
Sleeping like a baby is now more regimented than ever, in light of updated guidelines by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) about how best to put baby to bed to reduce the risk of SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome.
Much has changed in the six years since the AAP’s previously released policy. In March, AAP president O. Marion Burton advised parents to stop using crib bumpers, even before the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission completed a review of 52 infant deaths in 20 years, potentially related to bumpers. Bumpers originated years ago as a means of making sure baby’s head didn’t get stuck between crib slats. But since that space has shrunk to the current 2 3/8 inches, the reason for tying on bumpers — aside from cushioning baby’s head — no longer exists. “The risk of death by suffocating far outweighs baby getting a bruise,” says Michael Goodstein, a neonatologist in York, Pa., and a member of the AAP SIDS task force that updated the guidelines.
The AAP’s long-standing emphasis on putting babies to sleep on their backs on a firm surface hasn’t changed. Infant deaths due to SIDS have decreased as a result. But pediatricians have simultaneously noted an increase in deaths due to accidental strangulation or suffocation; the numbers increased from 103 in 1984 to 669 in 2007. It’s not clear what’s caused the spike.
But health officials hope to reduce those numbers by making cribs — which were already supposed to be a pretty spartan landing pad for baby, without pillows, fluffy bedding or stuffed animals — even safer. “Cribs are thought of as something to be beautified, but they’re really a safety device,” says Goodstein. “If you want to decorate something, decorate the room.”
In July, the sale of cribs with drop-side rails was also banned over concern that babies could become entrapped.
MORE: Bye-Bye, Baby: Why Selling Your Crib Hurts
Breast-feeding is another addition to the guidelines. Long advised by the AAP as the healthiest way to nourish newborns, it is now being recommended as a way to decrease the risk of SIDS. A study published in June in the journal Pediatrics found that exclusive breast-feeding cut the risk of SIDS by more than 50%, perhaps because the antibodies in breast milk help breast-fed babies experience less infection. Breast-fed babies are also more easily awakened, which is significant because SIDS can occur in babies who are difficult to rouse.
The AAP also emphasizes adherence to recommended vaccination schedules to reduce the risk of SIDS. In 2007, research published in the journal Vaccine found that getting immunized in accordance with the AAP-advised timeline reduced the risk of SIDS by up to half.
But guidelines, in the end, are merely advice. Goodstein acknowledges that not all parents embrace the continuous changes in official policy. The numbers of parents putting their infants to sleep on their backs, for example, has dropped over the years; it now hovers around 75%. “There are some barriers to changing behavior, and we know not everyone is doing everything,” says Goodstein.
“All we can do is help people understand why we make these recommendations and encourage their use,” he says. “We don’t have sleep police out there.”
MORE: Babies With Flat Heads on the Rise: Is ‘Back to Sleep’ to Blame?
Here are some of the AAP’s other recommendations:
- Sharing a room with baby is O.K.; sharing a bed is not.
- Don’t use foam wedges or sleep positioners in the crib.
- Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime; pacifier use is associated with a decreased risk of SIDS.
- Do not use home monitors or commercial devices marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS.
- Offer supervised, awake “tummy time” to encourage development and minimize the occurrence of positional plagiocephaly, or flattened head.
Bonnie Rochman is a reporter at TIME. Find her on Twitter at @brochman. You can also continue the discussion on TIME‘s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.
I simply want to mention I am all new to blogging and certainly enjoyed this blog site. Probably I’m planning to bookmark your website . You definitely have exceptional posts. Thanks a lot for sharing with us your web page.
Hey! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I truly enjoy reading your articles. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same subjects? Appreciate it!
Quite insightful publish. Never ever thought that it was this simple after all. I had spent a exceptional deal of my time wanting for someone to explain this topic clearly and you’re the only 1 that ever did that. Kudos to you! Keep it up
Thanks very much for this distinct blog; this is the type of thing that keeps me on track through my day. Been searching around for your blog after being referred to it from a colleague and was thrilled when I stumbled on it after googling for a sometime. As a demanding blogger, I’m dazzled to see authors like you taking initivative and contributing to the community. Just commenting to show my appreciation for your blog as it’s very inspiring, and many authors do not get acceptance they deserve. Will definitely come back and will recommend to my friends.
I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply as I’m looking to construct my own blog and would like to know where u got this from. cheers
I have read some good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to create such a excellent informative web site.
More than you know!
Awsome blog! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am bookmarking your feeds also
My brother suggested I would possibly like this website. He was totally right. This publish actually made my day. You cann’t believe just how so much time I had spent for this information! Thank you!
This is really interesting, You’re an excessively skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and sit up for in quest of extra of your great post. Additionally, I have shared your website in my social networks!
I want to express my thanks to this writer just for rescuing me from this type of difficulty. Just after exploring throughout the world wide web and getting thoughts that were not helpful, I figured my life was well over. Being alive without the presence of strategies to the problems you have solved by means of your good post is a crucial case, and ones that would have in a negative way affected my career if I hadn’t noticed the website. The competence and kindness in controlling all the pieces was crucial. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t come across such a point like this. I am able to at this point look ahead to my future. Thanks so much for your specialized and effective guide. I will not be reluctant to propose the blog to anyone who needs counselling on this issue.
Keep up the hard work, because it is a lot of work!