The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages the use of sitting devices for infant sleep. A new study examined factors associated with sleep-related infant deaths in sitting devices (e.g. car seats, swings and strollers).
Researchers analyzed National Center for Fatality Review and Prevention data on infant sleep-related deaths from 2004-2014. They compared settings, primary caregivers, supervisor at time of death, bed-sharing and objects in the environment. Key takeaways include:
- Among infant deaths in sitting devices, 62.9% were in car seats used for non-traveling purposes, and of these, more than half were at the child’s home.
- Compared with other infant deaths, deaths in sitting devices were more likely to occur under the supervision of a child care provider or babysitter than with a parent.
This study can inform local prevention activities, such as educating babysitters and child care providers on the risks of using car seats and other sitting devices for infant sleep.