A 6-week-old infant is found unresponsive in the crib. Resuscitation is attempted but unsuccessful. The parents are told the cause is 'Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)'. Which statement about SIDS risk reduction is MOST evidence-based?

Home › MCQs › Nursing › Question #9279

Nursing QUESTION #9279

Question 1

Placing infant prone (tummy sleeping) to prevent aspiration
Sleeping on soft mattress with pillows to prevent head trauma
Supine sleeping position (Back to Sleep), firm mattress, room-sharing without bed-sharing, avoiding smoking exposure✔️
Bundling infant tightly (swaddling arms-in) is the primary prevention

Correct Answer Explanation

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) — sudden, unexplained death of an infant under 1 year during sleep, remaining unexplained after thorough investigation.

Peak age: 2–4 months. Rare after 6 months.

Evidence-based SIDS Prevention (AAP Safe Sleep Guidelines 2022):

Recommendation	Evidence Level
Supine (back) sleeping position — always	Strongest evidence — reduces SIDS by ~50%
Firm, flat sleep surface (crib/bassinet)	Strong — no soft mattresses, pillows, bumpers
Room-sharing (parent's room) WITHOUT bed-sharing	Strong — bed-sharing increases risk
Avoid smoke exposure (prenatal + postnatal)	Strong — smoking is major modifiable risk factor
Avoid overheating	Moderate — keep room 20–22°C
Breastfeeding	Moderate — protective effect
Pacifier use at sleep (after BF established)	Moderate — protective

Prone sleeping increases SIDS risk 3–9 fold. The 'Back to Sleep' campaign reduced SIDS deaths by >50% since 1992.

More Options