Baby Sleeping Bag and Conventional Bedding Conditions – Comparative Investigations by Infrared Thermography

Abstract

Background: Thermal stress is a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Recently, baby sleeping bags have been recommended as a preventive measure against SIDS. The aim of this study was to describe in which way the use of baby sleeping bags might influence thermoregulation of sleeping infants and maybe the incidence of SIDS.

Methods: Body surface temperature was recorded by use of infrared thermography in 15 infants (median age 49 days). Recordings were done twice: after sleeping for 60 min under a blanket and after sleeping for 60 min in a baby sleeping bag. Temperature was recorded and compared for defined sites of body surface.

Results: Infants’ mean body surface temperature as well as core temperature after sleeping in a baby sleeping bag did not show significant differences when compared to infants sleeping under a conventional blanket.

Conclusion: Under controlled conditions, core temperature and mean body surface temperature are comparable, equally if using a baby sleeping bag or conventional bedding. However, under the more uncontrolled conditions of baby care at home, sleeping bags might provide a more constant temperature profile, while other bedding conditions may lead to significant variations of temperature pattern.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund: Überwärmung ist ein Risikofaktor für den Plötzlichen Säuglingstod (SIDS). Neuerdings wird die Verwendung von Baby-Schlafsäcken als Präventionsmaßnahme empfohlen. Das Ziel dieser Studie war es herauszufinden, ob und inwieweit Baby-Schlafsäcke die Thermoregulation von schlafenden Säuglingen beeinflussen.

Methoden: Das Temperaturprofil von 15 schlafenden Säuglingen (medianes Alter: 49 Tage) wurde mittels Infrarot-Thermografie nach jeweils 60 Minuten Schlaf unter einer Decke bzw. einem Baby-Schlafsack vergleichend untersucht.

Ergebnisse: Sowohl die Oberflächentemperatur als auch die Körperkerntemperatur von Säuglingen zeigten bei Verwendung einer Decke bzw. eines Schlafsacks mit vergleichbarem Wärmekoeffizienten keine signifikanten Unterschiede.

Schlussfolgerungen: Unter kontrollierten Bedingungen sind Oberflächentemperatur und Körperkerntemperatur nach Schlaf im Baby-Schlafsack und unter einer Decke vergleichbar. Unter den weniger kontrollierten Bedingungen der häuslichen Pflege können Baby-Schlafsäcke jedoch vermutlich ein konstanteres Temperaturprofil und eine geringere Streuung der Werte bewirken als konventionelle Säuglingsdecken.

bedding - baby sleeping bag - body surface temperature - infrared thermography - SIDS

Baby-Schlafsack - Oberflächentemperatur - Infrarot-Thermografie - SIDS

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