Safe sleep and sudden unexpected death prevention — formative SAQs

SAQ 1 (10 marks)

Parents of a 3-week-old term infant ask how to keep their baby safe at night. They currently put the baby on the side “so he does not choke,” use a pillow in the bassinet, and sometimes feed on the sofa at 2 am. ^[1]

1. Correct the three unsafe practices with a clear rationale for each. (4) ^[1]
2. List the core safe-sleep environment rules you will teach for every sleep. (4) ^{[1] [2]}
3. When should swaddling stop, and why? (2) ^[11]

Model answer

Side sleep is not a safe compromise because infants more easily roll to prone; use supine every sleep. Pillows and soft objects increase rebreathing and suffocation risk — use a bare firm flat surface with fitted sheet only. Sofa feeding sleep is a high-risk shared-sleep setting; plan feeds so the adult does not fall asleep on a sofa with the infant. ^{[1] [10]}

Core rules: back every sleep; firm flat non-inclined approved surface; bare cot; room-share without routine bed-sharing (ideally ≥6 months); smoke-free; avoid overheating/head covering; support breastfeeding; optional pacifier once feeding established if family chooses. ^{[1] [2]}

Stop swaddling as soon as the infant can roll; swaddling with prone position is particularly hazardous. ^[11]