Which research finding provides evidence-based practice for an infant's risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?

• A. Breastfeeding reduces the risk for and the incidence of SIDS.
• B. Infants should be positioned supine or supported laterally to sleep.
• C. The prone position should be used when an infant sleeps after feeding.
• D. The peak incidence occurs between the ages of 1 and 2 months.

Answer: (B)

Safe sleep positioning is the key protective factor against SIDS. Large studies show that placing an infant on the back to sleep significantly lowers the risk by preventing airway obstruction and rebreathing of exhaled air that can occur in other positions. The option that emphasizes the supine position (back to sleep), with the caveat that lateral positioning can be used with caution but is not as protective, aligns with the strongest evidence: back-sleeping is the safest standard for every sleep. In contrast, sleeping prone (on the stomach) markedly increases SIDS risk, and the statement about a peak incidence age is descriptive epidemiology, not a preventive practice. While breastfeeding does reduce risk modestly, the most consistent, actionable evidence-based practice to reduce SIDS is back-sleeping at every sleep.