In Quebec, researchers wanted to determine among SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) deaths how many babies were changed to belly sleeping when they usually were back sleepers. When they asked parents and other caretakers about the events of the deaths, these were the results:

Of 157 SIDS cases, 139 (89%) were found belly down.

Of 157 SIDS cases, 93 (59%) babies usually slept belly down.

Of 157 SIDS cases, 64 (41%) babies usually back slept.

Of the 64 babies that back slept, 34 had been changed to belly sleeping.

Of the 34 new belly sleepers, 21 babies were changed < 1 week before death.

Of the 34 new belly sleepers, 19 babies were changed by someone other than a parent.

Of the 21 babies changed < 1 week, 16 (80%) babies were belly sleeping for 1^st or 2^nd time

I don't mean to scare you, but in a season when we will be around family, friends, and baby sitters more than usual, we need to communicate our values clearly to those watching our dear ones. The "take-home message" from this study is the group of babies who were placed on their tummies by someone other than the parent.

I have many a pleasant and heated debate with many grandparents that insisted belly, back, or side sleeping doesn't matter. True, many of us slept on our tummies as infants, and we are alive to tell. The fact is though, back sleeping drops the SIDS rate dramatically; we are talking up 50% or greater in some studies. Back sleeping is even safer than side sleeping. And yet, the debate goes on with our secondary caretakers. Don't get me wrong, the world would be a lost place without grandparents, but we need to wake up and smell the coffee on this one. We don't know why all SIDS deaths occur, but we do know what helps -- back sleeping.

Okay, so you are convinced but your baby sitter or grandparent does not agree. Go to AAP.org and print out their "back-to-sleep" campaign statement. The numbers are compelling and lifesaving. Don't give up, but convince.

Is sleeping position the only area we debate over with other caretakers? Unfortunately the answer is no. Especially when it comes to Christian heritages. You may not let your kids watch certain movies, you may be instilling certain values, you may be teaching your kids Bible stories, or showing them how to pray. You may defend your decisions time and time again with your secondary caretakers and hear "well you came out ok, didn't you? Why do you spend so much time on your kids?"

The answer this week comes not from me, but from Dr. Otis Ledbetter in The Heritage, "when will you cry?" He speaks of his wife Gail who although a working mother, still made time to plan for and delivered a Godly heritage to her children. She would come to bed late at night crying from tears of exhaustion. Dr. Ledbetter also reflects on another woman who cut short her time and attention. She cried tears of sorrow, not tears of exhaustion. "I wish I had taken the time. I wish I would have expended the energy. I wish I could do it again."

So whether you are explaining the 100^th time why you place your child on his/her back or whether you are explaining why you are raising your child a Christian for the 100^th time, keep this thought in mind. "The task may weary you at times, but the effort is worth it" (The Heritage, pg. 255).

See Heritage Builders link at my "quality links" page.