Infant sleep: resident recommendations and socioeconomic status differences in patient practices.
BACKGROUND
Although much research has focused on parental report of infant sleep position since the 1992 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendation for non-prone placement, few studies have examined physician recommendations regarding infant sleep. This study examined differences between resident recommendations for infant sleep position and cosleeping (bed sharing) and parental report of practice. We also assessed socioeconomic differences in parent practice, awareness, and acceptability of AAP guidelines.


METHODS
We conducted a telephone survey of parents of 2-, 4-, 8-, and 12-month-old infants from two family practice centers. All 27 residents at both centers completed a paper and pencil survey.


RESULTS
Resident recommendations and parental practices differed significantly for both sleep positioning and cosleeping. Parents of 165 infants participated, revealing that higher socioeconomic families were more aware of compliant with, and more accepting of AAP recommendations for supine positioning.


CONCLUSIONS
Parents consistently report that their physician or nurse is the primary source of information for infant sleep. Results of this study, however, indicate significant differences between physician recommendation and parental practice and acceptability of AAP guidelines. Physicians need to continue to discuss this information past the newborn period.
Morgan
S K
SK
Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant 48859, USA. Sandra.Morgan@cmich.edu
Johnson
C M
CM
D002668:Child Rearing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016684:Prone Position / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep; D012923:Social Class; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016683:Supine Position / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States