Knowing about safety sleeping positions for babies is important in ensuring a rubber sleep environment and preventing the risk of sudden baby death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS falls under the category of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) and is majorly linked to the position in which the baby sleeps. Thus, knowing what positions are safe for your infant to sleep in is of import to assist prevent unexpected situations. Also, knowing a few tips that will help reduce the risk of SIDS helps go a long way (1). One case of such a position of prophylactic sleeping in babies is the supine position, in which the baby, who is less than a year one-time, is made to sleep on their back. Read on to know more about safe sleeping positions for babies and tips on slumber safety.

The Good And Bad Positions For A Baby To Sleep

It is essential to acquire well-nigh the safe and unsafe sleeping positions for a infant to deal with the above risks (two).

1. Sleep on dorsum

Healthy babies born full-term should be placed on their backs for naps, short periods of residuum, and slumber at night.

  • 'Sleep on the back' position was institute to lessen the risk of SIDS in babies, as it keeps airways open.
  • The US National Institute of Kid Health and Human Development (NICHD) labeled this every bit the best sleeping position for babies (three).
  • Since the American University of Pediatrics fabricated the 'back-to-sleep' recommendation in 1992, the SIDS rate has dropped more 50%. The 'dorsum-to-sleep' recommendation was later campaigned as 'safe to slumber' (4).

Risks Involved In 'Sleep On Back' Position

If infants are placed on the back for a long fourth dimension, information technology may atomic number 82 to 'positional plagiocephaly,' a case of flattened or misshapen head and 'brachycephaly,' the flattening of the back of the skull. The shape volition become normal past the fourth dimension they turn 1 year and rarely requires whatsoever treatment Elementary repositioning techniques may be employed to avoid such weather condition. They include:

  • Increasing 'tummy time' of the infant when awake
  • Making the baby rest on the other side of the head rather than the flat side.
  • Cutting down the time spent by babies in carriers or motorcar-seats.
  • Getting more 'cuddle fourth dimension'.
  • Changing the direction of the baby in the crib so that they practice not always view the same things, and in one direction always.

two. Sleep on breadbasket

Several theories discourage parents from making a baby sleep on the stomach considering:

  • Information technology could put pressure on a babe's jaw, reducing the airway and restricting breath.
  • If the baby sleeps on the tummy, i.e., in the prone position, they may exist lying with the face very close to the sheets and breathing the same air.
  • The baby may suffocate while sleeping on the tum if the mattress is very soft.
  • The baby may too breathe in microbes present on the mattress.

When Tin Babies Sleep On Stomach?

In rare cases, due to a medical condition, doctors may advise parents to make the baby slumber on the stomach rather than the back.

  • A few physicians believe that sleeping on the tummy could be good for babies with severe gastroesophageal reflux or certain upper-airway malformations similar Pierre Robin Syndrome, which atomic number 82 to acute airway obstruction episodes. However, no recent report supported or refuted the benefits. Healthcare providers should consider the potential benefits and risks before recommending this position.
  • The danger of vomiting was the most important argument for making the baby sleep on its stomach. This is because doctors believed that it would be unsafe if the baby vomits while sleeping on the dorsum. They argued that babies might asphyxiate on their vomit, due to lack of plenty forcefulness to turn the caput. However, babies sleeping on their backs may not have as much difficulty turning their heads and vomiting the contents of the tummy out.
  • As well, y'all may make a baby with colic sleep on the tummy to salve them of gas. Nonetheless, do not do it immediately after feeding them. Let there be some gap between the feed and the sleep time.

 3. Sleep on the side

It is unsafe for babies to sleep on the side because they may end up on the tummy, increasing the run a risk of SIDS.

In addition to the good and bad sleeping positions, you lot must as well know well-nigh the sleeping practices that could lead to a sudden unexpected death in infants.

