Wide variations in how mothers report adhering to safe sleep practices

Parents are encouraged to use safe sleep practices with their infants — including placing sleeping babies on their backs — to avoid risks such as SIDS, but a new study finds there isn’t universal adherence to these recommendations. Researchers used CDC survey data of new mothers in 29 states and found that 78% said they usually placed their infants on their back. However, only 57% reported sharing a room without sharing a bed, while about 42% avoided using a soft-bedding surface, both of which are practices endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. There was also wide variation in the advice the mothers say they received from their physicians: Most reported hearing about placing infants on their backs while less than half said they were told about room sharing without bed sharing.