Co-sleeping and babies- what do YOU think?

Do you belive it is safe to sleep in the same bed as a baby? Who is it safe for? What precautions do you think should be made? What do you think the risks are? The benefits?

I personally think that it depends- do you think our cave people ancestors put their babies on the other side of the cave to sleep? Probably not. Anyone who is on sleep medication or medicines that may make them drowsy should not co-sleep with a baby, as well as alcoholics. Someone who is extremely tired should also avoid this. Children also probably should not, espically small children who may accidently roll over onto the child. A father sleeping with a baby is iffy. I think that for a mother, it's safe, as long as the mother has common sense and is safe. Keeping blankets, pillows, and things like that away are important, as they can smother a child. Keeping away from blinds and cords that could strangle a baby are also important. Ensuring you are NOT sleeping on a waterbed or matress that's too soft and cushiony are important, because the baby could suffocate. It's also important to be sure that the baby can't be caught between the head or foot board and the matress on the bed, and to sleep in the middle of the bed so the child won't accidently fall off. A possible recomendation is to put the bed against the wall, and make sure there's no space for the baby to fall down between the bed and the wall, and sleep with the baby between the wall and you. Or, you could have safety rails put around the bed, ensuring the baby's head or limbs can't get stuck between the bars, however.

That's what I think. What do YOU belive?