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Recommendations for real life: the nature of shared sleep environments in Queensland and implications for effective safe infant sleeping messages
Abstract   Peer reviewed

Recommendations for real life: the nature of shared sleep environments in Queensland and implications for effective safe infant sleeping messages

Jeanine Young and J Thompson
Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, Vol.5(2), p.115
SIDS International Conference, 10th (Portsmouth, United Kingdom, 23-Jun-2008–26-Jun-2008)
2009
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-008-9058-4
url
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-008-9058-4View
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Abstract

Clinical Sciences
Objective: To describe shared infant sleeping environments in a cohort of Queensland infants. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used to benchmark infant care practices and factors associated with sudden infant death in a cohort of Queensland infants aged approximately 3 months (n = 4,000). Parent-infant sleeping environments, including bedsharing practices, were described for last night and usual practice conditions and analyzed using logistic regression. Results: Completed surveys were returned from 2,534 (64%) caregivers. Bedsharing was reported as usual practice by 46%. Although 582 (51%) infants were usually brought into bed for short periods (1-3 h/night), almost a third bedshared C6 h/night (359, 31%). While 647 (56%) infants usually bedshared with both parents, 431 (37%) slept with their mother only. A notable 61 (5.3%) infants shared a bed with one or both parents and other children\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\14 years of age. Placing an infant between one person and the edge of the bed was the preferred sleeping arrangement (522, 63%). Multivariable analysis showed that mothers who were younger, indigenous, single, smoked during pregnancy, and delivered preterm infants were significantly more likely to bedshare. Bedsharing was also significantly associated with childcare practices including supine infant sleep position, breastfeeding, and not using a pacifier. Conclusions: Bedsharing was common in this Australian cohort. While bedsharing is associated with some infant and maternal factors that increase risk of sudden infant death, it also appears to be associated with several practices known to reduce risk. Compliance with safe sleeping recommendations is reliant on the ability of health professionals to engage parents, identify individual sleeping environments, and provide evidence-based advice to low and high risk parents that aims to reduce risk associated with all sleeping environments, particularly in circumstances where parent-infant bedsharing occurs.

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Web Of Science research areas
Medicine, Legal
Pathology
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