Does Ad Warning Against Sleeping with Your Baby Go Too Far?

November 17th, 2011 - By Brande Victorian

 

Milwaukee’s Health Department is determined to let parents know the dangers of co-sleeping with their baby, but many people think their new ad campaign is a bit on the extreme side.

Next to images of sleeping babies are butcher knives tucked underneath pillows with the words: “YOUR BABY SLEEPING WITH YOU CAN BE JUST AS DANGEROUS.” The ads are meant to address Sudden Infant Death Syndrome which is the second leading cause of death in the city of Milwaukee.

Christie Haskell of Cafe Mom’s The Stir blog  said the health department would have been better off telling parents how to safely co-sleep, considering the babies in the ads are sleeping on their stomachs, surrounded by fluffy pillows which are also safety hazards for infants.

Of course, advertising executive Donny Deutsch agreed with the strong imagery, saying, “If it saves one baby” it must be worthwhile. And Star Jones seems to agree, pointing out that over-the-top images tend to stick in people’s brains better than more subtle ones.

Obviously public awareness campaigns have to do a lot to catch people’s attention with the slew of media bytes surrounding us, but do you think the shock value in this PSA goes too far? I think they could have gone about it a better way.

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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  • http://twitter.com/urbansista TheAccidentalNatural

    I don’t know, y’all. It’s only in the West that people don’t really sleep with their children in the bed. My friend, who is originally from India, co-slept with both of her kids and they are fine. I don’t plan to sleep with my baby in the bed, but I think the ads are inflammatory. It may be better to explain what the dangers are and how parents can avoid them.

    • astodghill

      Yeah, sleeping with kids is pretty common in places where people are poor. I wonder if SIDS is really a western thing, because we have sooooo many pillows, blankets, sheets etc. Our bedding and style of sleeping is pretty complicated, compared to say, Japan, where the bed and bedding tends to be minimal, as it will be often put away daily.

      • Miss K

        Good perspective Astodghill.  I also think that the bedding in cribs can become complicated and pose a risk to infants.  Then again, I don’t have kids yet.

  • nursedred

    You dont have to be drunk or negligent for this to happen just sleep deprived like alot of new parents. Whatever it takes to make people aware of how dangerous this can be

    • IllyPhilly

      That’s why you have 2 b attentive. my kids slept in bed since day one and was out by age one. sleep deprived and all, i did what i had 2 do

  • IllyPhilly

    WTF? Yes too far! How about getting rid of the pillows? Parents who are heavy sleepers, drunks, and just plain negligent shouldn’t sleep with their kids in bed. I have had no problem with either of my kids because I was very attentive, but to each their own.

    • Sugar/Spice

      Preach!!!!!