Can Babies Sleep On Their Stomach?
jessica albert 
Image: Shutterstock
Are you a new parent? Do you wonder if it is safe to let your baby sleep on their tummy? Well, take a deep breath because you’re not the only one asking this question. The answer is a big – No! It’s okay and, in fact, good to let your baby lie down on the stomach while awake (1). This will help them develop stronger shoulder and neck muscles and it will also encourage motor skills. This is safe only if the baby is being monitored by someone. On the other hand, sleeping on tummy while not under supervision can be lethal. Let’s dig a little deeper.
What Is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?
SIDS, aka crib death, is the mysterious demise of infants who seem to be healthy, before they could celebrate their first birthday (2). It happens mostly during their sleep. Even if the exact cause of SIDS is unknown, there are certain factors that are being strongly associated with its occurrence – including sleeping on tummy (3). Babies can breathe better when they are placed on their back and not on their tummy. Sleeping on the tummy can cause babies to bury their face in the soft comforter or the surface of the crib itself. This can block the baby’s airway and increase the risk of suffocation.
Overheating is yet another reason for SIDS (4). Researchers believe that too much warmth during sleep increases the risks of SIDS in babies. Also, sharing the sleeping space with parents, siblings, or pets can be of high risk. There are high chances of someone rolling over the baby or keeping a hand on the baby while asleep. Something as simple as this can lead your baby to suffocation and death because babies are too fragile.
Physical Factors That Can Increase The Risk Of SIDS
Apart from the environmental causes, there are certain physical factors that may lead a baby to SIDS. Some babies are born with brain defects that interfere with the proper functioning of the part of their brain that is responsible for smooth breathing and arousal from sleep (5). Things like premature birth and being part of a multiple birth case increases the risk of SIDS. This is most likely due to the fact that the baby’s brain wouldn’t have developed enough to have proper control over automatic functions in the body such as the breathing and heart rates.
Many babies who’ve died due to SIDS had a cold recently. This is probably because cold and other issues related to respiratory infections can cause sudden death due to suffocation.
When To Let Babies Lie On Their Stomach?
Even though babies are advised to lie on their back while sleeping, it’s okay to let them lie on their stomach while they are awake. Apart from the fact that it improves muscle strength, lying on the stomach also helps babies to avoid flat spots on their skull (6). A baby’s skull is very tender and the way you lie the baby down matters a lot in its development. When babies lie down in a particular position for a long time, the skull bone plates move and might end up resulting in a flat spot which is not good for the baby’s health.
Your baby also develops strength while lying down on the tummy and this strength helps in rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking in the later stages of development (7). Make sure that you’re around your baby or someone else is watching over the little one during the tummy time. Lay a single blanket or sheet in a clear area so that the baby can play without many distractions. Don’t keep harmful metal or sharp plastic near the little one.
If you have any concerns about SIDS or about the way you should lay your baby down on the tummy, we suggest you talk to a pediatrician about it. The doctor will give you clear instructions according to the baby’s medical history and age.
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