Is putting baby to bed face-down really so terrible? On Babble.com.
Is putting baby to bed face-down really so terrible?
In previous generations, stomach-down was the preferred sleeping position. Babies seemed to like it. Parents seemed to like them liking it. Some of those parents of yesteryear still lobby for tummy-down sleeping as grandparents or caregivers. Since the Back To Sleep campaign took hold in the 1990s, stomach sleeping has fallen out of favor, by way of medical mandate. But some parents of our generation are (quietly?) putting their babies to sleep on their stomachs.
Stomach sleeping makes sense in a lot of ways. For one, babies often sleep better that way. When a baby is on his back, a reflex causes his limbs to fly up in a disorganized fashion. This is fine for an awake baby, but a lot harder for a baby trying to shut down and go to sleep. Babies are affected by this in varying degrees, but some are constantly awakened by smacking themselves in the face, or just by the abrupt movement of their bodies. On the stomach, the baby’s body is tucked away and the view of the world is limited, making it easier for the baby to shut down and tune out. This may be what your neighbor means when she talks about developmental appropriateness. There is also research that shows stomach-sleeping babies are quicker to reach milestones such as crawling and rolling (as these milestones require a lot of practice time on the belly). But back sleepers reach these milestones within a reasonable time frame, especially if they get time on their stomachs while awake.
But then there’s the question of safety. The mainstream, accepted and heavily promoted research clearly states that back sleeping reduces SIDS. Not everyone buys this. Stomach sleeping advocates often cite a New Zealand study that posits that SIDS is unrelated to sleep position, and is the result of chemicals leaching from non-organic mattresses. The SIDS Alliance does not consider the New Zealand study significant and stands by the back-to-sleep campaign.
SIDS is a complicated and fraught subject, and it’s difficult to parse out the issues.
At the heart of many of these controversies is the fact that the definition of SIDS is still unclear. When we called the SIDS Alliance some time ago about a separate issue, the woman who answered the phone told us that what constitutes a death by SIDS varies from state to state.
There are alternatives to stomach sleeping for parents of arm-flinging infants: you can try swaddling or a baby sleep bag. You can also try propping the infant on her side. Side sleeping is generally considered safer than stomach sleeping but not as safe as back sleeping. And finally, your baby may like back sleeping! Seriously, some babies prefer it or hate it at first but get used to it relatively quickly if you keep trying. And of course, there are the babies who won’t sleep on their back OR stomachs, but will only sleep while nursing or rocking or being driven around the block. We are generally of the do-what-works-for-you sleep camp. But we encourage you to research the various risk factors and consider safety concerns before you make a decision.
Have a question? Email parentaladvisory@babble.com
For the first 8 weeks, my baby napped on a mat in the livinig room with me right next to him. I let him sleep on his tummy for naps only while I was in the room but overnight he was swaddled on his back in his crib. I know that the research says back is best, but my baby loves his tummy and always has so I combined the two. I was a tummy-sleeping baby and I’m fine. Everyone of my (30-something) generation slept on their tummy and I understand SIDS is a risk. Everything is a risk so just keep a careful eye on the child WHATEVER position they are sleeping!
myjezi,I did the same thing. I let my baby nap too on her tummy-I always watched her carefully. I never put her to bed at night on her tummy, instead I would swaddle her in one of those kiddapotumus swaddle me’s. However, as soon as she started rolling over, I would put her in her crib at night on her back and she would automatically roll over onto her stomach. At first I was alarmed and I would roll her back over but after I talked to the Dr. he said he can’t say that it was completely ok, however, if she’s rolling over herself I can probably leave her that way. I am paranoid though and my little girl slept in her crib next to our bed until she was well over 1 1/2 yrs old. I did nurse her for a year which made it easier with her being next to me. She’s 2yrs old now and to this day every night I have to go in her room to check if she’s breathing before I go to bed. I also place her standing in her crib every night and when the light goes off she almost always lays on her tummy and falls asleep.
Gasp…my dr. told us to have our son take his naps on he stomach! And since he started rolling from tummy to back at nine weeks I stopped worrying about the tummy sleep issue. He is now eight months and sleeps in every position under the sun!
Dear Tummy Troubles,Try laying your baby on the side. For my 3 year old and 1 year old, we would lightly swaddle the baby and use either a sleep positioner or rolled blanks to chock-block them on their sides. It worked wonders. Just make sure that nothing is too near their face, so they can’t mash their faces in and smother themselves.Now they both sleep on their tummies invevitably with their sweet little buns sticking up in the air!
be aware that sids risk has a genetic component, much higher rates in African American community not for demographic or socioeconomic reasons but for the same reason that fraternal twins are much more likely to be born to a mom from the African diaspora. And car seats increase risk b/c of positioning, in the first 6 weeks
I review all of the infant deaths for my county and do my best to keep more babies from dying. Any message that promotes tummy sleeping is dangerous. Contrary to the above article, sleep position is definitely related to SIDS incidence, period. There are many risk factors but this is a big one. Also you cannot “watch” a baby and keep them safe from a SIDS death, thats just wishful thinking. Just because you are in the room with them or looking at them does not mean the risk is diminished. Since the back to sleep campaign began SIDS deaths have been reduced by over 50% nationwide. Just be safe. Mixed messages cause deaths.
the back to sleep hysteria has led to flat heads and helmuts and very confused parents and grandparents. babies who are breastfed have a much lower SIDS level. overfeeding, genes, smoking, PNC, overheating all contribute to SIDS. If parents overfeed formula to an overheated baby in order to get the baby to sleep for longer and then place the poor baby on his back while they sleep soundly, this is crazy. the crazies about sleeping on their backs have taken over and they are zealots because they ignore all the other reasons, which more than likely contribute a heck of a lot more to the SIDS situation than does sleeping on their abdomens. researchers as the one cited here are quick to add blah blah “do my best to keep more babies form dying.” what a moron. as if mothers and fathers don’t. sleeping on the tummy is not the big one reason babies die from SIDS.
i lost my son to SIDS because of stomach sleeping so i will totally stand behind no tummy sleeping. its so much safer to lay them on their backs. if your worried about flat spots on their head that is what tummy time is for. supervised time on their stomachs it strengthens their neck muscles so they are able to move in different positions in their sleep. NO TUMMY SLEEPING!
faceofsids08 first let me say I am so sorry for your loss but what evidence do you have that tummy sleeping was the result of SIDS?
Using fans in the room has been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS significantly. The theory is that the moving air helps to prevent the build-up of CO2 that some people believe is a causative factor for SIDS. Whether you put the baby to sleep on back or stomach, keeping a fan on is something to consider.