Neonatology Today: "Safe Infant Sleep" by Dr. James McKenna

Dr. Kimberly Hillyer interviews sleep expert Dr. James McKenna regarding his latest book, "Safe Infant Sleep" Dr. McKenna explains "Breastsleeping," which refers to bedsharing with breastfeeding. This form of co-sleeping intertwines an attachment-parenting philosophy that is biological. It is the most successful sleeping and feeding arrangement for moms and babies. The premise is that a baby's body was designed to work in relation to sensory exchanges with caregivers. Breastsleeping has been included in the revised protocol by the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. From a biological anthropologist perspective, Dr. McKenna has used his career fighting two paradigms: SIDS research and the pediatric sleep paradigm. Using behavioral and electrophysiological studies, he advocates mothers having an informed choice when it comes to breastfeeding and co-sleeping and the possibility that Breastsleeping may be protective against SIDS (but further collaborative research is needed). 00:00 Intro 01:26 Defining Breastsleeping 08:13 Prematurity 13:35 Family participation in infant sleep 14:46 Anthropological aspect of infant sleep 16:40 AAP guidelines for infant sleep 23:25 NICU's role in skin-to-skin and preparing for home 35:19 Medicine, cultures, and policies 52:29 Breastsleeping and sleep guidelines 01:03:24 Breastsleepings future with AAP guidelines 01:05:51 Final thoughts/Thank you The views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the views of Neonatology Today Media. If you love watching Neonatology Today Media interviews like this one, Subscribe. Host: Dr. Kimberly Hillyer Producer: Dr. Kimberly Hillyer and Nick Martin Director of Photography and Editor: Nick Martin Casting Producer: Dr. Kimberly Hillyer