Study: Safe Sleep Practices Often Changed in Infants After Nighttime Waking

A cross-sectional online survey of 1,500 parents of U.S. infants found that 39% reported changing their baby’s sleep practice after nighttime waking, with fewer than half of those adhering to safe sleep practices identified by the American Academy of Pediatrics. A study, “Safe Sleep Behaviors and Factors Associated with Infant Second Sleep Practices,” that analyzes results of the survey is published in the June 2022 Pediatrics (published online May 30). Researchers compared sleep practices of infants 12 months or younger at two timepoints – at sleep onset and after nighttime waking – to check for supine positioning, sleeping in a separate space and sleep location, based on the AAP 2016 Safe Infant Sleep recommendations. Fewer than half (44%) of parents adhered to all three safe sleep recommendations and a significantly larger proportion of changes in sleep practices were from a safe to an unsafe sleep practice. Participants were asked if they had put their baby back to sleep in a different place or location after nighttime waking in the past two weeks. The authors suggest these findings highlight that many parents may benefit from discussion with their pediatrician specifically focused on the importance of continued safe sleep practices after nighttime waking.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.