It is a worrying sight: A baby sleeping face down in mattress. Baby sleeping face down in a mattress is a common practice that has been widely debated as to its safety. While some research suggests it is safest way, other studies have raised red flags about the practice. In this blog post, you will learn what the current research says about co-sleeping and baby sleeping face down in a mattress. You will also discover how to reduce the risks of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) when sharing your bed with your baby and the best option for keeping them safe when doing so.
In the first few months after your baby is born till the first birthday, it can be a scary time for parents. You’re dealing with post-birth pains, sleepless nights and a brand-new human in your world. You also probably have a lot of questions about how you should care for your newborn babies.
Every parent wants to do the right thing when it comes to their baby, so while there is much conflicting information out there, we’ll help you sort through it all. If you’ve asked yourself this question once or twice, that’s perfectly natural! New parents are bombarded with advice from every direction — and most of it seems to conflict with other pieces of advice they’ve received on the same topic.
Baby sleeping face down in a mattress has been shown to be one of the greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome (also known as crib death), which is the leading cause of infant mortality worldwide. As parents, we are left wondering what we can do to reduce the risk of this happening. Is it okay to let our babies sleep on their stomach? And if not, how do we reduce the risks? Read on and feel confident about putting your baby to rest safely.
What does baby sleeping face down in mattress mean?
There are a couple of things to consider here. First, you need to understand that the term ‘face down’ can be quite misleading. In these cases, the baby is not actually sleeping face down; rather, the back of the head is resting against the mattress. This is due to the position of the baby’s trunk. This is actually a much greater concern, as it increases the risk of SIDS. Similarly, having your baby’s face up is not advised. As this can cause your baby to overheat and increase risk of suffocation. So, what are the best sleeping position for a baby?
Before we understand more, we need to acknowledge that all babies are different. What works for some will not work for others. This is why it is so important to get to know your baby. By understanding what makes them happy and what they need, you can best support them and keep them safe.
A great way to do this is to observe your baby’s sleeping patterns. If you notice that your baby tends to roll from one side to the other throughout the night, then it may be good idea to put them to sleep on their back position in the middle of the night. If your baby tends to stay on one side, then it may be better to put them to sleep on their tummy.
The dangers of having your baby sleeping face down
If your baby is stomach sleeping, there are a few risks. The most important of these is that your baby may not be able to clear their airways properly if they start to get blocked up. This can sometimes happen after a feed or if your baby has a cold. A blocked airway will cause your baby to start making weird and heavy noises. This can be really scary and is often the first sign that something is wrong. It is important to know what these noises mean so that you can know when to seek help. If your baby is lying on their tummy, they may also be more likely to overheat.
There is also a risk of your baby rolling onto their tummy. If they are in a baby’s crib, there is a chance they will get stuck and not be able to move. This can be really scary for both your baby and you. If you are breastfeeding, there is also the risk that your baby may roll onto their tummy, which can break the breastfeeding connection.
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What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden, unexpected death of an infant, generally those under one year of age. The cause of SIDS is not known and it is not preventable. SIDS is typically defined as an infant dying in their sleep with no obvious cause. However, it is important to note that SIDS is not a diagnosis itself; rather, it is used to describe a range of circumstances that result in death. SIDS is often used as a catch-all term for deaths where there are no obvious explanations other than the baby being in bed and being asleep at the time of death.
However, this definition has been recognized as potentially outdated and too broad, since some infants who die suddenly and unexpectedly do not meet this criteria. As babies are developing, they’re vulnerable to many things that could lead to their sudden death. These include: • Being exposed to secondhand smoke • Having an unsafe sleeping environment • Exposure to overheating or being too cold • Being placed on their stomachs too soon after birth
Which is the best safest position for babies to sleep?
Sleeping on the back has been proven to be the safest position for a baby. This is because the airways remain clear, making it easier for your baby to breathe. This position is also the position babies fall asleep in. So, if you want your baby to learn to fall asleep on their own without you having to rock them or cuddle them or putting them back to sleep, then putting them to sleep on their back is the way to do it. This will also make it easier for you to check on your baby during the night without waking them up. You can simply peek over without them noticing.
Sleeping on the back also reduces the risk of your baby rolling onto their side or their tummy. And sleeping on their side or tummy sleeping is a risk factor for SIDS. This is why the safest sleeping position for a baby is on its back.
