New guidelines say babies should sleep in their parents’ room for a year
Miami — To reduce the risk of sudden death, babies should sleep in the same room as their parents, but in their own cribs or bassinets for the first year of life, US doctors said on Monday. The new policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics still says babies should sleep on their backs, on a clean surface free of toys and blankets, a guideline that has been in place since the 1990s and has reduced sudden infant deaths about 50%. But still about 3,500 babies die every year in the US from sleep-related deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and accidental suffocation and strangulation. The main change in the AAP guidelines, which were last issued in 2011, is the specific call for infants to stay in their parents’ room for six months to a year if possible — but not sleep in the same bed. "Parents should never place the baby on a sofa, couch, or cushioned chair, either alone or sleeping with another person," said lead author Rachel Moon. "We know that these su...
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