Sleep is an indispensable part of a healthy lifestyle. Kids who get adequate amounts of sleep have improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, and overall mental and physical health. The sleep-eat cycle is a recharge-refuel cycle for the growing bodies and brains of newborn babies. Some kids are tough to get sleep and others have trouble falling asleep and the sleeping position of the baby plays a significant role in determining whether they will have a safe and sound sleep. SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome is just a part of unexpected infant deaths and is linked to the sleeping position of the baby. Thus it is essential to know about safe sleeping positions for babies.
The Best Sleeping Position For Your Baby
So it is important to know about the benefits and risks involved in each sleeping position of your baby.
Sleep on back
For full-time naps, short-period rest, and sleep at night, newborn babies should be placed on their backs. This helps to lessen the risk of SIDS in babies, as it keeps airways open. Sleeping in the back is the best sleeping position for babies according to The US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). But this position involves some risk factors too. Placing a long time on the back may lead to position or misshapen head, the flattening of the back of the skull. Also, read the Baby Sleep Miracle review to know the proven methods that will help you to teach your child when to sleep so that you don’t get deprived of adequate sleep.
- While lying in the crib, change the direction of the baby
- Decrease the time of baby in carriers
- Increase the cuddle time
- Rest the baby on the other side of the head
Sleep on Stomach
Sleeping on the stomach is not good for babies. This may reduce the airway and restrict breath by giving pressure on the baby’s jaw. Sleeping in the prone position, that is the baby may be lying with the face very close to the bedsheets, which makes them breathe the same air that is exhaled. This may make them suffocate while sleeping on the stomach if the mattress is very soft and they may inhale the microbes present in the bedsheet. But in rare cases, sleeping on the stomach is recommended for babies. They are:
- If babies have severe gastroesophageal reflux, then doctors may recommend that sleeping on the stomach can be good for babies.
- It is very dangerous if the baby vomits while sleeping on the back and they may choke on their vomit due to lack of enough strength to turn the head. In this condition, people make babies sleep on their stomachs.
- People may make their babies sleep on their stomachs to relieve them of gas. But this is not recommended to do immediately after feeding them.
Sleep on the side
Sleeping on the side may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in babies. So sleeping on the sides is not recommended for newborn babies.
Apart from sleeping positions, some extra tips are there to consider to ensure safe sleep for your sleep. They are:
- Use firm mattresses rather than soft mattress, waterbed, or sofa for your baby
- Avoid bumper pads, pillows, fluffy bedding, or stuffed animals around the baby in the crib
- Anything that could cover a baby’s head or face during sleep is not recommended
- Blankets should be covered only up to the chest of the baby with arms exposed
- Wrapping a baby in lightweight cotton prevents them from rolling onto the tummy during sleep.
- Check if the baby is not hot to touch
- Maintain a considerably cool sleeping environment with a temperature of around 20oC for the baby.
The best sleeping position for your baby is to sleep on their back. Sleep on stomach position may be appropriate in case of acute respiratory disease in preterm infants. New parents are a little anxious about these. If you follow the above-given tips properly, it will not become a great task for you.