How Parents Influence Breastfeeding and Safe Sleep Practices for Babies

Racial Disparities in SIDS Rates

Racial disparities in rates of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SIDS) are a significant concern in the United States. The study conducted at Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital highlights the importance of safe sleep practices and breastfeeding for newborns. The survey involved 250 parents, providing valuable insights into their attitudes and experiences regarding these practices.

• 95% of parents who wanted their baby’s mother to breastfeed reported initiating breastfeeding.
• 78% of these parents reported breastfeeding at eight weeks.
• In comparison, only 69% of parents who had no opinion or did not want their baby’s mother to breastfeed initiated breastfeeding, and only 33% breastfed at eight weeks.

These findings emphasize the critical role parents play in supporting successful breastfeeding. The study also revealed that although 99% of parents put their baby to sleep, only 16% implemented the three recommended sleep practices by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

A New Survey Sheds Light on the Needs of New Parents

In recognition of the importance of new dads in the health and well-being of their children and families, a new survey tool called the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System for Dads (PRAMS) was developed and tested. PRAMS for Dads collects valuable data on the health behaviors and experiences of men as they enter fatherhood, providing insights into the unique needs of new fathers.

• The survey revealed that parents with college degrees were more likely to report their babies breastfeeding and receiving guidance on infant sleep safety.
• To improve children’s health outcomes, it is crucial to ensure that breastfeeding and safe sleep guidance reaches all new parents equitably.

Expanding Support for Breastfeeding and Safe Sleep Practices

While the study sheds light on the importance of parental involvement in promoting breastfeeding and safe infant sleep practices, there is still a need for further support and education in this area. Providers must actively engage parents in breastfeeding conversations and emphasize their crucial role in the success of breastfeeding.

Racial disparities in SIDS rates also highlight the need for tailored strategies to increase safe sleep practices in the black community. Public campaigns and home visits can play a vital role in increasing awareness and promoting safe infant sleep practices, involving both parents for the most effective results.

It is essential to recognize that both parents play an important role in their child’s health and well-being. Pediatricians and healthcare providers should focus on ensuring the best health outcomes for children by providing comprehensive guidance on breastfeeding and safe sleep practices.

By addressing the unique needs of new parents and offering support and education, we can create an environment where all families have access to the health benefits of breastfeeding and practice safe sleep for their babies.

Summary

A recent survey led by scientists at Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital focused on understanding parental attitudes and experiences regarding breastfeeding and infant sleep practices. The study revealed that parents who wished for their baby’s mother to breastfeed had significantly higher rates of initiation and continuation of breastfeeding compared to parents who had no opinion or did not support breastfeeding. Furthermore, the study highlighted that while most parents put their baby to sleep, only a small percentage implemented the recommended safe sleep practices. The findings underscore the importance of parental involvement in promoting breastfeeding and safe infant sleep, as well as the need for tailored strategies to address racial disparities in SIDS rates. Providing comprehensive guidance and support for all parents can improve children’s health outcomes and ensure equitable access to the benefits of breastfeeding and safe sleep practices.

A Closer Look at the Impact of Parental Involvement

When it comes to breastfeeding and safe sleep practices for babies, parental involvement is crucial. Parents have a significant influence on whether a baby is safely breastfed and placed to sleep. Support from parents can make a big difference in the success of breastfeeding and the implementation of safe sleep practices.

Many families miss out on the health benefits of breastfeeding because they do not receive adequate support. Healthcare providers need to actively engage parents in conversations about breastfeeding, ensuring they understand the importance of their role in its success. Parents should be directly involved in these conversations, empowering them to make informed decisions and take an active role in their baby’s health and well-being.

Addressing Racial Disparities in SIDS Rates

The study also shed light on the racial disparities in SIDS rates, with black babies at a higher risk compared to white babies. Unsafe sleep practices, such as the use of soft bedding, contribute to this disparity. To reduce these disparities, tailored strategies are necessary, specifically targeting the black community.

Public campaigns and home visits focused on increasing awareness and promoting safe infant sleep practices can play a significant role in addressing racial disparities. By involving both parents, these interventions can effectively reach and educate families in the black community, ensuring that all babies have a safe sleep environment and a reduced risk of SIDS.

The Unique Needs of New Fathers

In recognizing the importance of new dads in the health and well-being of children and families, a new survey tool called PRAMS for Dads was developed. This tool collects valuable data on the health behaviors and experiences of men as they transition into fatherhood.

