OBJECTIVE: This study determined whether knowledge of sleeping in the prone position as a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) influences caregivers' positioning of their infants for play and sleep. METHODOLOGY: One hundred caregivers attending Adelaide metropolitan Child Adolescent and Family Health Services (CAFHS) were surveyed by self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Ninety-three per cent of parents reported that their knowledge of SIDS influenced infant positioning for sleep and 84% reported they never put their infant in the prone position for sleep. Thirty-seven per cent reported that SIDS knowledge did influence play positioning and 26% reported never placing their infant prone for play. There was a significant association (P = 0.002) between the influence of SIDS knowledge on play positioning and avoidance of the prone position for play. CONCLUSIONS: Community educators may need to clarify that prone positioning for play is not a risk factor for SIDS and that it is desirable for infants to spend supervised wakeful time in the prone position.
OBJECTIVE: This study determined whether knowledge of sleeping in the prone position as a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) influences caregivers' positioning of their infants for play and sleep. METHODOLOGY: One hundred caregivers attending Adelaide metropolitan Child Adolescent and Family Health Services (CAFHS) were surveyed by self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Ninety-three per cent of parents reported that their knowledge of SIDS influenced infant positioning for sleep and 84% reported they never put their infant in the prone position for sleep. Thirty-seven per cent reported that SIDS knowledge did influence play positioning and 26% reported never placing their infant prone for play. There was a significant association (P = 0.002) between the influence of SIDS knowledge on play positioning and avoidance of the prone position for play. CONCLUSIONS: Community educators may need to clarify that prone positioning for play is not a risk factor for SIDS and that it is desirable for infants to spend supervised wakeful time in the prone position.