The Tension Between AAP Safe Sleep Guidelines and Infant Sleep.

OBJECTIVES: To understand tension mothers experience when attempting to follow American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep guidelines and enhancing infant and parental sleep. METHODS: Surveys and focus groups were conducted from November 2022 and March 2023 with United States-based English-speaking mothers of infants <6 months of age recruited via social media and who reported a nonrecommended sleep position and/or location ≥2 times the prior week. RESULTS: Twenty-five mothers participated in focus groups and surveys. A total of 80% reported holding or rocking their infant to sleep; 76% fed their infant to sleep. Almost all were aware of the ABCs (Alone, Back, Crib) of safe sleep and intended to follow them before delivery. Many felt that ABCs were unrealistic and placed their infants in nonrecommended locations or positions because they perceived them as more comfortable and helping their infant fall and stay asleep. Mothers were more likely to use nonrecommended practices when they were awake or sleeping nearby and believed they could closely monitor their infant. Some questioned whether ABCs were the only way to achieve safe sleep. Some prioritized other safety concerns (eg, fall prevention) over sudden infant death syndrome or sudden unexpected infant death prevention. Mothers expressed confidence about getting their baby to sleep in general but were less confident that they could do this while following guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Despite awareness of the ABCs, mothers regularly engaged in nonrecommended practices with the goal of improving their own and their infant's sleep. Interventions focused on improving infant and parental sleep while maintaining sleep safety are needed.

Maternal Education and Child Self-Regulation: Do Maternal Self-Regulation and Responsiveness Mediate the Association?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the mediating role of observed maternal responsiveness and maternal self-regulation on the association between maternal education and children's self-regulation. METHODS: English-speaking mother-child dyads (n = 189) were recruited from a previous study and were eligible if the child was kindergarten eligible at the start of the 2020 to 2021 or 2021 to 2022 school year. Key measures included: Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-Short Form for maternal emotional self-regulation, Culturally Affirming and Responsive Experiences for maternal responsiveness, and the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders for child self-regulation. The association between years of maternal education and child self-regulation was examined with linear regression, and the mediation analyses utilized 4 subsequent steps examining their relations. These steps were checked through a series of linear regressions, and beta weights were used to describe associations. Each potential mediator was examined separately. RESULTS: Children of mothers with higher education had significantly higher self-regulation, slope of 1.3 (95% confidence interval 0.3, 2.4, P = 0.015, beta = 0.18). Further, mothers with higher education had significantly higher observed responsiveness. The beta-weight of 0.34 (P < 0.001) supported maternal responsiveness as a mediator. Finally, in the test for direct and indirect effects, observed maternal responsiveness explained 29% (95% confidence interval 3.3%, 115%) of the association between maternal education and child self-regulation. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights a key mechanism related to children's self-regulation skills and the significant role of observed maternal responsiveness in explaining the association between maternal education and child self-regulation.

Maternal Informal Learning Experiences that Shape Parenting Practices.

Objective: Current understanding of the linkage between maternal education and parenting practices has largely been informed using a narrow definition of educational attainment-the highest level of education an individual has completed. However, the proximal processes that shape parenting, including informal learning experiences, are also important to understand. Less is known about the informal learning experiences that shape parenting decisions and practices. To this end, we conducted a qualitative inquiry about the informal learning experiences of mothers of children ages 3 to 4 years with the specific goal of understanding how maternal informal learning experiences shape parenting decisions and practices. Design: We conducted interviews with 53 mothers from across the United States who had previously participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an intervention targeting infant care practices. We recruited a purposive sample of mothers chosen to maximize diversity across educational attainment and adherence to infant care practices targeted in the RCT. Using a grounded theory approach, data were analyzed using an iterative process for organizing codes and themes that mothers identified as informal learning experiences. Results: We identified seven themes representing distinct types of maternal informal learning experiences that impact parenting practices, including: (1) experiential learning during childhood; (2) experiential learning during adulthood; (3) interpersonal interactions including via social media; (4) experiences with non-interactive media sources; (5) informal trainings; (6) beliefs; and (7) current circumstances. Conclusions: Multiple informal learning experiences inform the parenting decisions and practices of mothers with varying levels of formal educational attainment.

Evidence Base for 2022 Updated Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment to Reduce the Risk of Sleep-Related Infant Deaths.

