(Wichita, Kan.) — The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new safe sleep recommendations for infants, the first update since 2016. The revision emphasizes the need for infants to sleep on their backs on flat, non-inclined surfaces without soft bedding.

“These updated recommendations are an important step forward in further reducing infant deaths. It is indicative of the growing need to provide simple and consistent safe sleep messages,” said Christy Schunn, Executive Director of Kansas Infant Death and SIDS Network.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reported an infant mortality rate of 7.1 for every 1,000 live births in 2020 — or a total of 224 reported infant deaths in Kansas. “This is too many babies dying before their first birthday,” said Schunn. "The KIDS Network is committed to working with community partners to continue intervention efforts to decrease infant mortality, reduce racial disparity within birth outcomes and protect the lives of our state’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens."

To reduce the risk of sleep-related infant death, the AAP recommends:

• Back to sleep for every sleep.
• Use a firm, flat, noninclined sleep surface to reduce the risk of suffocation or wedging/entrapment.
• Feeding of human milk is recommended, as it is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS.
• It is recommended that infants sleep in the parents’ room, close to the parents’ bed, but on a separate surface designed for infants, ideally for at least the first 6 months.
• Keep soft objects, such as pillows, pillow-like toys, quilts, comforters, mattress toppers, fur-like materials, and loose bedding, such as blankets and nonfitted sheets, away from the infant’s sleep area to reduce the risk of SIDS, suffocation, entrapment/wedging, and strangulation.
• Offering a pacifier at nap time and bedtime is recommended to reduce the risk of SIDS.
• Avoid smoke and nicotine exposure during pregnancy and after birth. 
• Avoid alcohol, marijuana, opioids, and illicit drug use during pregnancy and after birth.
• Avoid overheating and head covering in infants.

More information about reducing sleep-related infant deaths and the science behind the recommendations can be found here.

“The updated Safe Sleep Recommendations offer us the opportunity to address the issue with more precision,” Schunn said. The KIDS Network will incorporate the updated recommendations into their Safe Sleep Instructor (SSI) Certification program. The SSI program certifies instructors to educate parents, childcare providers and other healthcare professionals through trainings and Safe Sleep Community Baby Showers/Crib Clinics. These training events connect expectant parents and their support people with local resources to learn about infant safe sleep, breastfeeding, maternal mental health, and tobacco cessation. Certified Safe Sleep Instructors can be found at KIDSKS.org.

“Through our outreach efforts, the KIDS Network has made strides in reducing infant mortality,” Schunn said. “But we still have work to do. The KIDS Network will be diligent in communicating the new recommendations to individual parents, caregivers, and health care professionals.”

Characteristics of Sleep-Related Infant Deaths in Kansas

• 55% were in an adult bed
• 61% were sharing a sleep surface
• 84% were not sleeping in a safety approved crib/bassinet
• 13% were sleeping on a couch
• 9% were sleeping in infant swings, floor, baskets, air mattresses, etc.
• 16% of the cases the mother/caregiver reportedly fell asleep while breast (10%) or bottle (6%) feeding the infant.
• 68% were less than 4 months old

(Source: State Child Death Review Board 2021 Annual Report)

Christy Schunn, Executive Director

Kansas Infant Death and SIDS Network

Tel: 316-682-1301

Fax: 316-682-1274

E-mail: edirector@kidsks.org

Website: kidsks.org