Study Looks at SIDS in Child Care Settings

A recent study published in the August issue of Pediatrics, a scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reports that 20 percent of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) deaths occur in child care settings. The study showed that infants in child care settings were more likely to be put to sleep on their stomachs rather than their backs.

In 1992, as a result of studies showing an increase in SIDS in infants who sleep on their stomachs, the AAP recommended that healthy infants be put on their backs when putting them down to sleep. In 1994, the nationwide "Back to Sleep" campaign heightened awareness of this recommendation. Since then, the rate of SIDS has decreased by 40 percent.

Still, many parents, as well as other caregivers, are not aware of the recommendation, or because of personal beliefs or difficulty getting an infant to sleep, do not follow them. Many people believe that a baby sleeping on his or her back is in danger of choking. This belief is not supported by research. There is no evidence that sleeping on the back is harmful to healthy infants.

• Below are recommendations for reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome:
• Placing a baby to sleep on the back is preferred. Sleeping on the side is a reasonable alternative and is safer than the stomach
• Do not place babies on soft mattresses, sofas or waterbeds
• Do not place pillows, quilts, or comforters in a baby's bed
• Devices designed to maintain sleep positions are not recommended. They have not been tested for safety or been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS
• Some babies with certain medical conditions may need to be placed on their stomachs to sleep. Talk to your pediatrician about which sleep position is best for your baby
• These recommendations are for sleeping infants. While awake, babies need to spend some time on their stomachs to develop their muscles and to avoid flat spots on the head
• For more information on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome - www.sids-network.org