What you can do
1. Write to the CPSC and JPMA and voice your own opinion. Click here for a list of talking points highlighting information that can be used in your commentary. We maintain that parents should be provided with good, balanced information upon which to base their own decisions. The CPSC should work to ensure the safety of all sleeping environments by educating parents about the potential risks of each choice. Think about cc'ing your Congressperson or Senator.
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Washington, DC 20207
(800) 638-2772
http://www.cpsc.gov
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association
17000 Commerce Pkwy., Suite C
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
Phone: (856) 638-0420
Fax: (856) 439-0525
http://www.jpma.org
2. Write to your local media. Write or email your local TV station and newspaper and alert them to this issue.
3. Write to the national media. Ask them to air information on both sides of the issue. You can find a list of all major national media outlets on the FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting) website. http://www.fair.org/media-contact-list.html
Experts that the media can contact for comment:
Dr. Mary Ann O'Hara (University of Washington)
Dr. Abraham Bergman (University of Washington)
Dr. James McKenna (Notre Dame Mother-Infant Sleep Lab)
For other comment or background information, they can contact:
Lysa Parker, Attachment Parenting International
4. Sign Your Name. If you haven't already, please sign our list of parents and others in support of responding to the CPSC. Encourage other parents you know to log on and sign it, as well. We already have over 800 signatures from 49 states and 12 different countries around the world. We'd like to get as many signatures as possible to show that there's a growing number of families who are consciously and responsibly choosing to sleep with their infants.
5. Spread the Word. Tell other parents, post on email groups you belong to about the effort to build a coalition of like-minded parents and professionals. Encourage them to visit this webpage and sign our list.
6. Donate. Help us raise funds to increase awareness about the safety and benefits of co-sleeping. We need to produce information that will act as a counterpoint to materials that the JPMA will produce. To make a tax-deductible donation, click here.
7. Volunteer for the Coalition. I need help with writing articles, brochure copy, and with public relations, research, web page design. If you have skills you can offer, please contact us.
