Unsafe sleep practices are the reason behind most sudden unexpected infant deaths within the United States. Three-quarters of infants were exposed to multiple unsafe practices on the time of death and nearly 60% shared sleeping space with one other person. These are the important thing findings from ours recent study published in Pediatrics.
Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SUID) occurs in infants under one yr of age who die suddenly and unexpectedly with no apparent cause prior to examination About 3,400 people die yearly within the United States. These infants die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, or other unclear and unknown causes.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and various other authorities strongly discourage infants from sharing a sleeping surface with parents, other adults, or other infants or children due to potential for this increase the chance of those deaths.
Therefore, the high incidence of surface sharing – also generally known as bedsharing – in our study is alarming. The study included 7,595 infants who died of SUID between 2011 and 2020 and were listed within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention SUID case registry collects data from child death investigation teams in 23 states, cities or counties.
We examined characteristics of infants who shared their bed on the time of death.
Compared to infants who didn’t share a bed in our study, infants who shared their bed were more more likely to have the next characteristics:
- 0 to three months old, non-Hispanic Black, and insured by Medicaid or other public insurance
- Have been found lying on their backs in an adult bed, chair or couch
- Were affected by a better variety of unsafe sleep aspects
- Had been exposed to mother's cigarette smoking within the womb
- Were supervised by an individual under the influence of medication or alcohol on the time of death
- I didn't have a cot in the home
Of the non-sharing infants within the study, only a 3rd were sleeping within the really helpful supine position and three-quarters were in sleeping areas equipped with soft bedding resembling pillows, comforters or bumpers on the time of death.
Three-quarters of all sudden and unexpected infant deaths in our study were as a result of multiple unsafe sleep aspects.
Why it matters
Only within the United States has the general rate of sudden unexpected infant deaths modified minimally within the last 20 yearsbut racial-ethnic disparities in these deaths expand as a result of increasing rates amongst non-Hispanic black infants.
Our study suggests that the majority of those deaths are preventable through adherence to guidelines Safe Infant Sleep Guidelines as outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
These guidelines include:
- To sleep, place the infant on a firm, flat sleeping surface
- For the primary six months, the infant sleeps in his parents' room on a separate sleeping surface intended for infant sleep near the parents' bed
- Keep the infant's sleeping area clear of sentimental objects resembling pillows and loose bedding
- Avoid using alcohol, marijuana, opioids, and illegal drugs while pregnant and after birth
- Avoid smoke and nicotine exposure while pregnant and after birth
Why aren't the sudden unexpected child mortality rates changing? Even after they know the really helpful practices, many parents find it difficult to follow the recommendations. Others may select to not follow them or may not all the time follow them.
For example, an exhausted mother might put her baby to bed to feed after which go to sleep with the infant in bed. Or a parent puts their baby on a pillow because they think it’s more comfortable and sleeps higher. Bed sharing might also be a standard cultural or preferred practice, so not doing so may go against one's beliefs or preferences.
It is significant for healthcare providers to contemplate these aspects when counseling families. To ensure a secure place to sleep, many cities have programs in place Provide a free cot to oldsters who can't afford one.
What's next
More research is required to seek out probably the most effective ways to coach families about secure infant sleep. Numerous studies are currently underway using progressive methods to interact and educate parents, starting while pregnant Continued after the infant is born.
Focusing on families at highest risk, like those in our study, is critical to helping eliminate sudden, unexpected infant deaths and the racial-ethnic disparities which have to date stubbornly resisted change.
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