Having a baby is always a unique event. No matter how many children are born, the questions raised by young parents are always the same: how to dress a baby, how to properly feed, how to put a baby to bed? These questions arise for all young parents, which, however, does not detract from their importance and relevance. After all, every child is unique and inimitable.
Why is the dream pose so important?
The pose in which the baby should sleep is of most concern to young parents. It would seem that let him sleep as he wants. However, not all so simple. Because of the many publications that have hypothesized the connection between sudden infant death syndrome and the posture in which the baby sleeps, the question of whether the baby can sleep on her stomach worries almost all parents. After all, the safety of the child comes first.
The danger of sudden infant death syndrome
Syndrome of sudden infant death is many times described in the medical literature and, unfortunately, is a fairly common phenomenon. An absolutely healthy child dies in a dream, and at the same time, it is not possible to identify any reasons leading to this tragic event.
The reason why apparently perfectly healthy babies suddenly die in a dream is still not known. Breathing is the only intelligible explanation. But why this happens, no one knows.
According to statistics, most often male infants die before the age of three months, often premature infants or babies born as a result of multiple pregnancy. Adverse smoking factors include parental smoking, sleeping in a soft bed, and an overheated room.
Do babies sleep on their stomachs?
The pose in a dream that most newborn babies take fully repeats the pose in which they were all nine months of their fetal life. It is worth putting the baby on a flat surface, as he strives to curl up and lay down on his tummy. However, outside the maternal womb, being in such a pose can be extremely dangerous for a newborn baby.
Before birth, the baby receives oxygen through the placenta. The glottis of the baby is tightly closed, the lungs do not work. Being extracted to the surface, the child is forced to breathe on his own. If the baby accidentally puts his nose into the mattress or the fold of the sheet, then there is a high probability that he will simply suffocate, because he simply can not turn the head to the side. To control the muscles of the neck, most babies begin after 1-2 months. Moreover, the softer the mattress on which the child sleeps, the greater the risk of the newborn suffocating.
Can a newborn sleep on his back?
Most pediatricians, answering the question of parents, is it possible for a baby to sleep on her stomach, the answer is categorically negative. It will be possible to allow a child to independently choose a sleeping position only when he is able to turn his head himself or roll over onto a barrel. This usually occurs at the age of 3-4 months. Until this age, his parents should choose a pose for sleeping . Some parents put their baby to sleep on their backs. However, sleeping on the back also cannot be considered completely safe for a newborn baby.
The regimen of the day of the newborn consists of alternating sleep, food and rare moments of wakefulness. It can be said that most of the time the newborn is sleeping. Some sleepyheads even prefer to eat in a dream. Together with milk, the baby inevitably swallows a certain amount of air, which he then burps.
Therefore, after feeding, it is recommended to hold the baby upright for a while, patting the back slightly. Sometimes the baby does not burp immediately, but after some time. If at this moment the child will sleep lying on his back, then the vomit will fall into the respiratory tract, and the baby will choke.
What is the safest pose for the baby?
Safest all newborn baby will sleep on his side. In this case, on the side under the head, it is necessary to put a roller from a rolled towel or diaper. This is done so that the baby does not turn the head in a dream. Putting the baby to sleep on the side should be one way or the other. This will prevent cranial deformity. Due to the overgrown fontanel, the bones of the skull in newborns are quite mobile, soft. Accustomed to sleep only on one side, the baby can put a dent on his head. As a result, the baby’s head will become irregular.
In what position to sleep baby after 1 month
After the baby turns a month old, a rather unpleasant test awaits him. We are talking about infantile colic, which is nothing but intestinal cramps caused by excessive gas formation, and quite painful for the baby. At this time, pediatricians strongly recommend laying the baby on the tummy. This is not a dream on the stomach, but periodic laying out, in order to facilitate the passage of gases.
However, the baby himself, when he sleeps, turns on his stomach, trying to alleviate his condition. Attempts to turn the baby to the side are usually perceived extremely negatively. The kid is capricious and seeks to return to his favorite position. Trying to make the baby’s sleep on his stomach safe is the only right and acceptable solution for everyone.
How to make a baby’s sleep on his stomach safe
Never place your baby on pillows or soft feather beds. Having buried his face in the pillow, the baby can easily suffocate. Do not wear blouses with ties on the child; these ties may be wrapped around his neck.
When buying a crib for a baby, pay attention to the distance between the racks. They should not exceed 8-10 centimeters. If the gaps between the slats are longer, then the baby can get stuck in them with a head. Do not cover your baby with a thick blanket, it is better not to use cotton quilts at all. If a child accidentally finds herself covered with such a blanket with his head, then he may be left without air.
The air temperature in the child’s room should not exceed 20 ° C. If the baby has a runny nose, it is necessary to monitor how he breathes through his nose, and in time to clean the nose of dried mucus. If the room has central heating radiators, then the air may be dry. Use humidifiers.
Opinion of Dr. Komarovsky
When asked what to do if the baby is sleeping on her stomach, Komarovsky advises not to interfere with the baby's sleep in a comfortable position for him. When the baby sleeps on his stomach, his back and neck muscles strengthen. Such children are ahead in the development of their peers, they earlier begin to hold their heads and turn over. In addition, when a child sleeps on his stomach, his gas escapes and his colic becomes less painful.
Sleeping on the stomach is good for children. With severe colic in the baby, the parents have no choice but to teach the baby to sleep on her stomach. In many cases, this becomes the only salvation. A thick mattress, a sheet without folds and the absence of a pillow make all the debate about whether a baby can sleep on her stomach is completely meaningless. According to Dr. Komarovsky, sleeping on the stomach is very useful for the baby. Therefore, parents should not think about weaning the child from this pose, but rather, think about how to teach the baby sleep on your stomach.
According to Dr. Komarovsky, disputes about whether a baby can sleep on her stomach become meaningless if parents pay due attention to the quality of bedding purchased for the child. Unfortunately, many manufacturers sin by completing cots with low-quality, too soft, uneven mattresses. In addition, the parents themselves, having heard the advice of “experienced” relatives, are eager to buy a softer pillow for the baby and a warmer quilt, not thinking about the danger they put their child in. Before you put the baby to bed, you should check how much his bed meets the above criteria.
At what age does sleeping on the stomach become safe for the baby
The age of 5-6 months is the time when a baby can sleep on her stomach without fear of serious consequences. At this age, the baby already completely controls his body, and there is no risk that he suffocates in a dream.
As for children of a younger age, the answer to the question whether a baby can sleep on her stomach will most likely be negative. The fact is that in the first three months, most babies have one feature that makes sleeping on their stomachs dangerous for them. If a child between the ages of 0 and 3 months clenches his nostrils, he will not make attempts to release, but simply stop breathing. Typically, these short stops in breathing last up to 15 seconds. But if the child's face is buried in a soft pillow or mattress, then stopping breathing can lead to suffocation.
In addition, a runny nose and too warm indoor air can contribute to respiratory arrest. The nasal passages in infants are extremely narrow. Dried mucus, turning into crusts, can block the baby's access to oxygen.