Comparing Children's Books to Brochures for Safe Sleep and Infant Reading Education During Prenatal Care

The safe sleep assessment is based on a version developed by the PI and used in a recent published study, reflecting current AAP guidelines. Three questions are adapted from a published survey, gauging the mother's familiarity with SUID/SIDS (and briefly explaining if unfamiliar), whether she personally knows anyone who has lost a child to SUID/SIDS, and level of worry about SUID/SIDS for her baby. Our primary knowledge question utilizes an open-ended format, as no established tool for measuring SIDS knowledge was available: "Name as many things as you can think of to help keep your baby safe from SUID/SIDS (dying while asleep)." Maternal responses will be compared to an 11-item checklist of AAP safe sleep recommendations which are each referenced at least once in the book and brochures used, with 1 point awarded for each correct response.

Mothers will be administered a brief survey (Likert scale) regarding how useful the respective book or brochure were to help them understand safe sleep practices and the importance of infant reading. They will also be asked if they still have the materials and how often they have reviewed them at home.

Obstetric attending and resident physicians will be administered a brief survey (Likert scale) after the prenatal visit regarding how useful the respective book or brochure was to catalyze discussion of safe sleep and infant reading with the mother, with emphasis on feasibility in clinical practice.

Prenatally, the mother will be administered a brief survey regarding the age at which the mother plans to begin reading with her infant (open-ended), planned frequency of reading (days per week), estimated number of children's books in the home, impression of the usefulness of reading to infants before 2 months old, and the value of discussing reading during prenatal visits (Likert scales). At the postpartum visit, this survey will be expanded to involve access to books, actual reading frequency, home reading routines, and the child's interest in being read to. An additional item regarding attitudes towards reading at home adapted from published research ("What are your 3 favorite things to do with your child these days?", noting if reading is mentioned) will also be asked.

This is an 10-item parental report assessment of shared reading quality created by the principal investigator for caregivers of children under 18 months, based on a conceptual model of practices thought to enhance the reading experience and benefit child development. Score is 0-30 points, with higher score suggesting more nurturing reading behaviors.