After careful deliberation and review of over 160 scientific studies on sleep-related infant death, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is releasing an updated guideline for safe sleep for infants.
While sleep-related infant mortality has steadily decreased over the years, the number still remains high. Statistics show that an average of 3,500 babies die from sleep-related causes annually in America. As babies are extremely vulnerable, especially when they are asleep, the AAP has made recent updates and recommendations for parents and caregivers to follow whenever they are trying to put an infant to sleep.
To lower the risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), the AAP recommends the following:
- The infant should sleep on a flat and firm surface without any obstruction. Any sleeping furniture for infants such as cribs, bassinets, and side sleepers must meet the federal safety standards. The Safe Sleep for Babies Act will help parents, caregivers, and manufacturers in ensuring any sleep furniture and products are designed safe for infants to sleep on.
- Sitting devices such as car seats, infant carriers and slings, baby strollers, and the like aren’t recommended for an infant to sleep in regularly.
- Breastfeeding can help prevent SUID. While the AAP recommends exclusive human breastfeeding for 6 months, it has also been shown that partial breastfeeding for at least 2 months is enough to lower the risk of SUID.
- Currently, there are no commercial devices which can lower the risk of SUID for your baby. To date, there is no evidence that supports that these products lower the risk of SUID.
- There is also no scientific evidence to support the belief that swaddling reduces the risk for SUID.
- Weighted swaddles, clothing, or any other weighted objects are also unsafe to be placed near a baby. These weighted objects may cause suffocation.
- Parents and/or caregivers are recommended to sleep in the same room as the baby but not in the same bed.
- The AAP has also found out that there is a higher risk of SUID when the infant sleeps with someone on a couch or in the same bed (67 times) or when the present adult accompanying the baby is under medication, or fatigued (10 times higher).
These are just some of the new safe sleep guidelines that the AAP has released for parents and caregivers should take note of when caring for a sleeping baby. Head over to the AAP site for more detailed information.
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