:  A significant decrease in SIDS and accidental death rates could be achieved if parents avoided bed sharing.

SIDS is the leading cause of death for babies one month to one year of age. The researchers of  this study concluded that nine out of 10 SIDS deaths that involved sleeping with a parent or caregiver would not have occurred in the absence of bed sharing.

Caveat: Breastfeeding is important and has been shown to be protective against SIDS. Bed sharing and successful breastfeeding are not mutually exclusive! You can successfully breastfeed AND protect your baby from SIDS, suffocation and accidents during sleep by room sharing instead.

Please take the time to read the full text of this study – it is compelling.

Here are some other links to media reactions to the study. Beware: the photo used by CBS as a lead in to an otherwise very good article is a very “unsafe sleep” photo. Please join us in bringing this to the attention of Michelle Castillo at CBS News as well.

Bed Sharing May Increase Risk of SIDS by Five Times – CBS News

Bed-Sharing Raises SIDS Risk Fivefold, Study Finds – Philly.com

Any Bed-Sharing Puts Baby at Risk for SIDS – The Gupta Guide, MedPage Today

Bed-Sharing Raises SIDS Risk Fivefold, Study Finds – HealthDay News

Break the silence! Pledge to see RETURN TO ZERO in theaters!

By PLEDGING to see RETURN TO ZERO in theaters opening weekend when it is shown in your community, you will prove to Hollywood that there is an audience for a film about the difficult but important topic of stillbirth.

———–NEWS from CPSC———–
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Communications
4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814, www.cpsc.gov
******************************

Now we need this film to reach the largest audience possible–which is why we need your help! We need 1,000 people to sign up to be LOCAL LEADERS by Sunday, May 19th!

By becoming a LOCAL LEADER you will help to spread the word about the film through social media, e-mail and putting a few notices up in coffee shops or wherever you go on a weekly basis before the film opens.

We’re out to prove to Hollywood that there is an audience for RETURN TO ZERO and get as many people to pledge to see the film the first weekend that it is in theaters!

We can do this together. We can finally SHATTER THE SILENCE ONCE AND FOR ALL!

Check out this great Video!

Become a Local Leader!

Recall Date: May 16, 2013
Recall Number: 13-194

Powell Company Recalls Anywhere Lounger Bean Bag Chairs Due to Suffocation and Strangulation Hazards

Name of product: Anywhere Lounger Bean Bag Chairs

Units: About 6,300

Hazard: Bean bag chairs without a permanent zipper closure allow young children to unzip, ingest or inhale the small beads inside of the bean bag chair, posing a suffocation and strangulation hazard.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the Anywhere Lounger away from young children, inspect the bean bag chair to see if the exterior zipper can be opened and if the zipper on your chair can open contact  Powell Company to receive a free Safety Enhancement Repair Kit.

Description: The recalled Anywhere Lounger bean bag chairs are 100% polyester or 100% cotton and measure about 51 inches in height with a 43 inch wide base. Recalled colors include purple (item 199-B004), chocolate (item 199-B005), bayou blue (item 199-B006), pink (item 199-B007), lime green (item 199-B008), denim (item 199-B009), black and white (item 199-B012), striped black and white (item 199-B014), natural (item 199-B016) and camo (item 199-B017).  The item number is printed on the product packaging and Powell Company is printed on the label on the bean bag chairs.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Sold at: Furniture stores nationwide including W.D.Badcock, Value City Furniture, Nebraska Furniture Mart and online at www.Groupon.com from June 2012 to February 2013 for about $100.

Importer: Powell Company, of Culver City, Calif.
Manufacturer: L. Powell Acquisition Corp., of Culver City, Calif.
Manufactured in: China

Consumer Contact:  Powell Company at (800) 622-4456 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT or online at www.powellcompany.com and click on Anywhere Lounger Safety Enhancement Kit for more information.

Photos available at http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2013/Powell-Company-Recalls-Anywhere-Lounger-Bean-Bag-Chairs.

