Baby sleeping front or back?

Question

I've read so much about how important it is to let the baby sleep on its back. But the I spoke to a friend who has done research who says that the American Association of Pediatricians seems to change it's song every decade. In the 70s it was front, 80s it was side, and 90s through to now it's back. My husband grew up in a culture where most babies are put to sleep on the tummies. Our baby is 7 weeks old and seems so much more comfortable on his tummy but it worries me. Is there really a right answer to this?

Answer 1

Since the back to sleep movement began the rate of sudden infant death syndrome has dropped dramatically. The original thinking behind tummy sleeping was to avoid choking if they spit up BUT the rate of SIDS did not go down and studies then began to show that if the baby was prone to be a SIDS victim that when placed on the tummy his/her abdominal muscles were not strong enough to continue breathing and when in a deep sleep the infant just quit breathing. At this point they realized if the baby choked it would wake up and the worst thing that could happen would be pneumonia from asperating the vomit BUT the other way the baby would die. As far as side sleeping it is still fine. The only reason they dont push is is because if the baby is placed on the side incorrectly gravity pulls it over on to its belly , so they dont want to encourage it as not every parent would do it correctly.
If the baby spits up a lot the left side is the best position and a wedge can be used to prevent rolling.
I let my middle child sleep on his belly only because he had a monitor and it sounded if he quit breathing or his heart slowed. Funny but the only times it sounded and the alarm wasnt enough to stimulate his breathing again was when he was on his tummy. So I guess they are right.....once I realized this I put him on his back monitor or not.
Better safe than sorry. I always thought I didn't want to ever do something like put my baby in the wrong position and then spend the rest of my life saying " Why didn't I just put him/her on their back."

Answer 2

Back to sleep. Yes there is a right answer. Infants don't have the ability to turn their heads on their stomach. Co2 builds up near their face and they cannot get oxygen, causing them to suffocate. Putting a baby to sleep face down on a mattress can have the same effect as covering their face while they sleep. The Back to Sleep campaign has tremendously reduced the number of SIDS deaths.

The trend was to put babies to sleep on their sides because of the fear of children burping or vomiting and choking during sleep. This is much less likely than the problems babies have face down.

Almost all of us were raised in a culture that put babies to sleep on their stomachs. Science and research improve with the times.

Answer 3

The reason that the recommendations keep changing is that there is newer research. The most recent research shows that babies are twice as likely to die of SIDS if they sleep on their stomachs rather than their backs (side sleeping has an intermediate risk). Since most parents are more afraid of SIDS *and* it is a higher risk than suffocation (which was why stomach or side sleeping was recommended), back sleeping "wins".

And, by the way, stomach sleeping is actually *more* dangerous for suffocation, too. A baby who vomits while sleeping on her/his stomach is more likely to drown in it than a baby sleeping on the back would, especially in a crib because the mattress is waterproof.

Answer 4

It is back to sleep, because of SIDs. Once your baby can roll over, you can put your baby on his stomach. It is important for your baby to have some tummy time during the day. You can let your baby sleep on his tummy for short naps during the day as long as you keep a close watch on him. At night, always put him to bed on his back.

Answer 5

You're absolutely right...they do change their mind about once every 10 years. My mother (who is a peds nurse) says that it's fine to put them on their tummy as long as there is nothing between the baby and the mattress besides the sheet. My pediatrician admitted that her baby sleeps on his tummy because he's prone to aspirating his spit up. As long as you keep stuff away from your babies face I'd say he/she is probably just fine on his/her tummy.

Answer 6

My 8 yr old would not sleep unless it was on her tummy. The same for my 7wk old baby. When I lay my newborn on her back she shortly wakes up waving her arms all around as if she is paniced that she is going to fall. I hate seeing her like that soooo she sleeps on her tummy. With that she sleeps peacefully for hours. Dont get me wrong I stay parinoid that she will suffocate but I also cant stand seeing her so frightened on her back.

Answer 7

well they do change their minds an awful lot...but i placed my son and daughter on their sides and here is why...on their tummies they can turn their head just right and sufficate...My son (now 7) did this during a nap. I just happened to lay down with him that day. (he was 2 weeks) then i started putting him on his back after that. Well he ot to be about 8 weeks and got sick and started choking on phlem in his throat. so i put him on his sside from then on.

now 7 years later i'm doing it all over again. first i started her on her back. she had hiccups and "spit up" and started choking. put her on tummy and she would scream bloody murder. so she too sleeps on her side.

I say and some agree that the side is the safest because they can't sufficate and they can't choke.
But hey who's right who's wrong? I say follow your gut instinct.

Answer 8

If you want to put your baby to sleep in 20 seconds you must get the "Instant Baby Sleep" MP3 sound track. Here is their official web-site: http://www.instantbabysleep.net

The sound track gently produces energy over the full human hearing spectrum with an embedded pulse that gently eases the brain to the Alpha state well known for drowsiness and sleep induction.

Answer 9

It's changed so much because they have done more studies and learned more.

Once the baby is old enough to roll over himself, it's OK to let him sleep on his tummy. At 7 weeks, I doubt he is anywhere near ready to to roll over on his own. I would put him on his back.

Answer 10

a million-4 is while infants are on the terrific possibility of SIDS. as quickly as a toddler can roll from front to returned, they could desire to be waiting to pass their heads in the event that they have difficulty respiration for some reason. My son began rolling over because of fact he favorite to sleep on his tummy. My husband and that i the two traumatic each and all of the time for the longest time approximately SIDS. We in basic terms checked on him, plenty, and made specific he did not have his face pressed into the factor of the crib and gave him no blankets while he slept.