Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Survey of sleeping position recommendations for prematurely born infants on neonatal intensive care unit discharge

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
European Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Prematurely born infants are at an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), particularly when sleeping prone. Parents are strongly influenced in their choice of sleeping position for their infant by practitioners. The aim of this study was to determine the neonatal units’ recommendations regarding the sleeping position for premature infants prior to and after discharge and ascertain whether there had been changes from those recorded in a survey performed in 2001–2002.

Materials and methods

A questionnaire survey was sent to all 229 neonatal units in the United Kingdom; 80% responded.

Results and discussion

The majority (83%) of units utilized the supine sleep position for infants at least 1–2 weeks prior to discharge, but after discharge, only 38% of the units actively discouraged prone sleeping and 17% additionally recommended side sleeping. Compared to the previous survey, significantly more units started infants with supine sleeping 1–2 weeks prior to discharge (p < 0.0001) and fewer recommended side sleeping after discharge (p = 0.0015). However, disappointingly, less actively discouraged prone sleeping after discharge (p = 0.0001).

Conclusion

Recommendations regarding sleeping position for prematurely born infants after neonatal discharge by some practitioners remain inappropriate. Evidence-based guidelines are required as these would hopefully inform all neonatal units’ recommendations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

NICU:

neonatal intensive care unit

SIDS:

sudden infant death syndrome

VLBW:

very low birth weight

References

  1. Adams MM, Kugener B, Mirmiran M, Ariagno RL (1998) Survey of sleeping position after hospital discharge in healthy preterm infants. J Perinatol 18:168–172

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Arad-Cohen V, Cohen A, Triosh E (2000) The relationship between gastro-oesphageal reflux and apnoea in infants. J Pediatr 137:321–326

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bhat RY, Hannam S, Pressler R, Rafferty GF, Peacock JL, Greenough A (2006) Effect of prone and supine position on sleep, apneas and arousal in preterm infants. Pediatrics 118:101–107

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bhat RY, Leipala JA, Rafferty GF, Hannam S, Greenough A (2003) Survey of sleeping position recommendations for prematurely born infants on neonatal intensive care unit discharge. Eur J Pediatr 162(6):426–427

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bhat RY, Leipala JA, Singh NR, Rafferty GF, Hannam S, Greenough A (2003) Effect of posture on oxygenation, lung volume and respiratory mechanics in premature infants studied before discharge. Pediatrics 112:29–32

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Blair PS, Ward-Platt M, Smith IJ, Fleming PJ and the CESDI Sudi Research Group (2006) Sudden infant death syndrome and sleeping position in preterm and low birthweight infants: an opportunity for targeted intervention. Arch Dis Child 91:101–106

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Colson ER, Bergman DM, Shapiro E, Leventhal JH (2001) Position for newborn sleep: associations with parents’ perceptions of their nursery experience. Birth 28(4):249–253

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Dimitriou G, Greenough A, Castling D, Kavadia V (1996) A comparison of supine and prone positioning in oxygen-dependent and convalescent premature infants. Br J Intens Care 6:254–259

    Google Scholar 

  9. Elder DE, Campbell AJ, Doherty DA (2005) Prone or supine for infants with chronic lung disease at neonatal unit discharge. J Pediatr Child Health 41:180–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Fleming PJ, Blair S (2003) Sudden unexpected deaths after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit. Semin Neonatol 8:159–167

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Leipala J, Bhat RY, Rafferty GF, Hannam S, Greenough A (2003) Effect of posture on respiratory function and drive in preterm infants prior to discharge. Pediatr Pulmonol 36(4):295–300

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Malloy MH, Freeman DH (2000) Birth weight and gestational age specific sudden infant death syndrome mortality: United States 1991 versus 1995. Pediatrics 105(6):1227–1231

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Malloy MH, Hoffman HJ (1995) Prematurity, sudden infant death syndrome, and age of death. Pediatrics 96:464–471

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Oyen N, Markestad T, Skaerven R, Irgens LM, Helweg-Larsen K, Alm B, Norvenius G, Wennergren G (1997) Combined effects of sleeping position and prenatal risk factors in sudden infant death syndrome: the Nordic Epidemiological SIDS Study. Pediatrics 100(4):613–621

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Vernacchio L, Corwin MJ, Lesko SM, Vezina RM, Hunt CE, Hoffman JH, Willinger M, Mitchell AA (2003) Sleep position of very low birthweight infants. Pediatrics 111:633–640

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Dr Harish Rao is supported by the Foundation for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Dr Caroline May by the Wolfson Foundation. We thank Mrs Deirdre Gibbons for secretarial assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, King’s College London, MRC-Asthma Centre, Denmark Hill, UK

    Harish Rao, Caroline May, Simon Hannam, Gerrard F. Rafferty & Anne Greenough

  2. 24th Floor Golden Jubilee Wing, King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK

    Anne Greenough

Authors
  1. Harish Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Caroline May
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Simon Hannam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gerrard F. Rafferty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Anne Greenough
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne Greenough.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rao, H., May, C., Hannam, S. et al. Survey of sleeping position recommendations for prematurely born infants on neonatal intensive care unit discharge. Eur J Pediatr 166, 809–811 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-006-0325-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-006-0325-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation