Baby sleep-One of the main concerns of parents, especially when they are first-time, is given at the time of sleeping of newborn children. Placing them in the correct posture will lead to a good sleep. But there are also some risks that should be considered.
Babies need many hours of sleep to develop properly during their first months of life. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the rest of our children is always as comfortable and safe as possible. Today we tell you which is the most dangerous position for baby sleep.
Upside down: the most dangerous position for baby sleep
The most dangerous position for a resting baby is face down. In fact, this position is pointed as a risk factor for sudden infant death, one of the main causes of death in babies fewer than six months of age.
The syndrome of sudden infant death is characterized as the sudden death of the baby in the lactation stage. In these cases. The child is found dead suddenly, without presenting any symptom indicative of disease.
In most situations, the autopsy is not decisive in indicating the possible explanation of the baby’s death. Therefore, pediatricians and researchers have not yet reached consensus on the specific causes of sudden death in infants; sleep posture could well be a conditioning factor.
Undoubtedly, it is one of the most painful experiences that families can get to live. For that reason, prevention is the key word in this context.
How to prevent sudden death in babies?
According to the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP), the relationship between the unexpected death of the infant and sleeping face down is indisputable. It is even estimated that sudden death is up to 14 times more frequent in babies who sleep in this position.
However, you cannot point to sleeping on your stomach as the sole cause of sudden death. Experts tend to work with many possible causes and the absence of symptoms hinders the progress of studies.
One of the most accepted hypotheses suggests that this syndrome is associated with alterations in the nervous system. These would lead to the difficulty of regulating cardiac functions and breathing.
Then, being upside down the most dangerous position for baby sleep, it is essential to avoid it. Beyond this, experts recommend following the following guidelines to prevent sudden death:
- Babies up to six months old should not share their bed with other people.
- One of the common actions related to the baby’s breathing are frequent snoring.
- Moms who usually sleep with their babies should pay special attention to their own posture when sleeping, so as not to interfere with the baby’s breathing.
- Be careful with excess clothes and coats so as not to obstruct the baby’s airway.
- It is not recommended that the mother smoke during pregnancy and lactation.
What is the best position to sleep babies?
Now that you know the most dangerous position for baby sleep, we can see which are the safest positions for the little ones to enjoy their sleep.
Face up: the safest posture for the baby’s sleep
Lactating babies will be safer to sleep fully on their backs, which is called supine deceits position. According to the AEP, all babies up to six months of age should sleep exclusively in this position. The exception will be cases in which, by medical recommendation, you must sleep in another position.
When the baby sleeps on his back, his respiratory tract are free to inspire and expire. In addition, in this position, the infant can return the milk he has taken without the risk of aspirating it. In this way, the risk of suffocation due to aspiration or lack of air is significantly reduced.
After six months, babies are usually able to instinctively turn around. Therefore, the risk of sudden death and asphyxia is much lower after this age. Likewise, it is recommended to keep the position on your back when you sleep until your first year of life.
Sleeping on the side: intermediary risk position
The side-sleeping position also decreases the risk of sudden death by up to five times, compared to sleeping on your stomach. However, it is an unstable position and less safe than face up.
Sleeping on the side does not eliminate the risk that the infant can suck the milk it returns while sleeping. In addition, there is a risk of the baby turning accidentally and ending up on his stomach; as we said; this is the most dangerous position for baby sleep.
In short, everything will be a matter of accustoming the child to stay in the way that we consider appropriate. Consultation with the doctor on this subject will always be useful; Of course, you also have to control the movements of the little one at night.
How and where to sleep the baby
Each baby must sleep the hours she needs, which is why it is difficult to establish rules about how a baby’s dream should be. However, there are certain rules to take into account when laying the child or where to place him / her so that he / she can rest.
While dads know that it is not reasonable to expect a newborn to sleep and wake up at regular times, your baby’s dream is a topic that frequently “reveals” them. Every mother knows that she will spend the night nursing or breastfeeding her baby. But that certainty becomes an anguish when the days go by without those periods of sleep stretching and let her rest a little better. Especially when the time comes to end your maternity leave, in the case of working moms. What to do? Fortunately, there are many recommendations to help the baby to acquire the habit of sleep and wakefulness that will end up equaling it – with enough time, of course – to the circadian rhythm of the adult.
At first, babies have a rhythm set almost exclusively by their hunger needs. With time and the help of the routines they will approach the rhythm of the day or circadian rhythm. The beginning of this habit lies in distinguishing the day from the night. Therefore, the habit of darkening your room too much and making absolute silence when it is nap time is not good.
Although it is still too early to achieve it. And only changing the diaper to him if it has defecated. Or is very humid. Conversely, during the day, we will have to make sure that he takes the milk awake, talks to him or sing to him. And takes advantage of the diaper changes and clothes to play with the baby or to caress him especially.
