(GERMANY OUT) baby is sleeping, (Photo by Wodicka/ullstein bild via Getty Images) The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its safe-sleep guidelines for infants, urging parents to make sure their baby sleeps on a flat — not inclined — surface without soft bedding and strongly advises against bedsharing.
The AAP’s first update to its safe infant sleep recommendations since 2016 was just published in the bulletin "Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment."The AAP says the risks of sleep-related infant deaths are up to 67 times higher when infants are sleeping with someone on a couch or soft armchair or cushion.
Researchers note the chances of death can be 10 times higher when infants are sleeping with someone who is impaired because of fatigue or use of sedating medications or substances such as alcohol or illicit drugs; or is a smoker.
The AAP also says the risks of sleeping on the same surface with someone else also increase 5-10 times when an infant is under four months of age; is sharing the surface with someone other than a parent; or is a pre-term or low-birthweight, regardless of other factors.The academy also called out the use of inclined chairs such as bouncers and rockers.