Study: Fewer Parents Putting Babies To Sleep On Their Backs
Filed under: In The News, Research Reveals: Babies
The nation's "Back to Sleep" campaign hasn't reached all American parents. Credit: Star5112, Flickr.
Since the national "Back to Sleep" campaign began 15 years ago, many parents have learned that placing babies to sleep on their backs can help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). But a new study on infant sleeping positions finds that the number of parents putting their babies to sleep on their backs has leveled off over the past five years.
"Between 2003 and 2007, there was no significant yearly increase in supine sleep," the study reports.
Several clues emerged from the study about why some parents are ignoring this advice: Some parents worry that their child will be uncomfortable on their back or could choke during the night in that position. Others weren't told by their pediatrician that that back sleeping is now believed to be the safest method.Several clues emerged from the study about why some parents are ignoring this advice: Some parents worry that their child will be uncomfortable on their back or could choke during the night in that position. Others weren't told by their pediatrician that that back sleeping is now believed to be the safest method.
The study, published in the December issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, is based on an analysis of 1993-2007 data from the National Infant Sleep Position Study, an annual telephone survey of about 1,000 households with infants.The researchers -- led by Dr. Eve Colson, associate professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine -- say there is still work to be done in educating parents about the safest way to put their babies to sleep.
"To decrease sudden infant death syndrome rates," the study concludes, "we must ensure that public health measures reach the populations at risk and include messages that address concerns about infant comfort and choking."
Tell us: Do you (or did you) put your infant to sleep on her back or belly?
Related: Do You Put Your Baby On Her Back?, Who Is Affected By SIDS
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
12-11-2009 @ 3:17PM
jessica said...Or, some of us know about it, tried it, then our baby learned to flip onto his tummy at three months and has slept on his stomach ever since, like it or not, cuz we aren't going to go in and reflip him ten times a night.
Reply
12-11-2009 @ 8:53PM
Jayne said...I'm with Jessica... maybe some babies PREFER sleeping on their tummies and they lived! Let the babies be comfortable! Jeez...
12-12-2009 @ 6:38PM
sally said...hi, I just wanted to say back when i had my 2 girls in the 70's i always put them to bed either on their side or their belly, you would be suprised to see them pick up and move their little heads. They never had bald spots from always being on their backs and then sitting positions where they rub their head againist something. I believe SIDS as devastating as it is, I believe we haven't found a clue yet to why it happens, but I hope soon they will.
12-11-2009 @ 3:51PM
SKL said...It's been shown in various studies that it's not tummy sleeping that causes SIDS, but other factors such as old, dirty mattresses full of pollutants, and knock-out drugs in cough/cold medicines, some of which are less able to do damage if the child's face is away from the mattress. The right approach is to attack these actual causes, not make all babies sleep on their backs.
Back sleeping compromises quality sleep in the average child. Quality sleep reduces the risk of learning and behavior problems. To me, it's a no-brainer. Let the babies sleep on their tummies if they want to. But don't poison them with toxins while they are doing so.
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12-14-2009 @ 1:01PM
Don said...This report is outlining the need for better education among parents, that having your child sleep on their back is practicing sound science that has proven it reduces the risk of SIDS. It's your choice to accept it or ignore it.
There are studies looking into the causes of SIDS, you wont know about them until they're published, to assure that the studies are not swayed by public opinion.
As for naming a some nonexistent boogie man(toxins) as the cause of SIDS isn't helping either.
If your child can turn over on their stomach on his or her own then there is nothing you can do to stop them. The point should be that when you lay your child down in bed he or she is facing up, that is all. That alone will help reduce the risk of SIDS.
12-18-2009 @ 9:25AM
Kelly said...Although I never put any of my three children to sleep on their tummy, I most often used a wedge so that they were on their side. This made me more comfortable about avoiding suffocating if on their stomach or choking if on their back. All three of my daughters are happy, and healthy kids.
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12-12-2009 @ 11:06AM
LS said...Just because it's advised by the government doesn't mean it's the best course of action.
Most parents know their children far better than even their pediatrician, and will do their level best to care for those children. And if that means letting their kid sleep on his stomach rather than scream on his back, then so be it.
As SKL mentioned, SIDS has myriad causes, not just "improper sleep position"... second-hand smoke being one of the bigger problems, as well as toxins in mattresses, and parents drugging their kids to get them to sleep.
Most studies nowadays seem to start with a premise and then set out to prove it... and when evidence to the contrary is found, that evidence is excluded. That's not a study. That's finding stuff to support an opinion.
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