Every year in the United States, approximately 3500 infants die of sleep-related infant deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision [ICD-10] R95), ill-defined deaths (ICD-10 R99), and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ICD-10 W75). After a substantial decline in sleep-related deaths in the 1990s, the overall death rate attributable to sleep-related infant deaths have remained stagnant since 2000, and disparities persist. The triple risk model proposes that SIDS occurs when an infant with intrinsic vulnerability (often manifested by impaired arousal, cardiorespiratory, and/or autonomic responses) undergoes an exogenous trigger event (eg, exposure to an unsafe sleeping environment) during a critical developmental period. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a safe sleep environment to reduce the risk of all sleep-related deaths. This includes supine positioning; use of a firm, noninclined sleep surface; room sharing without bed sharing; and avoidance of soft bedding and overheating. Additional recommendations for SIDS risk reduction include human milk feeding; avoidance of exposure to nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, opioids, and illicit drugs; routine immunization; and use of a pacifier. New recommendations are presented regarding noninclined sleep surfaces, short-term emergency sleep locations, use of cardboard boxes as a sleep location, bed sharing, substance use, home cardiorespiratory monitors, and tummy time. In addition, additional information to assist parents, physicians, and nonphysician clinicians in assessing the risk of specific bed-sharing situations is included. The recommendations and strength of evidence for each recommendation are published in the accompanying policy statement, which is included in this issue.

Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment.

Each year in the United States, ∼3500 infants die of sleep-related infant deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision [ICD-10] R95), ill-defined deaths (ICD-10 R99), and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ICD-10 W75). After a substantial decline in sleep-related deaths in the 1990s, the overall death rate attributable to sleep-related infant deaths has remained stagnant since 2000, and disparities persist. The triple risk model proposes that SIDS occurs when an infant with intrinsic vulnerability (often manifested by impaired arousal, cardiorespiratory, and/or autonomic responses) undergoes an exogenous trigger event (eg, exposure to an unsafe sleeping environment) during a critical developmental period. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a safe sleep environment to reduce the risk of all sleep-related deaths. This includes supine positioning; use of a firm, noninclined sleep surface; room sharing without bed sharing; and avoidance of soft bedding and overheating. Additional recommendations for SIDS risk reduction include human milk feeding; avoidance of exposure to nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, opioids, and illicit drugs; routine immunization; and use of a pacifier. New recommendations are presented regarding noninclined sleep surfaces, short-term emergency sleep locations, use of cardboard boxes as a sleep location, bed sharing, substance use, home cardiorespiratory monitors, and tummy time. Additional information to assist parents, physicians, and nonphysician clinicians in assessing the risk of specific bed-sharing situations is also included. The recommendations and strength of evidence for each recommendation are included in this policy statement. The rationale for these recommendations is discussed in detail in the accompanying technical report.

The Impact of Breastfeeding and Safe Sleep Mobile Health Messaging on Breastfeeding and Bedsharing.

OBJECTIVE: Mobile health (mHealth) safe sleep messaging increases rates of safe sleep. Bedsharing is more common among breastfeeders. Advice to not bedshare may negatively impact breastfeeding. We compared the impact of safe sleep or breastfeeding mHealth messaging on bedsharing and breastfeeding at 2 to 5 months. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of mothers who initiated breastfeeding from a cluster randomized clinical trial of mHealth messaging for safe sleep or breastfeeding. A multi-ethnic sample of 1600 mothers was recruited from 16 US birth hospitals and surveyed at 2 to 5 months regarding the previous 2 weeks' breastfeeding and bedsharing practices. Data on 997 mothers who initiated breastfeeding were analyzed with multivariable generalized estimating logistic regression models to examine the association of mHealth messaging with infant care practices. RESULTS: Overall, exposure to breastfeeding versus safe sleep messaging was not associated with a difference in any breastfeeding at 2 to 5 months (69.3% vs 65.5%, respectively; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.33 [95% confidence interval, 0.91, 1.94]). Women with shorter planned duration of breastfeeding who received breastfeeding messaging had increased odds of breastfeeding at 2 to 5 months (50% vs 31%; aOR 3.13 [95% CI, 1.47, 6.65]). Mothers who received safe sleep messaging had lower rates of bedsharing overall when compared to breastfeeding messaging (24.8% vs 35.2%; aOR = 0.58 [95% CI, 0.44, 0.78]). CONCLUSIONS: In this large multi-ethnic US sample, receipt of safe sleep mHealth messaging was associated with lower rates of bedsharing without negatively impacting breastfeeding rates. Future research should focus on continued development of interventions to improve adherence to both safe sleep and breastfeeding recommendations.

