Birth Trauma / Medical Malpractice

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) this month updated its recommendations of ways to prevent sleep-related deaths for infants, and as part of that move it is now suggesting that crib bumper pads not be used by parents. 

http://www.aap.org/pressroom/sids.pdf

“Bumper pads should not be used in cribs,” the AAP said. “There is no evidence that bumper pads prevent injuries, and there is a potential risk of suffocation, strangulation or entrapment.”

In its press release, the AAP also said that when it recommended all babies should be placed on their backs to sleep in 1992, deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) have declined dramatically. But it said that sleep-related deaths from other causes, including suffocation, entrapment and asphyxia, have increased.

In an updated policy statement and technical report, the AAP expanded its guidelines on safe sleep for babies.

“We have tried to make it easier for parents and providers to understand the recommendations by providing specific answers to common questions,” said Dr. Rachel Moon, chair of the AAP SIDS task force and lead author of the new guidelines. “As a health care community, we need to do a better job translating what the research identifies as ‘best practices’ into the day-to-day practice of caring for infants in both the hospital and home environment.”

The policy statement, “SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Expansion of Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment,” and an accompanying technical report, were unveiled Oct. 18 at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition in Boston.

The policy statement and technical report provide global recommendations for education and safety related to SIDS risk reduction. In addition, the AAP is providing recommendations on a safe sleeping environment that can reduce the risk of all sleep-related infant deaths, including SIDS.

Three important additions to the recommendations included: Breastfeeding is recommended and is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS; and infants should be immunized because evidence suggests that immunization reduces the risk of SIDS by 50 percent.

“It is important for health care professionals, staff in newborn nurseries and neonatal intensive care units, and child care providers to endorse the recommended ways to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related deaths, starting at birth,” Dr. Moon said. “There needs to be more education for health care providers and trainees on how to prevent suffocation deaths and to reduce SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths – our goal is to ultimately eliminate these deaths completely.”

The report also included these recommendations:

1. Always place your baby on his or her back for every sleep time.
2. Always use a firm sleep surface. Car seats and other sitting devices are not recommended for routine sleep.
3. The baby should sleep in the same room as the parents, but not in the same bed (room-sharing without bed-sharing).
4. Keep soft objects or loose bedding out of the crib. This includes pillows, blankets and bumper pads.
5. Wedges and positioners should not be used.
6. Pregnant woman should receive regular prenatal care.
7. Don’t smoke during pregnancy or after birth.
8. Breastfeeding is recommended.
9. Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime.
10.  Avoid covering the infant’s head or overheating.
11. Do not use home monitors or commercial devices marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS.
12. Infants should receive all recommended vaccinations.
13. Supervised, awake tummy time is recommended daily to facilitate development and minimize
the occurrence of positional plagiocephaly (flat heads).