New moms left in dark by docs.

• Position: Newborns

Many new mothers do not receive advice from physicians on aspects of infant care such as sleep position, breast-feeding, immunization, and pacifier use, asserts a study conducted by researchers at Boston (Mass.) Medical Center, Boston University, and Yale University, New Haven, Conn.

Infants should be placed to sleep alone, on their backs, on a firm surface, such as on a mattress in a safety-approved crib, covered by a fitted sheet. Soft objects, toys, crib bumpers, quilts, comforters, and loose bedding should be kept out of the baby's sleep area. Health care practitioner groups have issued recommendations and guidelines on all these aspects of infant care, based on research which has found that certain practices can prevent disease and even save lives.

The study authors surveyed a nationally representative sample of new mothers, inquiring about infant care advice they received from doctors, nurses, family members, and the news media. Roughly 20% of mothers said they did not receive advice from their doctors regarding current recommendations on breast-feeding or on placing infants to sleep on their backs--a...