Infant sleep recommendations worry some new parents.
Infant sleep recommendations worry some new parents
G minimizeetting a good night’s sleep with an infant in the family can be tricky business, and new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics may make it even more difficult. The AAP says babies should sleep in the same bedroom as parents for at least the first six months and ideally for up to the first year of their lives to the risk of sleep-related deaths.
The recommendation is that babies should sleep close to the parents, but not in the same bed. Such a sleeping arrangement decreases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome by as much as 50 percent, according to the organization.
The crib or bassinet should be placed so that the infant is within view and reach, which in turn make feeding, comforting and monitoring the infant easier, said Dr. Stephanie Zandieh, director of the Valley Hospital Pediatric Sleep Disorders and Apnea Center, Ridgewood, New Jersey.
Balancing parent, baby sleep
Since the recommendations were announced, Zandieh says, she has heard an uproar from pediatricians, parents and colleagues questioning whether they will affect parents’ sleep and daytime performance. It’s important to note, though, that the recommendation is not new, just more strongly worded than in the past, Zandieh said.
“Parents or the infant’s caregivers need to do what’s best for their family,” she said. “It is true that the risk of sudden infant death syndrome increases during the first 12 months of life, particularly the first six months (90 percent of SIDS cases). It is equally true that the sleep of parents is important for their daytime performance and for the overall health and functioning of the family.
“My recommendation is to follow the AAP guideline as much as possible. However, parents need to have rules as to how they will respond to their infant when they briefly awake from sleep or make usual baby sounds and movements. This will let the infant learn how to sooth itself to sleep without parental interventions. This is not easy but is important because it will prevent inappropriate sleep associations and allow the parents and child to have a good night’s sleep.
“However, if after six months of age, the parents are unable to obtain a good night’s sleep themselves, they should consider moving the child out of their room,” Zandieh said.
The guidelines
Launched in 1994, the Back to Sleep campaign has helped sharply reduce the rates of SIDS deaths, yet it still remains the leading cause of postneonatal death, Zandieh said.
“Parents should discuss their options with their pediatricians in order to find what works best for their family and best balance their fears of SIDS with obtaining the best night’s sleep that is possible, which is very important,” Zandieh said. “Parents must do everything possible to prevent SIDS but they also need to remember that SIDS is out of a parent’s control and it is impossible to watch over a baby day and night.”
A summary of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations for safe infant sleeping and to reduce the risk of SIDS.
• Place your baby on his back for every sleep.
• Place your baby to sleep on a firm sleep surface.
• Keep soft objects, loose bedding or any objects that could increase the risk of entrapment, suffocation or strangulation out of the crib.
• Place your baby to sleep in the same room where you sleep but not the same bed.
• Breastfeed as much and for as long as you can. This helps reduce the risk of SIDS.
• Schedule and go to all well-child visits. Your baby will receive important immunizations.
• Keep your baby away from smokers and places where people smoke.
• Do not let your baby get too hot.
• Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime.
• Do not use home cardiorespiratory monitors to help reduce the risk of SIDS.