Sleep Position and Rolling Behavior in Infants of Adolescent and Older Mothers: Are There Differences?

Abstract 17

Background. Differences in early motor development have been reported in offspring of adolescent compared to non-adolescent mothers. There are also reports of decreased compliance by adolescent mothers with the "Back to Sleep" position recommendation of the AAP to reduce the incidence of SIDS. Therefore, this study was performed to determine if there were differences in early infant rolling behavior, sleep position, and awake position in offspring of adolescent compared to non-adolescent mothers.

Methods. A 10-item questionnaire was distributed to caretakers of 455 healthy term infants aged 0 to 10 months in the Denver metropolitan region. Questions addressed maternal age, education, infant sleep and awake positions, and infant rolling behavior. A variety of urban, non-urban, affluent, and underserved sites were represented.

Results. There were 135 adolescent and 310 non-adolescent mothers. The majority placed infants supine to sleep, regardless of maternal age (85.1 % of adolescent vs. 85.8% non-adolescent, p=n.s.). Supine sleepers rolled later compared to prone; there were no differences between offspring of adolescent and older mothers. Infants placed supine rolled from back to front first. Regardless of maternal age or education, very few mothers placed their infants exclusively prone while awake (11%), while 62% placed infants exclusively supine while awake. Infants placed prone while awake rolled earlier than those placed supine (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions. Adolescent mothers in the metropolitan Denver region demonstrate a high level of compliance with the supine sleep position recommendation, similar to older mothers. Infant rolling behavior is similar in offspring of adolescent compared to older mothers, with infants placed supine to sleep rolling later than those placed prone. However, there is inattention in all maternal age groups to placing infants prone while awake. Adolescent and older mothers should be counselled regarding varying infant position when awake to support early motor development.