Bedsharing at home, breastfeeding and sudden infant death.Recommendations for health professionals
, , Alejandro Jenik
Insights
Bedsharing with breastfeeding mothers is safe for infants when key risks like smoking and alcohol are avoided. Health professionals should provide balanced advice on safe infant sleep environments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Infant Safety
Background:
- Bedsharing remains a controversial infant sleep practice.
- Breastfeeding is protective against Sudden Infant Death (SID).
- Certain conditions increase SID and fatal sleeping accident risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide updated recommendations on bedsharing.
- To guide health professionals in advising parents on safe infant sleep.
- To address the controversy surrounding bedsharing.
Main Methods:
- Review of updated recommendations from the Sudden and Unexpected Infant Death Task Force and the Subcommittee on Breastfeeding.
- Analysis of risk factors associated with Sudden Infant Death and fatal sleeping accidents.
- Guidance development for health professionals.
Main Results:
- Bedsharing by breastfeeding mothers, without identified risk factors (parental smoking, sedatives, alcohol, sofa sharing), is not associated with increased Sudden Infant Death risk.
- Parental room sharing without bedsharing is identified as the safest infant sleep environment.
- Balanced advice empowers informed decision-making for parents.
Conclusions:
- Updated recommendations address bedsharing safety.
- Emphasis on avoiding specific risk factors during bedsharing.
- Health professionals should offer balanced guidance on infant sleep arrangements, prioritizing room sharing without bedsharing.
Abstract:
The Sudden and Unexpected Infant Death Task Force together with the Subcommittee on Breastfeeding of the Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría have issued updated recommendations on bedsharing with the parents, a practice which remains controversial. Sleeping with the mother maximizes breastfeeding, which is protective against Sudden Infant Death. There is a small group of infants that have been associated with an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death and fatal sleeping accidents in certain circumstances. These hazards include parental smoking, sedating drugs or medication and alcohol consumption prior to sleep and sofa sharing situations. Bedsharing by breastfeeding mothers with their infants, in the absence of the above-mentioned risk factors, and with parents aware of how to ensure a safe infant sleep environment has not been shown to be associated with increased risk of Sudden Infant Death. This guidance does not advise on telling parents that they must never sleep with the baby, but rather instructs health professionals to give parents balanced advice to allow informed decision making, emphasizing the concept that parental room sharing without bedsharing is the safest place for the babies to sleep
Related Concept Videos
01:29Professional Values
The values that are the foundation of the nursing profession are altruism, autonomy, human dignity, and social justice.
First, altruism refers to the concern for the welfare and well-being of others without personal...
01:22The Professional Nurse
Communication skills: These are critical characteristics, especially speaking and listening.
01:21Health Literacy
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
01:11Purpose of Health Records I
Here's a breakdown of how health records serve these purposes:
01:19Purpose of Health Records II