Safe sleep practices for hospitalized infants.

Guidelines were established over 10 years ago by professional and government agencies that have dramatically changed the practice of infant sleep positioning. Although these guidelines mainly focus care on the newborn and infant in their home by a parent, guardian or caregiver, hospital staff need to examine their compliance with these guidelines.The most controversial aspect of the "Back to Sleep" guidelines for the hospital setting is the parent and infant sharing a bed. Although parents may choose to sleep with their infant at home, the need for monitoring, ongoing assessment and care as well as the risk of entrapment or injury should be a priority in the delivery of optimal patient care in the hospital setting. The need for a policy was identified and developed by a multidisciplinary task force focusing on the physiological, behavioral and cultural aspects of cosleeping.