Transition to a Safe Home Sleep Environment for the NICU Patient.

Of the nearly 3.8 million infants born in the United States in 2018, 8.3% had low birth weight (ie, weight <2500 g) and 10% were born preterm (ie, gestational age of <37 weeks). Ten to fifteen percent of infants (approximately 500 000 annually), including low birth weight and preterm infants and others with congenital anomalies, perinatally acquired infections, and other diseases, require admission to a NICU. Every year, approximately 3600 infants in the United States die of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), unknown and undetermined causes, and accidental suffocation and strangulation in an unsafe sleep environment. Preterm and low birth weight infants are 2 to 3 times more likely than healthy term infants to die suddenly and unexpectedly. Thus, it is important that health care professionals prepare families to maintain their infant in a safe home sleep environment as per recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Medical needs of the NICU infant often require practices such as nonsupine positioning, which should be transitioned as soon as medically possible and well before hospital discharge to sleep practices that are safe and appropriate for the home environment. This clinical report outlines the establishment of appropriate NICU protocols for the timely transition of these infants to a safe home sleep environment. The rationale for these recommendations is discussed in the accompanying technical report "Transition to a Safe Home Sleep Environment for the NICU Patient," included in this issue of Pediatrics.

Transition to a Safe Home Sleep Environment for the NICU Patient.

Of the nearly 3.8 million infants born in the United States in 2018, 8.3% had low birth weight (<2500 g [5.5 lb]) and 10% were born preterm (gestational age of <37 completed weeks). Many of these infants and others with congenital anomalies, perinatally acquired infections, and other disease require admission to a NICU. In the past decade, admission rates to NICUs have been increasing; it is estimated that between 10% and 15% of infants will spend time in a NICU, representing approximately 500 000 neonates annually. Approximately 3600 infants die annually in the United States from sleep-related deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (R95), ill-defined deaths (R99), and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (W75). Preterm and low birth weight infants are particularly vulnerable, with an incidence of death 2 to 3 times greater than healthy term infants. Thus, it is important for health care professionals to prepare families to maintain their infant in a safe sleep environment, as per the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, infants in the NICU setting commonly require care that is inconsistent with infant sleep safety recommendations. The conflicting needs of the NICU infant with the necessity to provide a safe sleep environment before hospital discharge can create confusion for providers and distress for families. This technical report is intended to assist in the establishment of appropriate NICU protocols to achieve a consistent approach to transitioning NICU infants to a safe sleep environment as soon as medically possible, well before hospital discharge.

Impact of Personal Social Network Types on Breastfeeding Practices in United States-Born Black and White Women.

Background: An individual's personal social network influences behavior; one is more likely to adopt behaviors consistent with norms within the network to avoid social stigma. Personal social network types, which are associated with individual behaviors, have been identified for new mothers: exclusive (kin centric) and expansive (not kin centric). Objective: To analyze the impact of personal social network type on breastfeeding practices in U.S.-born Black and White mothers. Methods: Mothers of infants <6 months old completed surveys about their personal social networks and feeding practices. Multinomial logit models examined how social network types moderated effects of sociodemographic factors on feeding practices. Results: Of 402 mothers, 67% self-identified as Black and 33% as White. Forty-six percent were exclusively breastfeeding; 26% were mixed breast and formula feeding. The likelihood of exclusively breastfeeding was positively associated with percentage of network members who had breastfed; this association was stronger for mothers with exclusive networks than those with expansive networks (ß = 2.74, p < 0.001 versus ß = 1.78, p = 0.03). Black race was positively correlated with exclusive breastfeeding or mixed feeding for mothers with exclusive networks (ß = 1.50, p = 0.046; ß = 1.86, p = 0.02, respectively). Lower educational level was negatively correlated with exclusive breastfeeding; this correlation was stronger for mothers with exclusive networks (ß = -1.91, p = 0.002 versus ß = -1.70, p = 0.04). Lower educational level was also negatively correlated with mixed feeding for mothers with exclusive networks (ß = -1.61, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Mothers' personal social network type likely moderates the relationship between sociodemographic variables and feeding practices. While the influence of having network members with breastfeeding experience is important, the magnitude of influence is stronger in exclusive networks.

Disparities in Breastfeeding Among U.S. Black Mothers: Identification of Mechanisms.

