Infant Sleep Behavior Practices and Knowledge of Fathers: An Exploratory and Descriptive Study

Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) is a term for any sudden death occurring under 1 year of age. SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) is the sudden death of an infant that is unexplained after an investigation and often occurs during sleep or in the infant sleep area. In Indianapolis, 130 infants died in 2022 before their first birthday, and 17% were from SUIDs. Fathers' understanding of infant safe-sleep knowledge and behaviors is mostly unknown. This study aims to describe fathers' infant safe-sleep knowledge and behaviors. Study participants were recruited via promotional flyers from 2019 to 2024. Volunteers completed a survey on their infant safe-sleep knowledge and behaviors. Responses were entered via secure, web-based data-collection tool either directly by QR code accessible survey or manually by the research team. Frequency and comparative analyses were performed, and results described. Eighty-five fathers completed the survey. The lowest reported knowledge for safe-sleep practices was for breastfeeding, and wearable blankets being protective against SUID. A smaller percentage of fathers reported their baby never slept in the same bed as someone else and similarly reported never placing their baby to sleep in an adult bed. Fewer fathers correctly reported practicing room-sharing and pacifier usage. Interactive learning geared toward male caregivers on AAP recommendations for preventing sleep-related deaths is key. Focusing efforts with fathers on the risk of soft bedding, benefit of breastfeeding, pacifier usage, and room-sharing will be important to lowering SUID rates and helping men in their role as fathers.