sleeping baby with pacifier

Study Summary

SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths

Recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment (update 2016)

SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2016 Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment

Moon RY, Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Pediatrics. 2016;138(5):e20162940

Abstract

In its "Recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment", the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) stipulates measures, including the following, to avoid Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths:

  • Lying the baby on its back
  • Firm mattress support
  • Baby sleeps in its own bed in the parent's bedroom
  • Breastfeeding the baby
  • Routine vaccinations
  • Use of soothers
  • Avoid overheating
  • Avoid smoking, alcohol and illegal drugs
  • No loose objects in the baby's bed

Background

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) is the term that describes any sudden and unexpected death in early childhood. SUID is categorised by:
  • Suffocation
  • Asphyxiation
  • Wedging or entrapment
  • Infection
  • Swallowing objects
  • Metabolic disorders
  • Arrhythmia -associated cardiac channelopathies
  • Trauma (unintentional or non-accident-related)

SIDS is a subcategory of SUID and describes a sudden infant death whose cause cannot be fully explained, even with the assistance of a post-mortem and further investigation. The recommendations summarised here have been defined to reduce the risk of SIDS and sleep-related suffocation, asphyxia and entrapment of infants.

Methods

These recommendations are based on a total of 110 studies and include infants up to the end of their first year of life.

MAM Service

You can find the complete study at: mambaby.com/professionals