DEAR ABBY: Several nights ago, I was awakened by our 7-month-old Caroline. She has had trouble sleeping lately because of teething pain. Tired and frustrated, I finally laid her in bed between my husband and me, and we all fell back to sleep.
Our mattress had become separated from the headboard, leaving a big gap, large enough for our baby's head to slip through. When we awakened, she was lying on her back with her head hanging backward, pinned between the headboard and mattress. Her muffled cries for help had been barely audible, but miraculously we were able to wake up and save her.
Caroline is our third baby, and we thought we knew all there is to know about safety with children. I would strongly advise parents never to let their infant sleep with them. -- SHAKEN IN SIMPSONVILLE, S.C.
DEAR SHAKEN: Thank you for writing to warn all parents of a freak accident that could result in the loss of their precious infant.