Magazines for women depict babies in unsafe sleep environments

More than one third of photos in women's magazines depicted babies in unsafe sleep positions, according to a new study in Pediatrics. Additionally, the study found that two-thirds of sleep environments depicted in these magazines were also unsafe.

Led by SIDS researchers Rachel Moon, MD, a pediatrician, and Brandi Joyner at Children's National Medical Center, the study analyzed pictures of sleeping infants in 24 magazines with wide circulation among 20- to 40-year-old women.

The authors evaluated pictures for sleep positions, including whether or not the baby was placed on its side or stomach rather than on its back, as well as hazards in infant sleeping environments, including soft bedding. The study reviewed photos in both articles and advertisements.

"There are major discrepancies between what doctors recommend to prevent sudden infant death syndrome and what moms may see in mainstream media," said Dr. Moon. "The most important thing for moms to realize is that what they see in magazines may not be what's best for their baby in real life."

To reduce the risk of SIDS, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be placed on their backs when sleeping, on a separate sleep surface from their parents, without blankets, pillows, or other soft bedding. Dr. Moon is a member of the AAP's Task Force on SIDS, which issued revised guidelines for SIDS prevention in October of 2005.

More information: The study, titled "Infant Sleep Environments Depicted in Magazines Targeted to Women of Childbearing Age," appears in the September issue of Pediatrics.

Source: Children's National Medical Center (news : web)

   

• Mauricio - Aug 17, 2009
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  It seems that "safe" means "cold" or "inhuman"...
  
  We went to the hospital to prepare the birth of our baby, and there we saw children that were moved around in metallic cages (for safety reasons!). Then, they placed them under bright lights to receive some painful treatments... welcome to hell! If the baby needs warm, there is a lamp! where is the mother? oh, she is high in drugs, but it is good for her, because they are made by the pharmaceutical mafia...
  
  
  and it goes on and on. Later in adulthood, some people wonder why we have problems with intimacy, why we are paranoid, why we do so much drugs. Yes, I know, I must be good and blame it on ourselves, the system works just nicely.
  
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• Mauricio - Aug 17, 2009
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  http://en.wikiped...periment
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• PPihkala - Aug 17, 2009
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  Mauricio, I have to agree with your message. Just consider the not so old information that babies do not need to learn to crawl before learning to walk. Why is that? Because in cultures more close to our past, mothers do carry their babies until those can walk by themselves. This also implies that those babies sleep in their slings, in mostly upright position. I don't know the practice there, but I bet they are seldom layed down, so the sleeping position at back or at stomach -question is probably wrong for both. Go and study how native cultures care for babies and then promote that and I bet that SIDS will not be any issue anymore. Of course some babies are sick and will die, but carrying babies around like other primates do can't be wrong. And it would be much more humane for the little ones.
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