Implementation of Safe Sleep Practices by Mothers with 0-1 Year-Old Infants

Aim: The sleep environment of an infant affects the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome and other sleep-related infant deaths. This study was performed to determine the safe sleep practices of mothers with 0–1 year-old infants. Methods: This descriptive study included 204 mothers with 0–1 year-old infants who visited family health centers between October 30 and December 28, 2018. The data were collected using a questionnaire form and evaluated using the number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and chi-squared test. Results: The mean age of the mothers was 28.48 ±5.83 years; 43.1% were primary school graduates and 84.8% were housewives; 53.9% of the infants were girls and 39.2% were 0–3 months old. It was found that 47.5% of the mothers put their infant to sleep in the supine position, 46.1% in the non-supine position, 70.1% on a soft bed, and 76.5% by using a pillow. In addition, 41.2% of the mothers stated that they used pacifiers while putting their infant to sleep, 9.8% stated that they slept in the same bed with their infant, and 92.9% stated that they slept in the same room. Conclusion: It was determined that the mothers performed certain risky practices related to the sleep environment, particularly regarding soft beds’ use, sleeping positions, pillow use, and bed-sharing. It may be recommended that healthcare professionals play an active role and take responsibility in increasing the level of knowledge and awareness of parents regarding safe sleep. Keywords: sleep, infant, mothers, family practice