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What about if baby sleeps on their side?
Pros and Cons of baby sleeping on their side
Pros
If your baby sleeps on their side, there are a few advantages. The first is that you are less likely to overheat. This is because babies have very low surface area. So, they naturally have less heat regulation. If you put your baby on their side, they will be less likely to overheat and get too hot. The second advantage is that your baby is less likely to roll onto their tummy. This is good news as it reduces the risk of SIDS.
If your baby sleeps on their back, they are less likely to roll onto their side. This is good news if you want to put your baby to sleep on their back, but can be a bit of an annoyance if you want to put them on their side. If you want to put your baby on their side, it is best to get them used to sleeping on their back first. This is because once they are used to sleeping on their back, they will stay in that position better than they would if they were used to sleeping on their side.
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Cons
If your baby sleeps on their side, there are a few cons. The first is that your baby is more likely to overheat. Babies have low surface area, so they naturally have less heat regulation. If you put your baby on their side, they will have less space to move around. This means that they may not be able to move themselves away from the heat of the mattress. This can be a real problem if your baby is sleeping in an unsafe environment.
The other con of putting your baby on their side is that they are more likely to roll onto their tummy. If you want to put your baby on their side, it is best to get them used to sleeping on their back first. This is because, once they are used to sleeping on their back, they will stay in that position better than they would if they were used to sleeping on their side.
Research Into Mattress-Based Sleep Positioning
Although there is a clear connection between SIDS risks and baby sleeping positions, it does not necessarily mean that a mattress-based sleep position is the cause. Rather, it could be down to overheating or other environmental factors. In an attempt to clarify the link, research has been carried out that investigates the effect of changing sleep position. If a baby that normally sleeps on the back is placed on the side, is there a measurable difference in risk? If so, it could provide some indication that the sleep position is relevant.
The study found that if the baby was placed on the side and the head was at a certain angle, the risk of SIDS increased. If the same angle was used but with the baby on its back, there was no risk whatsoever. This indicates that the sleep position is indeed relevant and is a good indication to avoid placing a baby on its side.
What does American academy of Pediatrics say about baby sleeping face down in mattress
AAP does not recommend sleeping baby to sleep on their stomach position or side. It says both these are unsafe sleeping position. Instead, AAP suggest a safe sleep environment that suggest that baby crib mattress should be a firm mattress, flat and firm surface covered with a fitted sheet that is free of loose and thin blanket or loose stuffed animals. This way, the baby will be able to move and breathe more freely in baby’s sleep surface.
Babies who are placed on their stomachs or sides often have difficulty breathing during sleep because their mouth and nose are covered by a mattress. This can lead to airway obstruction and even sudden death. If a baby must be placed on his or her side, it is important to make sure that the baby’s head is not covered by the mattress or any other object. Babies who are placed to sleep on their backs are less likely to become flat in the back due to pressure from the mattress.
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Additionally, if you are breastfeeding, your baby’s position also can affect your milk supply. Placing your baby on his back can help encourage full milk production and prevent engorgement. If you are breastfeeding, you may notice that your baby produces less milk when he sleeps on his stomach or side. The reason for this is that gravity pulls the milk away from the baby’s mouth when he is not in an upright position. When the baby is in an upright position, gravity works with gravity to pull the milk from your breasts down into the baby’s mouth.
Summary
As parents, we want what is best for our babies. We want them to feel safe, loved, and healthy. We also want them to grow up with positive memories of their childhood. One of the best ways we can do this is by taking steps to prevent sleep-related deaths. As this is the leading cause of infant mortality, it is important that we know what we are doing.
This blog post is a short answer and has been designed to give you all the information you need to keep your baby safe and reduce the risk of sudden deaths. It is important for us to maintain safety standards for healthy babies as well as premature babies. Put these tips into practice and you can sleep easy knowing your healthy infants are safe.
Disclaimer – This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This blog does not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other professional medical care advice, diagnosis or treatment. We cannot diagnose conditions, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this blog or website.
Thank you for all the knowledge. I more or less knew what’s best thanks to the sleep training book I have and the author teaches to wrap the baby to stay on his back. Although having a wide range of arguments, like here, speaks to me clearly.