Recall Date: May 16, 2013
Recall Number: 13-192

Deezo Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Zulily Due to Strangulation Hazard

Name of product: Deezo boys and girls zip-up hoodies

Units: About 560

Hazard:  The sweatshirts and jackets have drawstrings through the hood which pose a strangulation hazard to young children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines about drawstrings in children’s upper outerwear. In 1997, those guidelines were incorporated into a voluntary standard. Then, in July 2011, based on the guidelines and voluntary standard, CPSC issued a federal regulation. CPSC’s actions demonstrate a commitment to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on neck and waist drawstrings in upper outerwear, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

Remedy:  Consumers should immediately take the garments away from children. Consumers can remove the drawstrings to eliminate the hazard or return the garments to Zulily for a full refund. Contact Zulily to obtain a return address label and instructions for returning the garment.

Description: This recall involves a Deezo brand boys’, girls’, and toddlers’ zip-up hoodies made of 65% polyester and 35% cotton.  The sweatshirts and jackets have designs that include a heart with arrow, swirl, alien, flower, guitar, motor scooter and circuit board designs and come in the following color combinations: pink with white or black trim; white with pink or green trim; blue with a light blue and white trim and black with blue or green trim.

The following model numbers are included in the recall: 12501, 2502, 12503, 12504, 12505, 12506, 12507, 12508, 12509, 12801, 12802, 12803, 12804, 12806, 12807, 12808, 12809, 12810. Model numbers are located on the care label sewn into the garments side seam? The garment’s hangtag has “happyfashion4kids www.deezo.com.au” printed on it.

Incidents/Injuries:  None reported

Sold at: Zulily.com from August 2012 to March 2013 for between $20  and $50.

Manufacturer: Zulily, Inc., of Seattle, Wash.
Manufactured in: China

Consumer Contact:  Zulily Inc., toll free at (877) 779-5615 between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, and between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. or Saturdays, online at www.zulily.com or by Email at service@zulily.com and  click on Contact Us/Product Recall for more information.

Photos are available at http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2013/Deezo-Childrens-Hooded-Sweatshirts-with-Drawstrings-Recalled-by-Zulily/.

A study of NICU admission rates for infants delivered at 37-38 weeks of gestation revealed
that 31% of infants were delivered early with no medical indication (American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2013). The National Child & Maternal Health Education
Program, led by the NICHD within NIH, is working with a coalition of 30 prominent health
organizations to reduce the number of early elective deliveries.

Learn why it’s important to mother and baby’s health to wait until at least 39 weeks of pregnancy to deliver if the mother or child’s health is not in danger.

More information and Is it Worth it? video

Whether you are the mother of living babies, precious babies who were born sleeping or gone too soon; mothers who are anxiously awaiting the arrival of your bundle of joy or mothers who have never bore a baby but who have nurtured more babies than most of us can imagine.

Perhaps you’re a foster mother, an adoptive mother, a surrogate mother, a mother who’s bridged the gap for family and friends or raised an entire village alone. First Candle proudly salutes and honors your many untold, selfless contributions to our society.

Our mothers are the main focus of everything we do at First Candle.  Many of our programmatic decisions revolve around the requests and feedback we receive.  We would like to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate all of our First Candle mothers.  May each of you have a most memorable and reflective day.

Looking for the perfect gift for that special Mom in your life?  First Candle is a charity member of Recoup, the one-stop shopping site for deeply discounted fun, unique and practical gift items.

For every purchase, 10 percent will be donated to First Candle in hopes that one day no mother need grieve the loss of a precious baby.

It’s easy!  Simply visit First Candle’s Recoup page, subscribe and start shopping today!

First Candle is committed to safe pregnancies and the
survival of babies through the first years of life.

For more information visit www.firstcandle.org or call 1.443.640.1049

We thank you for your ongoing support of our important mission.

This charity event is hosted by Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) and Fashion Delivers Charitable Foundation, Inc., partner charities that have provided over $1 billion in new product donations to families affected by poverty and natural disasters. Other honorees include Margaret Hayes, Fashion Group International; Joanne Podell, Cushman & Wakefield; and Maura Regan, Seasame Workshop.

“Within each of their industries, our honorees have been selected as role models for excellence in business achievement as well as for their generosity of spirit and compassion exemplified throughout their careers,” said K.I.D.S. Chairman of the Board Kevin Burke.

“Fashion Delivers’ and K.I.D.S.’ mission is dedicated to making a difference and we are proud to recognize women who believe in that mission, and live it,” said Fashion Delivers Chairman, Allan Ellinger.

Congratulations Kelly!

Learn More and Get Tickets

Read Kelly’s Biography