Sleep practices risk lives

A NEW study has revealed babies who are in the care of someone other than their parents are more likely to be placed in unsafe sleep positions.

The study, conducted by the University of Virginia Health System and published in the Journal of Pediatrics, examined more than 10,000 infant deaths over a period of 10 years, and shows there is still a long way to go on safe sleep education.

“If someone else – a babysitter, relative, or friend – is taking care of your baby, please make sure that they know to place your baby on the back in a crib and without any bedding,” said Rachel Moon, MD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, the UVA Children’s Hospital and UVA’s Child Health Research Center.

Of the 10,000 cases examined, 1375 occurred when a parent was not present. Of those 1375 cases, they found babies were less likely to be placed on their backs, and more likely to be placed with hazardous objects such as toys and soft bedding.

Only 72.5 per cent of licensed childcare workers placed the infant in a bassinet or cot to sleep. As did just 49.1 per cent of baby sitters, 29.4 per cent of relatives and 27.1 per cent of friends.

The numbers behind putting babies to sleep safely on their backs was also shocking, with just 54.1 per cent of childcare workers following the safe sleep guidelines, 38.4 per cent of relatives, 38.6 per cent of friends, and just 37.8 per cent of babysitters doing so.

Visit www. kidspot. com. au.