With the advent of the baby, the life of a young family changes dramatically. Parents have a lot of excitement and new questions. One of them is related to whether a newborn can sleep on his stomach. Interestingly, the opinions of both parents and specialists on this subject differ. But in any case, to have information about the advantages and disadvantages of this pose is necessary in order to make an informed decision.
Why is the baby sleeping on his stomach?
Moms often notice that their baby is more comfortable sleeping on her tummy. Moreover, this applies more to older children who already know how to roll over on their own. However, newborns sometimes sleep better in this position. What is the reason for this phenomenon?
Most likely, it's just more convenient. After all, every person has a favorite posture for sleep. And newborns are no exception. However, this position has both clear advantages and significant disadvantages. And in order to determine whether it is possible to put a newborn to sleep on his stomach, parents should know about them.
Why is it good to sleep on my stomach?
Proponents of this pose put forward a lot of arguments in her favor. We list them:
First of all, in this situation, the likelihood of milk entering the respiratory tract is reduced. Considering that many babies regurgitate, this is a very powerful argument in favor of sleeping on the stomach. Fortunately, the child will not be able to choke. However, when asked whether a newborn can sleep on his stomach after feeding, pediatricians respond negatively. Even if the baby loves this pose very much, you need to wait at least half an hour to avoid regurgitation. By the way, speaking about whether it is possible for a newborn to sleep on his stomach after eating, there is one more thing to remember. After feeding, it is best for some time to swear the baby in her arms vertically, the so-called column. Then the air swallowed during the meal will come out and the risk of regurgitation will be significantly reduced.
It is noticed that when the baby sleeps on his stomach, the colic that occurs in almost all children and brings a lot of grief to young mothers disappears earlier and does not bother the child so much. This is due to the fact that in this position there is a kind of massage of the abdominal organs, so the gases go away faster and the baby's well-being and mood improve.
According to pediatricians, children who are used to sleeping mainly on their stomachs develop faster than their peers. In particular, they hold the head before other babies, and also begin to sit and stand on their own faster. This is due to the fact that sleeping on the stomach helps to strengthen the muscles of the neck, back and chest.
This position is favorable for the proper development of the hip joints. The baby’s legs are spread apart and placed in an ideal position. Therefore, the risk of developing dysplasia is reduced.
When a child sleeps on his tummy, he does not flinch at loud noises, does not interfere with his handles, as is often the case on his back.
There is one more advantage of this pose. In this position, the baby’s skull does not deform, unlike cases when the child is constantly lying on his back or side.
It would seem that all of the above allows you to affirmatively answer the question of whether it is possible for a newborn to sleep on his stomach. But, unfortunately, this is not entirely true. This pose is fraught with a very serious threat.
What is the danger of sleep on the stomach?
Analyzing the question of whether it is possible to put a newborn to sleep on his stomach, there are only two arguments in favor of the fact that this pose is not suitable. But both of them are so serious that you can not leave them unattended:
First of all, opponents of sleep on the stomach recall the syndrome of sudden death of infants. This terrible diagnosis is made in those cases when a perfectly healthy child suddenly stops breathing. And according to statistics, the situation on the abdomen is one of the risk factors. Therefore, sleep in this pose increases the likelihood of this phenomenon. A child can simply bury his nose in a mattress and, not being able to change position, suffocate. And although this has not been scientifically proven, a large number of parents and pediatrician doctors, therefore, negatively answer the question of whether the newborn can sleep on his stomach.
There is another reason why you should abandon this pose. It is widely believed that sleeping on the stomach can adversely affect the cardiovascular system. However, this does not apply to all babies. It is best to consult a pediatrician about this.
The opinion of experts
As mentioned earlier, the opinions of experts regarding sleep on the stomach vary. Experienced doctors strongly advise parents to closely monitor their children if they are in this position. Mainly because of the risk of suffocation and the above syndrome of sudden infant death.
Many well-known pediatricians do not ignore the question of whether the newborn can sleep on his stomach. Komarovsky Evgeny Olegovich, a well-known children's doctor and author of many works on pediatrics, also mentions this. According to him, this position is a factor that statistically increases the likelihood of the above syndrome.
However, the mechanisms of development of this phenomenon have not yet been studied. Sleeping on the stomach is considered to be just one of many risk factors, but not the only one. They also include age up to three months, winter, male. In addition, a short stop in breathing can be caused by a common cold and dry air in the room.
Therefore, according to a well-known pediatrician, first of all, you need to take care of favorable conditions for sleep. If the room is humid and cool, parents do not smoke, the child sleeps on a hard, even mattress without a pillow and is supervised, sleep on his stomach is possible. But non-compliance with at least one of the conditions may entail respiratory arrest of the crumbs.
Mom's sleep on her stomach
A very interesting question is whether a newborn can sleep on her mother’s stomach. This situation is most pleasant for many kids, they very quickly and with pleasure fall asleep in this way. A strong emotional bond is established between the mother and the child. However, sleep in this position, although very pleasant, but uncomfortable for a woman. Therefore, if you let the baby sleep on her mother’s stomach, then not for long. After all, getting used to it, he no longer wants to fall asleep in a different way.
Laying on the stomach
There are different opinions about whether a newborn can sleep on his stomach. But to lay out the baby like that while awake is absolutely necessary. It is enough to recall the advantages of this posture: rapid physical development, reduction of colic and others. Lying on the tummy, the child will quickly learn to rise on the arms, hold the head and roll over. Of course, the baby should not be laid out immediately after feeding, but after some time.
Alternative poses
What are the alternative poses? In fact, there are not many options: on the back or on the side. However, in the first case, the risk increases that after spitting up milk gets into the respiratory tract. In addition, sleep on the back often causes deformation of the skull.
A very favorable and safe position is considered to be a side pose. It is comfortable, but the child does not choke. But on the side, pressure on the hip joint increases. This, in turn, can provoke the development of dysplasia.
What should parents do?
If at first the parents themselves choose in what position the baby is sleeping, then after a few months the child begins to go to bed as he is comfortable. What can parents do if the baby stubbornly turns over on his tummy? The most important thing is to create favorable conditions for sleep: remove the pillow, lay on a firm and even mattress, provide clean, moist and cool air in the room. And, of course, take a closer look at the baby.
In the end, the child will still begin to sleep in that position in which he is comfortable. And the task of parents is to provide a sweet and safe sleep.