AAP Expands Guidelines for Infant Sleep Safety

In October of 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated their policy statement on safe sleep guidelines for babies. It provides global recommendations for education and safety related to SIDS risk reduction.

In addition, the AAP is providing recommendations on a safe sleeping environment that can reduce the risk of all sleep-related deaths, including SIDS.

There were three important additions to the recommendations:

1. Breastfeeding is recommended and is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS
2. Infants should be immunized. Evidence suggests that immunization reduces the risk of SIDS by 50%!!
3. Bumper pads should not be used in cribs. There is no evidence that bumper pads prevent injuries, and there is a potential risk of suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment.

The report also included these other recommendations:

1. Always place your baby on his or her back for every sleep time.
2. Always use a firm sleep surface. Car seats and other sitting devices are not recommended for routine sleep.
3. The baby should sleep in the same room as the parents, but not in the same bed (room sharing without bed-sharing).
4. Keep soft objects or loose bedding out of the crib. This includes pillows, blankets, and pumper pads.
5. Wedges and “positioners” should not be used.
6. Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime.
7. Avoid covering the infant’s head or overheating them.
8. Do not use home monitors or commercial devices marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS.
9. Infants should receive all recommended vaccinations.
10. Supervised, awake “tummy time” is recommended daily to facilitate development and minimize the occurrence of positional plagiocephaly (flat heads).

There is much more information available at www.healthychildren.org/safesleep.

We at Bryner Clinic care so much about your new little one and fully support these recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Please feel free to ask questions and discuss this with your pediatrician at the regularly scheduled well visits or at any time that you have concerns. We are happy to help you in raising your beautiful little one.