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What Do Pediatricians Tell Parents About Bed-Sharing?
Paula Schaeffer1, Andrea G Asnes2
1Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, 1 Long Wharf Dr. Suite 130, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA. Paula.Schaeffer@yale.edu.
Maternal and Child Health Journal
|August 3, 2017
Summary
Pediatricians vary widely in their advice on infant bed-sharing, with most guidance not aligning with American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations for safe sleep. Education is needed to improve consistency in safe sleep guidance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Child Safety
Background:
- Bed-sharing with infants poses risks, yet pediatrician guidance on this practice is not well understood.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides specific safe sleep recommendations, including guidelines on bed-sharing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate pediatricians' views on infant bed-sharing.
- To determine the nature of advice pediatricians give parents regarding bed-sharing.
- To assess the alignment of pediatrician advice with AAP safe sleep guidelines.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study design utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior framework.
- Interviews conducted with 24 primary care pediatricians from diverse practice settings.
- Focus on anticipatory guidance provided to parents of infants at risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Main Results:
- Significant variation exists among pediatricians regarding bed-sharing advice.
- Some pediatricians strongly advise against bed-sharing, citing infant risks, while others perceive it as safe.
- Guidance on supine infant sleep is clearer than advice on avoiding bed-sharing.
Conclusions:
- Pediatrician advice on infant bed-sharing is inconsistent and often deviates from AAP recommendations.
- There is a need for enhanced pediatrician education to standardize safe sleep anticipatory guidance.
- Addressing pediatrician attitudes and behaviors is crucial for improving infant safe sleep practices.
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