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Infant sleep: resident recommendations and socioeconomic status differences in patient practices

S K Morgan1, C M Johnson

  • 1Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant 48859, USA. Sandra.Morgan@cmich.edu

Family Medicine
|September 28, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Physician recommendations on infant sleep position and bed sharing often differ from parental practices. Higher socioeconomic families show greater awareness and acceptance of American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for safe infant sleep.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Family Medicine

Background:

  • Research on infant sleep position has primarily focused on parental reports since the 1992 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines.
  • Few studies have investigated physician recommendations concerning infant sleep position and cosleeping (bed sharing).
  • Socioeconomic factors influencing parental awareness and adherence to infant sleep guidelines require further examination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare resident physician recommendations on infant sleep position and cosleeping with reported parental practices.
  • To assess socioeconomic disparities in parental awareness, practice, and acceptance of AAP infant sleep guidelines.

Main Methods:

  • A telephone survey was conducted with parents of infants aged 2, 4, 8, and 12 months from two family practice centers.
  • A paper-and-pencil survey was administered to all 27 residents at the participating centers.

Main Results:

  • Significant discrepancies were observed between physician recommendations and parental practices regarding both infant sleep positioning and cosleeping.
  • Parents of 165 infants participated in the study.
  • Higher socioeconomic status families demonstrated increased awareness, compliance, and acceptance of AAP recommendations for supine infant positioning.

Conclusions:

  • Physicians and nurses are primary sources of infant sleep information for parents.
  • A notable gap exists between physician recommendations and parental practices/acceptance of AAP guidelines.
  • Continued physician counseling on safe infant sleep practices beyond the newborn period is crucial.
Abstract

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