So NOW they say put baby to sleep on their back....but do you/did you have your child sleep on their side?

Question

I know it is supposed to reduce the chance of SIDS, but honestly, dont you think it is safer for a baby to sleep on their side, in case they spit up and choke?

Answer 1

When the say to put your baby to sleep on their back they also say it is "ok" to put them to sleep on their sides. The main position they are trying to get away from is the stomach position. I have 3 children and I didn't put them on their backs to sleep. They didn't sleep well in that position for one. Another reason is I saw too many of my friends babies ending up wearing helmets because the backs of their heads were flat. I think it is unnatural to put babies to sleep on their backs. It goes against nature and human instincts. I wonder how many babies die because of choking.? I wonder if it is less or more than the deaths caused by SIDS? Have you ever noticed how the media tells us one thing is good for us and then 10 years will go by and they tell us how bad it is for us? It seems like a vicious circle. Sorry if I've gone on and on. I just wish more people would think for themselves like you have instead of acting like robots and doing what is told to them even though it doesn't make much sense. I applaud you for questioning the rule. Have a blessed day/night.

Answer 2

No. It's definitely safer on their back.

The study came out several years ago because the US was researching why Scandinavian countries had much lower SIDS rates. What they found out was that in those countries, babies almost exclusively slept on their back.

Once the US adapted the recommendation here, the SIDS rates dropped drastically. So much so that there is now a huge push to educated people on back-sleeping.

I'm sure there has been a baby somewhere, somehow who has died from choking on vomit but it's not something commonplace, as SIDS is.

It's just a proven risk reducer. If parent's decide they'd still rather side-sleep or belly-sleep it's definitely their choice. They just need to understand it's not as safe as back sleeping. It doesn't mean their baby is going to die...it just means that they are at a higher risk of SIDS.

Answer 3

When I had my four month old, I was told the current recommendation is either back OR side, with a positioner of some sort. It seems they are finding that babies who sleep exclusively on their backs have some serious issues with the backs of their heads flattening.

As far as choking, unless you hava a baby with an unusual medical condition, statistically you are far better off following the guidelines about SIDS. It's pretty unlikely a healthy baby would have choking issues.

Answer 4

Way back when, people did put babies on there sides, tummies etc. It was not such an issue as it is now. It does prevent SIDS, but more important, studies have shown that babies put on their backs are less likely to die from spitting up then babies who are put on their side whom are more likely to die from SIDS. I say if the professionals say do it this way then most likely they have spent millions of dollars studying these things. But by all means follow your instincts. I have two children, the first I put on her side, she is fine, the second, I put on her back and she also spit up a lot in her sleep. Most babies on their back will turn their head to the side when asleep, so spit up drools out and on to the mattress.

Answer 5

You are so very smart! I actually did an intense study of this recommendation using the American of Academy of Pediatric's own material and found that they made their conclusion based on 3rd world countries that place their babies on Sheep skin! I laughed thru the entire study they put together, mainly for the obsurdities. Infants often spit up, which is not unusual. A drunk person that passes out and lays on their back, regurgitates and dies from breathing it back into his lungs. (I actually knew of a 16 year old boy in our neighborhood that did this.)
My childrens pediatrician is about to be 109 years old. <--who wouldn't want to live that long? She developed the whooping cough vaccine and practiced caring for thousands of children in the Atlanta area for over 70 years. She never had a SIDS case in all of her years, yet she taught each of her mothers to place our babies on their tummys. All of our babies had nice round beautiful heads, never experienced any colic and were strong and healthy. Most parents don't think about the fact that babies have soft skulls that when placed on the back the skull takes on the shape of the bed which flattens the back of the head making babies have a wide faced strange look. Egleston Hospital in Atlanta says that with this Back to sleep campaign, their biggest problem with infants is now called Flat head syndrome. They are doing surgery to correct bad cases. Now, I also researched the SIDS foundation who could not conclude, that infants on their tummys cause SIDS b/c infants still are dying of this. the SIDS Foundation have no concrete answer for why babies just seem to stop breathing. But we know that when the body is lying prone that the organs "hang" free and actually function better. And lastly, my observation has been to see many of american babies are now suffering with brochial issues BEFORE they leave the hospital! Humans are the only living beings that place their babies on their backs. Seems to me that animals are much smarter.

Answer 6

I prompted my son with blankets to a 45 degree angle, so he slept between back and side positions - learned that from NICU

I also wanted to add that it was recently determined that SID happens because of the genetic disorder which can be diagnosed, so sleeping position doesn't matter.

Also, I noted that if my son vomits while laying on his back he is not turning his head, so it is a greater risk of choking than of SID.

Answer 7

I used to spit up a lot when I was a baby. I'm not sure if this was a factor in her decision, but my mother let me sleep in either my car seat or another angled baby seat. This way, I could not roll over and suffocate, and I was in a position where I would not choke.

I'm not sure if this is a really good idea or a not so great one, so I would check with a doctor. But I've lived for 22 healthy years!

ADDITION: it was NOT a car seat, but a regular angled seat. car seats are at the angle that the baby's head can nod down and they can choke.

These seats are not the best option, but as a baby, I projectile vomited and it was the best choice for me. Talk to your doctor about all of these options.

Answer 8

Most of us now recommend that the child should be placed to sleep on his side. Although it's an unsteady position and it's difficult to maintain. Only 53% of children who are 1 month old remain in this position, and this percentage increases as the baby grows older, being common for the child to end up sleeping on his back. It seems then that the risk of sleeping on the back and aspirating vomit is less than the risk of sleeping on the tummy and suffering from sudden death

Answer 9

i put my daughter to sleep on her back and i had no problems but i did worry about her choking on her own vomit.I think that weather the baby is on its back ...stomach or side someone will always find a reason why its unsafe so go with what you feel is right because different people will tell you dirrerent things and in the end its your choice anyway.My friend puts her baby to sleep on her side and has done with her other 4 children and she feels its the best way, personally i wouldnt feel comfortable puting my child on her side because i would worry about her rolling onto her face.. at least a baby choking on vomit would make some noise a baby that rolled onto its face would make no noise you'd think you would have less a chance knowing something was wrong.

Answer 10

With my son who is now 20 months old I had a side sleep positioner and he slept that way for a long time.I am 33 weeks pregnant with my 2nd and I am going to put him on his back-I know it is much safer then even the side sleeping.I would do whatever it takes to reduce SIDS.I found a great back positioner at Babies R US for only $30 that I am going to use for this new baby.