Bed-sharing with infants in a time of SIDS awareness

Homer, C; Armari, E; Fowler, C

Bed-sharing with infants in a time of SIDS awareness

Homer, C

Armari, E Fowler, C

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Neonatal, Paediatric and Child Health Nursing, 2012, 15 (2), pp. 3 - 7
Issue Date:: 2012-07-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Homer, C https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7454-3011	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Armari, E	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Fowler, C https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7838-8434	en_US
dc.date.issued	2012-07-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Neonatal, Paediatric and Child Health Nursing, 2012, 15 (2), pp. 3 - 7	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1441-6638	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/31490
dc.description.abstract	Objective Risks associated with maternal-infant bed-sharing are widely documented and promoted. This study aims to examine sleep patterns and strategies including bed-sharing. Methods Women aged over 18 who have infants aged up to 24 months were eligible to participate in an anonymous online questionnaire in March 2010. A representative sample of 1,000 respondents was randomly selected from a total sample of 2000. Results The challenge of facilitating infant sleeping was highlighted, with 92% of respondents having difficulties at some point. Almost all (97%) felt sleep-deprived at some time, with almost half reporting that they were always or regularly deprived of sleep. Sleep deprivation exacerbated exhaustion or feeling run down (75%), irritability (70%), made mothers less patient with their infants (63%) and put additional strain on their relationship with their partner (37%). Strategies to facilitate infant sleeping included rocking and patting (50%), giving a dummy/comforter (46%) and allowing the baby to fall asleep in their arms (47%) or after feeding (45%). Just under half (41%) utilised bed-sharing as a sleep strategy at night. Bed-sharing was more likely to be used if babies experienced frequent waking at night and unstable sleep patterns. Conclusions Maternal-infant bed-sharing continues to be an infant sleep strategy used by mothers, despite the risks involved. Implications This study highlights that mothers still continue to bed-share despite preventative health campaigns and the known risks. Thus, health promotion should be modified to include a stronger emphasis on risk minimisation strategies.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Neonatal, Paediatric and Child Health Nursing	en_US
dc.title	Bed-sharing with infants in a time of SIDS awareness	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	15	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Nursing
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - WHO CC
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	15	en_US

Abstract:

Objective Risks associated with maternal-infant bed-sharing are widely documented and promoted. This study aims to examine sleep patterns and strategies including bed-sharing. Methods Women aged over 18 who have infants aged up to 24 months were eligible to participate in an anonymous online questionnaire in March 2010. A representative sample of 1,000 respondents was randomly selected from a total sample of 2000. Results The challenge of facilitating infant sleeping was highlighted, with 92% of respondents having difficulties at some point. Almost all (97%) felt sleep-deprived at some time, with almost half reporting that they were always or regularly deprived of sleep. Sleep deprivation exacerbated exhaustion or feeling run down (75%), irritability (70%), made mothers less patient with their infants (63%) and put additional strain on their relationship with their partner (37%). Strategies to facilitate infant sleeping included rocking and patting (50%), giving a dummy/comforter (46%) and allowing the baby to fall asleep in their arms (47%) or after feeding (45%). Just under half (41%) utilised bed-sharing as a sleep strategy at night. Bed-sharing was more likely to be used if babies experienced frequent waking at night and unstable sleep patterns. Conclusions Maternal-infant bed-sharing continues to be an infant sleep strategy used by mothers, despite the risks involved. Implications This study highlights that mothers still continue to bed-share despite preventative health campaigns and the known risks. Thus, health promotion should be modified to include a stronger emphasis on risk minimisation strategies.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/31490