The changing concept of sudden infant death syndrome: Diagnostic coding shifts, controversies regarding the sleeping environment, and new variables to consider in reducing risk

John Kattwinkel, Fern R. Hauck, Maurice E. Keenan, Michael Malloy, Rachel Y. Moon, Marian Willinger, James Couto

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

571 Scopus citations

Abstract

There has been a major decrease in the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) since the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its recommendation in 1992 that infants be placed down for sleep in a nonprone position. Although the SIDS rate continues to fall, some of the recent decrease of the last several years may be a result of coding shifts to other causes of unexpected infant deaths. Since the AAP published its last statement on SIDS in 2000, several issues have become relevant, including the significant risk of side sleeping position; the AAP no longer recognizes side sleeping as a reasonable alternative to fully supine sleeping. The AAP also stresses the need to avoid redundant soft bedding and soft objects in the infant's sleeping environment, the hazards of adults sleeping with an infant in the same bed, the SIDS risk reduction associated with having infants sleep in the same room as adults and with using pacifiers at the time of sleep, the importance of educating secondary caregivers and neonatology practitioners on the importance of "back to sleep," and strategies to reduce the incidence of positional plagiocephaly associated with supine positioning. This statement reviews the evidence associated with these and other SIDS-related issues and proposes new recommendations for further reducing SIDS risk.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1245-1255
Number of pages11
JournalPediatrics
Volume116
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2005

Keywords

  • Infant bedding
  • Infant mortality
  • Infant sleep
  • SIDS
  • Sudden infant death syndrome
  • Sudden unexpected infant death
  • Supine position

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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