Have you ever asked yourself which is the best sleeping position for a newborn? Many new mothers ask these questions without answers to answer them.
Today, we will discuss the best sleeping positions for a newborn that will keep a newborn asleep at night.
In the 1990s, doctors instructed parents to put their babies on their bellies. During that time, it was the most common method of laying children, but with time pediatrics disapproved as a result of newborn diseases known as SIDs.
In 2017, there were 3600 sudden deaths of infants in the united states, where about 1400 deaths resulted from SIDs and nearly 900 deaths due to suffocation and strangulation in bed.
According to pediatrics, the best position to place your baby to sleep is always on their back. Laying newborns with their backs prevents SIDs and helps the infant sleep throughout the night. Research shows that the number of babies sleeping on their stomachs reduced the rate of SIDs to about 2,300 per year.
Sometimes when the baby is within 4-6 months, and you put him down on his back at night, they tend to roll and sleep on their stomach.
If this happens to you, leave them there, but it’s good to keep practicing to keep them on their back.
Babies should sleep on the back in an empty crib with nothing but a fitted sheet. You can turn the baby’s head to the side so that if you do vomit, it reduces the chances of vomiting.
Why is laying newborns on their side, not a good sleeping position
Newborns cant lay on the side because they have little control over their limbs, so they will eventually roll either to their front or back if you lay them on the side.
It is dangerous if they roll to their front as it may lead to death due to SIDs. Apart from that, they may end up with their mouths and noses closed, leading to death
The process might be hard to do, but you should correct it each time you notice it. For example, our lastborn siblings used to sleep on his side, and my parents thought it was usual, but two months later, he developed a flat spot on his right side. We had to get a unique pillow to correct it. It took almost a year to regain back.
If your baby rolls onto their tummy
Once the baby starts removing front and backward, you can let them sleep in whatever way they want at night. He will eventually move if he doesn’t want to sleep on his back. You may feel the first days they carry on their tummy to turn them back.
The baby’s moves shouldn’t make you worry so much, leaving them to play on their tummy while awake to help their development. The tummy time mats should be comfortable and well fit for the baby
Which is the best sleeping position for a baby with reflux
Reflux is a condition when the stomach contents move upwards into the esophagus. It’s because the digestive systems of a newborn have not grown.
Even in this condition, the baby should sleep on his back to prevent SIDs. This process is typical for many newborns and babies, but it passes with time, especially when the kid grows.
Why do babies sleep with their bums in the air?
Most of them are comfortable in the fetal position; usually, when they can’t roll over, they will curl up in this position, so they put their face down and butts up.
How can you prevent SIDs?
In addition to the sleeping position of a newborn, also the environment is essential for SIDs prevention. The baby should sleep alone, on the back, and in an empty crib with no stuffed animals, no blankets, or bumpers. These items are also associated with increased risks of SIDs.
Remember to keep your house in suitable temperatures favorable to the newborn. Do not also smoke around your baby. Babies born to women who smoked while pregnant die from SIDS more often than babies born to nonsmokers.
Another way of preventing your newborns is by immunizing them. Research shows that fully vaccinated babies have a reduced risk of SIDs compared to those who have not undergone them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, parents need to look after their newborns to notice such sleeping positions and keep changing them. Many SIDs result from lack of knowledge, especially among new mothers, lack of observing your newborn keenly from time to time, and other ignorance. Thus, mothers’ responsibility is to ensure that their newborns are safe and sound.