Insights from this survey revealed that parents with college degrees were more likely to have their babies breastfeed and receive guidance on infant sleep safety. This highlights the need to ensure that all new parents, regardless of educational background or socioeconomic status, have access to comprehensive breastfeeding support and safe sleep education.

Ensuring Equitable Guidance and Support

To improve children’s health outcomes, it is essential to ensure that breastfeeding and safe sleep guidance reaches all new parents equitably. By addressing the unique needs of new parents and providing targeted support and education, we can create a nurturing environment where all families have access to the health benefits of breastfeeding and practice safe sleep for their babies.

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Summary: The survey conducted at Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital highlights the critical role parents play in promoting breastfeeding and safe infant sleep practices. Parents who support breastfeeding had higher rates of initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. However, the study found that a significant percentage of parents did not implement the recommended safe sleep practices. Racial disparities in SIDS rates were also identified, with black babies at a higher risk. Tailored strategies are needed to address these disparities and ensure equitable access to breastfeeding and safe sleep guidance. The unique needs of new fathers were also recognized, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive support and education for all parents to improve children’s health outcomes.

The study included 250 parents who were surveyed two to six months after their baby was born. The survey findings are among the first to describe parent-reported attitudes and experiences regarding breastfeeding and infant sleep practices in a representative sample of the state. They will be published on June 16 in the magazine Pediatrics.

Among parents who wanted their baby’s mother to breastfeed, 95% reported having initiated breastfeeding and 78% reported having breastfed at eight weeks. This is significantly higher than the rates reported by parents who had no opinion or did not want their baby’s mother to breastfeed: 69% of these parents reported having initiated breastfeeding and 33% reported having breastfed at eight weeks .

The scientists also found that 99% of parents reported putting their baby to sleep, but only 16% implemented the three sleep practices recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (using the back sleep position, a surface for sleep approved and avoid soft bedding). Nearly a third of parents surveyed were missing at least one key component of safe sleep education.

“Our findings underscore that new parents are a critical audience for promoting breastfeeding and safe infant sleep,” said study lead author Dr. John James Parker, an instructor of pediatrics at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, a pediatrician at Lurie Children’s and an internist at Northwestern Medicine. “Many families do not reap the health benefits of breastfeeding because they are not supported to breastfeed successfully. Parents need to be directly involved in breastfeeding conversations, and providers need to describe the important role parents play in the success of breastfeeding.” lactation”.

Racial disparities in SIDS rates In the USA

Black parents were less likely to use back sleeping and more likely to use soft bedding than white parents. More than 3,000 babies die each year from sleep-related deaths in the U.S. Nationally, the Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SIDS) rate for black babies is more than double the rate for black babies. of white babies, and unsafe sleep practices may contribute to this disparity, the study authors said.

“Parents should be counseled on all safe sleep practices for their babies,” Parker said. “To reduce racial disparities in sudden and unexpected infant death, we need tailored strategies to increase safe infant sleep practices in the black community, including public campaigns to increase awareness programs and home visits. These interventions need to involve both parents to be most effective.”

A new survey highlights the unique needs of new parents

Recognizing that new dads play an important role in the health and well-being of children and families, lead author Dr. Craig Garfield, professor of pediatrics and medical social sciences at Feinberg and pediatrician at Lurie Children’s, partnered with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Georgia Department of Public Health to develop and test the new survey tool used in this study called the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) to potatoes.

The tool was inspired by PRAMS, an annual surveillance tool that the CDC and public health departments have used for more than 35 years to survey new mothers. PRAMS for Dads is, for the first time, providing data on the unique needs of new fathers. The survey collects data on the health behaviors and experiences of men as they enter fatherhood.

“As pediatricians, we focus on how to ensure the best health outcomes for children, with successful breastfeeding and safe sleep practices being two key behaviors that affect children’s health,” said Garfield, who is also the founder of the Program. of Innovations in Family and Child Health. (FCHIP) at Lurie Children’s. “Our study highlights the fact that parents play an important role in both of these behaviors, but there is more to be done to support parents.”

For example, Garfield said they found that parents with college degrees were more likely to report that their baby breastfed, and were more likely to receive guidance on infant sleep safety.

“To improve children’s health outcomes, we must ensure that breastfeeding and safe sleep guidance reaches all new parents equitably,” Garfield said.