Objective: Disparities in U.S. breastfeeding rates persist among Black mothers according to birth country and between Black and White mothers, necessitating further investigation of modifiable mediating factors to inform interventions. This study seeks to examine the extent that social, maternal, infant factors and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) domains (attitudes, perceived control, and subjective norms) mediate the association of maternal race/birth country and breastfeeding continuation. Methods: A national cohort of 2,050 mothers self-identifying as U.S.-born non-Hispanic Black (n = 689), foreign-born non-Hispanic Black (n = 139), and U.S.-born non-Hispanic White (n = 1,222) was analyzed. Using logistic regression, associations of race/birth country and any/exclusive breastfeeding at 2-6 months were examined. Structural equation modeling was used to determine whether social, maternal, and infant factors and TPB domains mediate these relationships. Results: 40.0% of U.S.-born Black, 82.2% of foreign-born Black, and 57.3% of U.S.-born White mothers reported any breastfeeding at 2-6 months. Compared with U.S.-born Black mothers, odds of any breastfeeding were sevenfold higher among foreign-born Black mothers (odds ratio [OR] = 7.04 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.80-10.31), which was explained partly by social/maternal/infant factors and TPB domains. Compared with U.S.-born White mothers, any breastfeeding was lower (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.40-0.73) among U.S.-born Black mothers and higher (OR = 3.81, 95% CI = 2.48-5.87) among foreign-born Black mothers; these differences were also mediated by the aforementioned factors. Conclusions: Among Black mothers in the United States, breastfeeding continuation varied substantially by birth country. Promotion of interventions targeting positive attitudes, perceived control, and subjective norms may reduce disparities among Black and between Black and White mothers.

Can respondent driven sampling be used to recruit new mothers? A mixed methods study in metropolitan Washington DC.

BACKGROUND: Respondent driven sampling (RDS) is employed to recruit populations that are hard-to-reach, "hidden," or without a sampling frame. For new mothers (those with infants <6 months) in countries without national health care systems or registries, there is no sampling frame, and random samples may only be attained through costly strategies, e.g., random-dial calling. OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of RDS to recruit new mothers. METHODS: In the initial study, we recruited 30 new mothers ("seeds") from a single birth hospital; each was given 3 referral coupons to give to other mothers ("referrals"). When our sample did not self-perpetuate with referrals, additional seeds were recruited. Demographics of seeds and referrals were compared. A subset of mothers participated in focus groups and were asked about their experience with RDS. We also conducted a second survey of new mothers to further assess feasibility of RDS in this population. RESULTS: Of the 402 mothers recruited in the initial study, 305 were seeds and only 97 were referrals. Referrals were more likely to be White, highly educated, older, and privately insured (all p≤0.001). Focus group participants indicated that the time required to meet other mothers was an important barrier. In the second survey we recruited 201 mothers; only 53.7% knew ≥1 mother whom they could invite to the study. CONCLUSIONS: New mothers are not easily recruited using RDS because they have a limited number of contacts who are also new mothers. Those recruited through RDS are more likely to be older, Caucasian and of high socioeconomic status, indicating it is not an effective way to recruit a representative sample of new mothers.

Social network influences on new mothers' infant sleep adjustments.

Despite public awareness campaigns, some parents continue to engage in infant sleep practices that are considered risky by health experts, such as bedsharing or placing their infants on their stomachs. This study examines the role their social networks play in shaping parents' responsiveness to new information and/or suggestions about how they should place their infants for sleep, paying attention to the respective effects of health professionals and their close interpersonal ties. We collected data from a sample of 323 new mothers in Washington, D.C., who described their infant sleep practices and perceived personal social networks. We find evidence that mothers' social networks play a significant role in the likelihood that they adjust their infant sleep practices within the first few months of their infants' lives. Mothers are more likely to change sleep practices when health professionals and/or (lay) family members advise them to do so. The influence of network members is not always positive. For mothers who initially follow safe practices, their probability of change increases if their network members substantially espouse unsafe practices. Among mothers with initially unsafe practices, network members' level of support for safe sleep practices is not predictive of the likelihood of sleep practice change. Implications for potential interventions are discussed.

Investigating Mechanisms for Maternal Education Disparities in Enacting Health-Promoting Infant Care Practices.