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Sleeping Practices That Could Lead To Sudden Unexpected Death In Infancy (SUDI)

SUDI includes both SIDS and other fatal sleeping accidents. Here are a few practices that could pb to SUDI:

  • Making the baby sleep on the breadbasket or side.
  • Putting the baby to slumber on soft surfaces such every bit mattress, sofa, waterbed, pillow, or lamb's wool, either with or without a parent around.
  • Covering the babe'due south head or face up with bedding, which may cause accidental suffocation and overheat.
  • Smoking during pregnancy or after childbirth.

SIDS can be a pregnant risk and should be considered when y'all follow certain steps to ensure that your babe sleeps safely.

11 Tips For Safe Baby Sleep

For babies who are salubrious and under 1 year of age, sleeping on the back is the platonic position. However, some extra measures would be helpful to ensure safe sleep for your babe (i).

  1. Avoid loose bedding: It is advisable to use a firm mattress rather than an overly soft mattress, waterbed, or sofa for your baby. Experts suggest against the usage of bumper pads, pillows, fluffy bedding or stuffed animals around the baby in the crib. In simple words, anything that could embrace a baby'southward head or face up during sleep is not recommended.
  1. Keep the crib simple: Do not use wedges, quilts, or comforters under an infant in the crib. Let the infant sleep with the feet touching the bottom of the crib so that he can't wriggle downwardly under the bedding. Use a firm, clean mattress that fits the cot well and constrict in the bedclothes deeply. The sides or ends of the crib should exist high enough to prevent the infant from climbing out or crawling out.
  1. Avert covering the baby's head: Blankets should exist covered only up to the chest of the baby with arms exposed, to avert the shifting of the blanket onto the head and thereby preventing suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using 'slumber sack' or 'baby sleep purse' every bit a blazon of bedding to keep him warm without roofing the head. Sleeping numberless with a fitted neck and armholes and no hood are considered the safest. Wrapping a baby in lightweight cotton or muslin besides helps in preventing him from rolling onto the breadbasket during sleep.
  1. Avoid overheating: Infants should be clothed lightly for sleep. Avoid over-bundling and check if the baby is not hot to touch.
  1. Good sleep environment: It is important to maintain a considerably absurd sleeping environment with a temperature of effectually xxoC for the baby.
  1. Vaccination: An investigation done on diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis immunization and potential SIDS clan by the Berlin School of Public Health has concluded that increased DTP immunization coverage is associated with decreased SIDS mortality (5). Current recommendations on timely DTP immunization should be emphasized and followed to prevent not only specific infectious diseases but also potentially SIDS.
  1. Use a pacifier (at sleep times): The American Academy of Pediatrics considers pacifiers could preclude SIDS. However, do not force the baby if they practice not want it or if information technology falls out of the mouth. If you are breastfeeding, wait until it is well established before commencement to utilize a pacifier. It usually takes around 3 to iv weeks of age for the baby to get comfy with breastfeeding.
  1. Utilize technology: If you are worried about the infant's sleeping position, especially when they are in a separate room, apply Wi-Fi baby monitors, app-powered thermostats, or pocket-size alarms to monitor the slumber position as well as vitals of your baby.
  1. Avoid employ of products that claim to prevent or reduce SIDS. This is crucial as scientifically, there is no known fashion to prevent SIDS. Condom and efficacy of wedges, positioners, or other such products that merits to prevent SIDS are not proven. On the contrary, various incidents have been reported where these products have been associated with injury and death when used in the baby's slumber area (6).
  1. Share the same room: You may share the same room with the baby for convenient breastfeeding and contact. The crib in which the baby sleeps should exist closer to parents.
  1. Avoid sharing the bed: Experts suggest that infants ideally should not share the bed with parents, adults, siblings, or other children. Twins or multiples may be fabricated to slumber separately. Exercise not share a bed with your baby, especially if yous or your partner accept been drinking, smoking, or taking medications or drugs that could induce deep sleep. Smoking and the use of a substance like drugs or alcohol significantly increase the take chances of SIDS and suffocation in babies, if the bed is shared.

Frequently Asked Questions

i. What if the babe rolls onto the stomach while sleeping?

