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Sleeping Prone and the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

JAMAPublished 6 May 1992
Warren G. Guntheroth
Citations118
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score5.35
SNIP10.71

TL;DR

Analysis of reports that show a relationship between sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and the prone sleeping position in infants suggests that avoiding the prone position for infants in the first 6 months of life could reduce the number of SIDS deaths by as much as 50%.

Abstract

We recommended avoidance of the prone sleeping position for infants in the first 6 months of life unless there is a specific medical indication for it. Reports from the Netherlands, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand indicate that avoiding the prone position for infants in the first 6 months of life could reduce the number of SIDS deaths by as much as 50%. Unfortunately, these findings have received little attention in North America. We offer here an analysis of these reports so that physicians can assess the evidence and advise parents accordingly.

Keywords

MedicineNeuroscience