The study reviewed photos in both articles and advertisements.
'There are major discrepancies between what doctors recommend to prevent sudden infant death syndrome and what moms may see in mainstream media,' said Moon.
'The most important thing for moms to realise is that what they see in magazines may not be what's best for their baby in real life.'
To reduce the risk of SIDS, the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies be placed on their backs when sleeping, on a separate sleep surface from their parents, without blankets, pillows, or other soft bedding.
These findings were published in Paediatrics.