Virtually all moms (96%) say they know the rules for safe baby slumber, which include putting baby to sleep alone, on his back, in a crib. However, only 66% follow this advice, according to a survey conducted by American Baby and Safe Kids Worldwide.
Other findings included the following:
- 28% of moms with babies under age 1 put their baby to sleep on his/her stomach, a practice that leaves babies at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Of those, 47% do it before their baby turns 3 months old, despite the fact that the risk of SIDS is highest in the first 4 months.
- 73% percent of moms report they’ve placed at least one item inside the crib with their babies. A blanket was most common (59%), followed by bumpers (35%), stuffed animals (23%), and pillows (8%). All are suffocation hazards and can increase the risk of SIDS fivefold for babies under age 1.
- The high number of moms who say they sleep with their baby surprised experts; 65% of moms polled reported they’ve slept in bed with their infant, 38% do so regularly.
- 53% have slept on a couch with their infant. Studies show that about half of all suffocation deaths among infants happen in an adult bed.
