Infants should sleep on a crib or bassinet in the same bedroom as their
parents and never on a couch, armchair or soft surface -- to decrease the risks
of sleep-related deaths, according to a new policy statement released by the
American Academy of Pediatrics.
"SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2016
Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment," draws on new
research and serves as the first update to Academy policy since 2011. Recommendations call for infants to share their parents' bedroom for at
least the first six months and, optimally, for the first year of life, based on
the latest evidence.
‘Approximately 3,500 infants die annually in the United States from sleep-related deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome, ill-defined deaths; and accidental suffocation and strangulation.’
"We know that parents may be overwhelmed with a new baby in the
home, and we want to provide them with clear and simple guidance on how and
where to put their infant to sleep," said Rachel Moon, MD, FAAP, lead
author of the report. "Parents should never place the baby on a sofa,
couch, or cushioned chair, either alone or sleeping with another person. We
know that these surfaces are extremely hazardous."
The number of infant deaths initially decreased in the 1990s after a
national safe sleep campaign, but has plateaued in recent years. AAP recommendations on creating a safe sleep environment include:
- Place the baby on his or her back on a firm sleep surface such as a crib or
bassinet with a tight-fitting sheet.
- Avoid use of soft bedding, including crib bumpers, blankets, pillows and soft
toys. The crib should be bare.
- Share a bedroom with parents, but not the same sleeping surface, preferably
until the baby turns 1 but at least for the first six months. Room-sharing
decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 50 percent.
- Avoid baby's exposure to smoke, alcohol and illicit drugs.
Skin-to-skin care is recommended, regardless of feeding or delivery
method, immediately following birth for at least an hour as soon as the mother
is medically stable and awake, according to the report.
Breastfeeding is also recommended as adding protection against SIDS.
After feeding, the AAP encourages parents to move the baby to his or her
separate sleeping space, preferably a crib or bassinet in the parents' bedroom.
"If you are feeding your baby and think that there's even the
slightest possibility that you may fall asleep, feed your baby on your bed,
rather than a sofa or cushioned chair," said Lori Feldman-Winter, MD,
FAAP, member of the Task Force on SIDS and co-author of the report.
"As soon as you wake up, be sure to move the baby to his or her own
bed," she said. "There should be no pillows, sheets, blankets or
other items that could obstruct the infant's breathing or cause
The AAP recommends that doctors have open and nonjudgmental
conversations with families about their sleep practices. Media outlets and
advertisers may also play a role in educating parents by following safe sleep
recommendations when presenting images and messages to the public.
"We want to share this information in a way that doesn't scare
parents but helps to explain the real risks posed by an unsafe sleep
environment," Dr. Moon said. "We know that we can keep a baby safer
without spending a lot of money on home monitoring gadgets but through simple