235483 Swaddling and safe sleeping practices in an inner city population

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 9:10 AM

Barbara Kelly, MD , Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
Monique Mondesir, MD , Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
Natalia Isaza, MD , Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
Mathilde Irigoyen, MD , Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
Background: SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants and its prevalence is higher in African American populations. Sleeping prone and co-sleeping are major risk factors for SIDS. Swaddling has been shown to decrease the likelihood of SIDS but has not been evaluated as a strategy to promote safe sleeping practices. Objective: to assess the acceptability of swaddling and its association with safe sleeping practices in an inner city patient population. Methods: A systematic sample of postpartum mothers was offered a swaddling blanket, taught how to use it, and followed for up to 6 months to explore use and satisfaction with swaddling and implementation of safe sleeping practices. Results: 70 mothers were enrolled: mean age 24 yrs (17-42 yrs); 84% African American; 21% less than high school; 90% Medicaid. 59% primipara; 60% of infants initially breastfed. 78% were followed for up to 6 months. The majority of mothers (85%) swaddled their babies; 74% for at least 6 weeks. Most mothers felt their babies liked being swaddled. When babies were swaddled, 95% were placed on their backs to sleep and 90% slept in a crib/bassinette. There was a positive correlation between swaddling and back sleeping (Spearman corr 0.287, p 0.03) at the one week visit. Conclusion: In an inner city population, swaddling was well accepted and the majority of mothers used safe sleeping practices when swaddling their infants. Swaddling appears to be a promising public health strategy to promote safe sleeping practices in infants and should be explored further.

Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Describe safe sleep practices and their risks Describe the association between swaddling, back sleeping and co-sleeping.

Keywords: SIDS, Infant Mortality

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a pediatric resident and have no Conflict of Interest
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.