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Safe Sleep Recommendations

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Infant Safe Sleep

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Abstract

Each year in the United States, approximately 3600 infants die from sleep-related infant deaths (such as sudden infant death syndrome [SIDS], accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and ill-defined deaths). For the past four decades, the American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on SIDS has systematically reviewed the epidemiologic evidence on risk factors for sleep-related infant deaths and has released recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment. The most recent (2016) recommendations include back sleep position, a firm and flat sleep surface, room-sharing without bed-sharing, and avoidance of soft bedding and overheating. Additional recommendations include avoidance of exposure to smoke, alcohol, and illicit drugs during pregnancy and after birth; breastfeeding; routine immunization; and use of a pacifier. Recommendations are described in detail, along with a brief description of the evidence for each recommendation.

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Abbreviations

AAP:

American Academy of Pediatrics

CDC:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CPSC:

Consumer Product Safety Commission

OR:

Odds ratio

SIDS:

Sudden infant death syndrome

SUID:

Sudden unexpected infant death

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Work, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Trina C. Salm Ward

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  1. Trina C. Salm Ward
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Correspondence to Trina C. Salm Ward .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Rachel Y. Moon

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Salm Ward, T.C. (2020). Safe Sleep Recommendations. In: Moon, R. (eds) Infant Safe Sleep. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47542-0_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47542-0_3

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-47542-0

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