To reduce sleep deaths, the AAP’s ABCs of sleep are paramount:
A=place infants Alone,
B=on their Back and
C=in a clear Crib with only a firm mattress and a tight-fitting sheet.
In 2016, the AAP updated their sleep recommendations. Let’s hear how they expanded them:
- Back to sleep for every sleep: Head of bed elevation has not been found to be protective against reflux, so is no longer recommended!
- Firm surface covered by a fitted sheet: no soft bedding, no bumpers, cribs must meet CPSC requirements. NO sleeping in car seats, swings, or carriers.
- Breastfeed: At least until 6 months if possible; 12 months is even better!
- Room-sharing without bed sharing: A child’s crib should be in the caregiver’s room, ideally until 12 months (but if you can make it to 6 months, that’s great!)
- Keep everything out of the crib: no blankets or pillows, place in a sleep sack. Swaddling has not been found to be protective against SUID.
- Consider offering a pacifier: they are felt to be protective against SUID. The mechanism is unclear, but even if they fall out, still felt to be protective.
- Avoid smoking, drug use and alcohol: during pregnancy and the newborn period (AND especially if bed-sharing, which is NOT recommended).
- Avoid over-heating and head-covering in newborns: once the newborn can regulate temperature, stop covering the head and avoid over-bundling (no more than one layer over what you are wearing).
- Pregnant women should get routine prenatal care.
- Vaccinate per the CDC/AAP guidelines.
- Avoid use of devices that go against these regulations (bumpers/dock-a-tots).
- Cardio-respiratory monitors do not prevent SIDS (owlets).
- Supervised tummy time is recommended.
- Healthcare and childcare providers should model safe sleep: NICU’s should model these recommendations as soon as the patient is stable. Nurseries should model immediately. All daycares should model with every sleep.
TO CLAIM YOUR CME for this article click below but please read both articles before.
https://choacme.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5o76o2OYuBff6XX