Infant Co-Bedding: Practices and Teaching Strategies

Purpose: Studies show that co-bedding is a common cause of death in babies. The purpose of this study is to identify teaching strategies that can be used to increase safe sleep practices. Design and Methods: A rigorous systematic literature search identified articles that expressed ways in which to provide co-bedding teaching or provided recommended approaches to educating mothers and families about co-bedding risks. NOTARI software, from OVID Tools, was used to appraise articles, extract data, and thematically organize the findings, resulting in meta-aggregation. Results: Two major findings were synthesized from four categories. First, co-bedding occurred despite knowing risks and having received teaching. Second, families should receive co-bedding messages tailored to their specific circumstances and risks. Practice Implications: Findings showed that the lack of dialogue in co-bedding teaching often deters caregivers and families from seeking further education or consultation. Nurses need to ensure that safe sleep practices are taught and that the material provided pertains to the caregiver's specific cultural and familial situation.