Decline in Safe Sleep Practices During and After Infant Illness

Recent research highlights a concerning trend among caregivers of infants: adherence to recommended safe sleep practices diminishes during periods of illness and persists even after recovery. A study published in the journal Pediatrics examined how caregivers' sleep arrangements for infants change in these critical times. The study involved a prospective cohort of caregivers whose infants, aged 0 to 12 months, were presented at emergency departments for low-acuity illnesses.

Findings revealed that overall compliance with the American Academy of Pediatrics' safe sleep guidelines was notably low, with less than 10% adherence across all time points. During illness episodes, a significant increase in bed-sharing was observed, rising from 57.3% to 68.7%, and this trend continued at follow-up, reaching 83.6%. Conversely, the practice of placing infants in cribs or pack 'n' plays decreased from 61.8% before illness to 48.1% during illness, with this decline remaining steady afterward.

Caregiver motivations also shifted during illness; safety concerns were less frequently cited as reasons for sleep arrangements (46.6% during illness versus 42.0%), while family influence became more prominent (5.3% to 15.3%). These alterations in sleep practices were not merely temporary; they persisted beyond the acute illness period, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to reinforce safe sleep behaviors during illness episodes.

This study underscores the importance of educating caregivers on maintaining safe sleep environments, especially during periods when infants are ill, to reduce risks associated with unsafe sleep practices.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-adherence-safe-declines-infant-illness.html