Safe Infant Sleep Recommendations on the Internet: Let's Google It

Abstract

Objectives To determine the accuracy of information on infant sleep safety on the internet using Google. We hypothesized that the majority of websites would accurately reflect the AAP recommendations for infant sleep safety. Study design We searched for advice using 13 key phrases and analyzed the first 100 websites for each. Websites were categorized by type and assessed for accuracy of information provided, based on AAP recommendations. The accuracy of information was classified as “accurate,” “inaccurate,” or “not relevant.” Results Overall, 43.5% of the 1300 websites provided accurate information, 28.1% provided inaccurate information, and 28.4% were not relevant. The search terms “infant cigarette smoking,” “infant sleep position,” and “infant sleep surface” resulted in the highest percentage of websites with accurate information. “Pacifier infant,” “infant home monitors,” and “infant co-sleeping” resulted in the lowest percentage of websites with accurate information. Government websites had the highest rate of accuracy, and blogs had the lowest rate of accurate information. Conclusion The internet frequently contains information about infant sleep safety that is inconsistent with AAP recommendations. Health care providers should realize the extent to which parents may turn to the internet for information about infant sleep safety.

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An analysis of attitude toward infant sleep safety and SIDS risk reduction behavior among caregivers of newborns and infants

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