Circumcision is almost as old as history itself. The practice was
historically (though not exclusively) a Jewish rite. Today, medical
experts and studies tend to affirm that there are some modest benefits to
circumcision, although not all agree on the necessity of it. Evidence
suggests that circumcision may decrease the risk of urinary tract
infection and that it virtually eliminates the possibility of cancer of the
penis. Parents should also consider the social ramifications of
circumcision. How will your son feel in a locker room full of other boys
during his school years?
For the infant, circumcision is not the traumatic experience that some
portray. His minor surgery and any discomfort felt will not be rooted in
his memory any more than will his being pricked with a heel stick during
his PKU blood test soon after birth.
Crib Death
The unexpected death of a seemingly healthy baby is referred to as
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or crib death. What do we know
about SIDS? We know it’s responsible for seven thousand deaths a year
and is neither predictable nor preventable. There are more male victims,
especially among those who are born prematurely, and it occurs more
often among babies of minorities, young single mothers, and those who
smoke.
A child can be victimized by SIDS any time during the first year, with
the highest percentage of these deaths occurring between the second and
fourth months. More babies die of SIDS in the winter months than in
summer, and more in colder climates than in warmer ones.
Some family-bed advocates suggest that sleeping with your baby can
decrease the possibility of SIDS. This conclusion is drawn from data
compiled in third-world nations, where fewer SIDS cases were reported
among children who slept with their parents compared to SIDS cases in
North America. Their conclusion ignores some very important
information which we need to share with you. First, most third-world