LAUSR

In complex decisions, there are times when there may be a conflict between the recommendations from clinical practice guidelines and the outcome of a shared decision‐making process between the clinician and the patient. Sticking rigidly to practice guidelines can be seen as paternalistic and even dismissive of a patient's specific circumstances and preferences; however, failing to adhere to such guidelines can be troubling for many doctors. In this article, we present and discuss this conflict using the common problem of how to provide family‐centred, yet evidence‐based guidance on infant sleep practices. Infant sleep practices are a common discussion topic at well‐baby visits, and family preferences for infant sleep practices are often at odds with national recommendations. With three cases as a backdrop, we discuss how cultural humility, complexity and trust can be key factors in how the clinician‐parent discussion on infant sleep can incorporate safe sleep guidelines into a family‐centred, culturally relevant discussion.