BACKGROUND: Although higher education and healthier practices are positively associated, the explanatory mechanisms for this association remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to better understand mechanisms underlying this association by examining maternal adherence to 2 health-promoting infant care practices: supine placement and breastfeeding. METHODS: We analyzed nationally representative data from the Study of Attitudes and Factors Effecting Infant Care, which surveyed US mothers after infant birth and 2 months thereafter. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a framework, we used structural equation models to elucidate mediational pathways from maternal education to supine infant placement or any breastfeeding. RESULTS: Data from 3297 mothers demonstrated 77.0% of infants usually were placed supine, and 57.8% received any breastfeeding. The overall direct effect of maternal educational level on supine placement and any breastfeeding was odds ratio (OR) 1.31 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.54) and OR 2.82 (95% CI 2.35-3.37), respectively. In pathway analyses, the strongest associations with both supine position and breastfeeding were seen with positive attitudes (supine: aOR 18.96, 95% CI 9.00-39.92; breastfeeding: aOR 3.86, 95% CI 2.19-6.82) and positive social norms (supine: aOR 6.69, 95% CI 4.52-9.89; breastfeeding: aOR 5.17, 95% CI 4.28-6.23). Mothers with more education had higher odds of both positive attitudes and positive norms for the 2 practices. CONCLUSIONS: The associations linking educational attainment with health practices are intricate, with multiple mediating pathways. Attitudes and social norms are powerful forces that mediate the association between maternal educational attainment and both infant supine positioning and breastfeeding, and may be important mediators for other health behaviors.

Factors Associated With Choice of Infant Sleep Location.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of and factors associated with actual recent practice and near-future intention for infant sleep location in a national sample. METHODS: There were 3260 mothers from 32 US hospitals who responded to a survey at infant age 2 to 6 months regarding care practices, including usual and all infant sleep locations in the previous 2 weeks and intended location for the next 2 weeks. Mothers were categorized as (1) having practiced and/or intending to practice exclusive room-sharing without bed-sharing, (2) having practiced anything other than exclusive room-sharing but intending to practice exclusive room-sharing, (3) intending to have the infant sleep in another room; and (4) intending to practice bed-sharing all night or part of the night. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression examined associations between sleep-location category, demographics, feeding method, doctor advice, and theory of planned behavior domains (attitudes, social norms, and perceived control). RESULTS: Fewer than half (45.4%) of the mothers practiced and also intended to practice room-sharing without bed-sharing, and 24.2% intended to practice some bed-sharing. Factors associated with intended bed-sharing included African American race and exclusive breastfeeding; however, the highest likelihood of bed-sharing intent was associated with perceived social norms favoring bed-sharing (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.14-8.22) and positive attitudes toward bed-sharing (aOR 190.1; 95% CI 62.4-579.0). Women with a doctor's advice to room-share without bed-sharing intended to practice bed-sharing less (aOR 0.56; 95% CI 0.36-0.85). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep-location practices do not always align with the recommendation to room-share without bed-sharing, and intention does not always correspond with previous practice. Attitudes, perceived social norms, and doctor advice are factors that are amenable to change and should be considered in educational interventions.

Inconsistent classification of unexplained sudden deaths in infants and children hinders surveillance, prevention and research: recommendations from The 3rd International Congress on Sudden Infant and Child Death.

This report details the proceedings and conclusions from the 3rd International Congress on Unexplained Deaths in Infants and Children, held November 26-27, 2018 at the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University. The Congress was motivated by the increasing rejection of the diagnosis Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the medical examiner community, leading to falsely depressed reported SIDS rates and undermining the validity and reliability of the diagnosis, which remains a leading cause of infant and child mortality. We describe the diagnostic shift away from SIDS and the practical issues contributing to it. The Congress was attended by major figures and opinion leaders in this area from countries significantly engaged in this problem. Four categories (International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11 categories of MH11, MH12, MH14, PB00-PB0Z) were recommended for classification, and explicit definitions and guidance were provided for death certifiers. SIDS was reframed as unexplained sudden death in infancy or SIDS/MH11 to emphasize that either term signifies the lack of explanation following a rigorous investigation. A distinct category for children over the age of 1 was recommended (MH12). Definitions and exclusions were provided for the alternative categories of accidental asphyxia and undetermined. As recommended, unexplained sudden death in infancy or SIDS on a death certificate will code a unique, trackable entity, accurately reflecting the inability to determine a definitive explanation, while satisfying surveillance needs and reliable identification for research efforts. The conclusions will be submitted to the World Health Organization for inclusion in the upcoming ICD-11.