A third of mothers do not sleep their babies on their backs because they are concerned about their infants' head shape, a study shows.
The survey of 400 mothers showed 64.8 per cent of babies were slept on their backs -- the position recommended to prevent the riskof Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as cot death.
However, 31 per cent of mothers did not use that position -- despite knowing it was recommended -- due to concerns about head shape, safety and because their baby slept better in other positions.
"Mothers may be trading SIDS safety issues for fears about head deformation," study author Dr Lynne Hutchison said.
"An increased emphasis on education is needed to raise awareness of issues such as head-varying and awake-time positioning strategies."
Parents needed to be aware that most cases of head deformation spontaneously resolve by two years of age.
The 2005 University of Auckland study involved mothers of infants aged six weeks to four months.
SIDS rates in New Zealand fell from 4.3 per 1000 live births in 1987 to 0.9 per 1000 live births in 2001. The major reason for the drop according to Dr Hutchison was the Back To Sleep campaign, which recommends infants are placed on their backs.
Seventy-one per cent of the mothers surveyed had received the Back Is Best pamphlet about SIDS prevention, and they were more likely to use the back position.
"It would seem reasonable to continue to prominently endorse these materials to new mothers, along with the saying 'back for sleep, front for play, and upright for cuddles and hugs'," she said.
"Caregivers also need increased reassurance that there is no evidence of a raised risk of aspiration-related deaths in supine (back)-sleeping infants.
"As for sleep quality, they may also need education that although prone and side-sleeping infants do sleep longer than supine-sleeping infants, this may be the result of fewer spontaneous arousals which may be protective of SIDS."
