Sleeping Prone and the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

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.