Baby boxes distributed to new parents reduced the number of parents who shared beds with babies by 25%, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“We are pleased with the results of this first-of-its-kind study,” said Megan Heere, lead investigator and medical director of the Well Baby Nursery at Temple University Hospital. “Future studies are needed to determine if the effect of this intervention is sustainable through the first six to 12 months of life, and if this intervention can significantly reduce the incidence of sleep-related death in large populations over time.”
Bed sharing has been linked to sleep-related deaths in infants, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and accidental suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that babies sleep in the same room as a parent or caregiver for the first six months of life and preferably the first year, but that they not share a bed. Babies should also be put to sleep on their backs on a firm mattress without blankets or other loose bedding, bumpers, or stuffed toys.
Get the whole story at www.philly.com