Around four to five months of age, babies begin to curl over onto their tum from their back (7). This can be alright every bit the SIDS risk generally lowers by this time. Let the baby discover a comfy sleeping position; they may exist able to turn the face to the side to keep the mouth and nose gratis for breathing when sleeping on the tum. In any case, always identify the babe on the back when you lot put them downwards on the bed to slumber.

Note that the SIDS run a risk is at a peak between i and four months of age, but it remains a threat until babies are 12 months old. So, follow other precautions to reduce the risk of SIDS all through your baby's first year.

2. Why does my infant sleep in fencing reflex while in the back-to-sleep position?

Babies exhibit many involuntary movements as they grow. 1 such motility is the Fencing Reflex or Tonic Cervix Reflex (8). When placed on the back-to-sleep position, the baby's caput turns to 1 side with the arm and leg of that side extended, while the other arm and leg are flexed. This is called the fencing position, which helps foreclose a baby from rolling over onto the stomach earlier the torso is ready for it. This is ane more reason for putting your babe to sleep on the back. This involuntary motility will disappear anytime between three to six months of age.

3. When can the babe be on its stomach?

The baby may be put on the stomach, but nether supervision, when awake. Giving tummy fourth dimension for babies is a proficient way to strengthen their stomach, back, and neck muscles.

According to Dr. Karen Sokal-Gutierrez, clinical professor, customs health and human being development, University of California Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program, SIDS risk is lowered with babies spending more tummy fourth dimension when they are awake (9). Moreover, the baby would develop upper torso strength needed to lift the head and scroll over in sleep.

4. Can I use infant sleep positioners for my baby?

In that location is no US FDA approval for babe sleep positioners to reduce or preclude the risk of SIDS in babies.

5. What if babies throw up when sleeping on the back?

There is a low risk for healthy babies to asphyxiate on vomit when made to sleep on their backs than on their sides or tummies. Sleeping on the back does not increase choking take a chance in babies with gastroesophageal reflux disease either. But do non put the baby to bed with a bottle propped for feeding. This exercise could pb to ear infections and choking.

6. What to practice if my baby has difficulty sleeping on the back?

A few infants may not have a deep sleep in the back-to-sleep position. Some may even go fussy when placed on the back.

The infant may not feel comfortable sleeping on the back if they take a congested nose. In such a case, place a humidifier in the baby's room to moisten the air and loosen the congestion. Elevating the head slightly could minimize the discomfort from a stuffy nose.

7. What if my infant throws up while sleeping?

If your baby throws upwards, turn their head to the side. Clean upward the vomit and alter the bedding earlier you put the baby dorsum to sleep again.

8. What are the best sleeping positions for preterm babies?

Co-ordinate to a research study, preterm infants are at a higher SIDS take chances, and they are to be placed on the back-to-sleep position (ten). Notwithstanding, in a highly monitored inpatient setting, sleep on breadbasket position may be advisable in case of acute respiratory disease in preterm infants.

Sleeping position is crucial to prevent the risk of SIDS in babies, specially under 12 months of age. Whether it is a full-term or preterm baby, sleeping on the back is considered safe unless directed otherwise by a medico due to some medical condition.

If you take any tips to ensure the safety of a baby while sleeping, practice share with us in the comments department below.

References:

MomJunction'south articles are written after analyzing the research works of proficient authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established past authorities in their respective fields. You tin can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

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Dr. Rajeev Ranjan is a senior neonatologist and pediatrician at the Nidan Female parent And Child Intendance Clinic in Noida, India. He completed his Doc from Tsma-Tver Medical University, Russia, in 2005, DCH from Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College (Mumbai), and FCH, MCH (Delhi) in 2004. With xviii years of experience, Dr. Ranjan is a member of the Indian Medical... more

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist and toddler mom with over eight years of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career every bit a CSR project coordinator for a good for you eating and active lifestyle projection catering to school children. And then she worked equally a nutrition faculty and clinical nutrition coach in different organizations. Her involvement in scientific writing... more