In the first few months of life, sleep occupies most of the baby’s life. During this period, about twenty hours, or even more, are devoted to dreams. A full-fledged sleep is extremely important for the crumb body, since at this time it grows and develops, gains strength, and the baby's brain processes all the information received per day.
Young parents think about what conditions need to be created for a full and comfortable baby sleep. In addition, the newly minted mothers and fathers are concerned about the position in which the child is better and safer to stay in the "land of dreams" and which body positions should be avoided.
Conditions for a good sleep
As a rule, the baby chooses a pose for sleep himself. But the creation of all necessary conditions and a favorable environment rests entirely with the parents. That is why mom and dad should clearly know and understand what needs to be done so that the baby sleeps soundly, does not worry and does not act up:
- The air temperature in the room in which the baby sleeps should fluctuate in the region of 20-22 degrees. Otherwise, the baby’s sleep will be restless. The temperature should not be below 18 degrees. Elevated air temperature in the room, its excessive dryness in combination with the slightest runny nose in a child will lead to the formation of crusts in his nose.
- Before going to bed, you must ventilate the room. In the warm season, it is recommended to leave the window open.
- The optimum room humidity should be 60%. The maximum permissible humidity level is 75%. To maintain the required rate, it is recommended to regularly wet clean and ventilate the room.
- The mattress should be moderately rigid and in no case bend under the weight of the baby.
It is recommended to cover the curtains in the room while the baby is sleeping to prevent sunlight from entering the child’s eyes. Sunlight should not be harsh.
If the baby sleeps restlessly
It happens that the baby sleeps very restlessly and sensitively. Parents are worried about what can cause this phenomenon and how to rectify the situation. If the baby does not sleep well and often wakes up, it is likely that the temperature regime differs from the optimal indicators.
The cause of restless sleep may be the wrong humidity level in the room in which the young child rests. In addition, this phenomenon is often caused by digestive problems of the baby, excessive bloating, colic. This problem is especially relevant for children from 0 to 3 months. As a rule, after reaching the age of three months, the baby's digestion normalizes, and with it the sleep.
In any case, newly moms and dads need to study their child, especially his character, in order to be able to guess the causes of restless behavior and be able to eliminate them in a timely manner.
Acceptable posture of the newborn during sleep
Older babies, from about 4 months old, choose a sleeping position on their own. But the newborns stay in the "land of dreams" in the pose that their parents chose for them.
The natural position of the body for the baby is a frog pose, in which a small child lies on its back, and its arms are slightly bent at the elbows, its legs are at its knees, and its head is turned on its side. In addition, the baby can be laid on its tummy or on its side. I need to say a few words about the benefits of various positions of the baby's body in order to choose the optimal posture for sleeping a newborn.
On the side
The side position is considered the safest and best for the newborn. Many experts consider it the best posture for sleeping a newborn. However, the possibility of a baby flipping on her stomach should be ruled out. To do this, gently place a special orthopedic roller or ordinary towel rolled into a sausage under the back of a small child.
The main advantage of such a pose for sleeping a newborn, the photo of which is presented above, is that the baby, lying on its side, presses the legs to the tummy, which ensures the safe passage of gaziks and improve digestion.
Parents should understand that on the side the load on the pelvic bones of the baby increases. It is strictly forbidden to sleep in this position for newborns and babies up to three months old, inclusive with dysplasia of the hip joints.
In addition, on the side of the baby’s arms are free. That is why the crumb can easily scratch itself. To avoid such consequences, it is enough to wear a vest with sleeves or use the arm ruffles separately. You can purchase a special wardrobe item in almost any children's goods store.
On the stomach
This position of the baby's body has a number of undeniable advantages.
The newborn’s sleeping position on the tummy is recommended for babies who suffer from frequent spitting ups. Since in such a situation there is no chance of choking. In addition, experts recommend choosing a position on the abdomen for those babies who have problems with digestion, colic and troubled gas discharge. In addition, finding the baby’s body in a similar way helps to strengthen and overall development of the baby’s muscular system.
However, this newborn baby's sleeping position also has its drawbacks. It is strongly not recommended to leave a baby on its tummy without adult control for a long time. Since in this position there is a risk of sudden respiratory arrest as a result of closing the baby's nose with a pillow or blanket. As a rule, infants older than one week and younger than one year are at risk.
On the back
The sleeping position of the newborn on the back is the most common and safe. The head with this position of the baby’s body is turned on its side, the risk of drowning as a result of regurgitation is minimized.
Parents in strict order need to alternate the sides in which the baby’s head is turned, while in a horizontal position. This is necessary in order to prevent the risk of the emergence and further development of problems with the musculoskeletal system of the baby, including torticollis, a fairly common disease that occurs in young children under the age of one year.
This sleeping position is not suitable for babies with hip dysplasia. For them, the most acceptable is the position of the body on the tummy. In addition, experts strongly recommend abandoning sleep on the tummy to the parents of babies who suffer from digestive problems and who have difficulty getting gas out. The latter situation can be resolved using a heating pad or a warm diaper.
In the fetal position
The most common for infants is considered the position of the embryo. A child sleeping in an embryo position is friendly to the world, and this is also considered a sign of good health. In addition, in this position, the baby needs less oxygen and significantly saves energy due to lower calorie costs. In addition, in this position, food is better digested.
Expert Advice
Experts strongly recommend that you follow some tips to keep your baby's sleep calm and sound.
It is best not to put the baby to sleep immediately after the feeding process. It is recommended to hold the baby for 10-15 minutes. During this time, the baby will have time to burp, it will start the process of digesting food. This will save a small child from the formation of colic and excessive gas formation.
Do not swaddle your baby tightly. You can completely abandon the idea of swaddling, since free movement of the limbs is the key to the proper formation and development of bones and muscles.
It is strongly not recommended to cover the baby with a blanket above the chest. It is best to fix a baby cover or a plaid with legs or an orthopedic mattress.
Experts strongly recommend giving your baby the opportunity to choose the most suitable posture for sleeping on her own. Parents need to watch the baby for some time and understand what position the young child is most comfortable in in the "land of dreams."
Instead of a conclusion
In a dream, an infant spends more than 20 hours a day in the first months of life. Gradually, the time allocated to sleep is reduced. However, throughout the first year of life for many parents, the question of what is the correct posture for sleeping a newborn baby and which body position is best avoided remains relevant.
Newly made moms and dads need to understand that, despite all the advice of loved ones and specialists, you need to carefully monitor your baby. Careful attitude will allow you to find out which position is the most optimal for the baby, and avoid unnecessary questions.