is it best to put a baby on his back or stomach?

Answer 1

Back, mainly because of SIDS risk. This does not mean that a child on their back cannot die of SIDS, it just means their average risk is reduced by 40%.

This site's info is enough for me (but you can google SIDS, or "Back to Sleep" for more):
Numerous studies have found a higher incidence of SIDS among babies placed on their stomachs to sleep than among those sleeping on their backs or sides. Some researchers have hypothesized that stomach sleeping puts pressure on a child's jaw, therefore narrowing the airway and hampering breathing.

Another theory is that stomach sleeping can increase an infant's risk of "rebreathing" his or her own exhaled air, particularly if the infant is sleeping on a soft mattress or with bedding, stuffed toys, or a pillow near the face. In that scenario, the soft surface could create a small enclosure around the baby's mouth and trap exhaled air. As the baby breathes exhaled air, the oxygen level in the body drops and carbon dioxide accumulates. Eventually, this lack of oxygen could contribute to SIDS.

The striking evidence that stomach sleeping might contribute to the incidence of SIDS led the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to recommend in 1992 that all healthy infants younger than 1 year of age be put to sleep on their backs (also known as the supine position). Since the AAP's recommendation, the rate of SIDS has dropped by over 40%. Still, SIDS remains the leading cause of death in young infants, so it's important to keep reminding parents about the necessity of back sleeping.

Many parents fear that babies put to sleep on their backs could choke on spit-up or vomit. According to the AAP, however, there is no increased risk of choking for healthy infants who sleep on their backs. (For infants with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD] or certain upper airway malformations, sleeping on the stomach may be the better option.
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/sids.html

Answer 2

Back to sleep. Supposed to reduce SIDS by 50%.

When an infant sleeps on stomach, he'll smush his face into whateer he's laying on. Breathes in more carbon dioxide which misfiers the transmitters in the brain that control breathing.

Answer 3

Depends.
My baby was preemie and had a lot of gas problems.She would cry all the time on her back.Then I started laying her on her stomach and it helped. She would cry 80 % less. Since she was a premie I had to be alert that she does not choke or stop breathing on her tummy.
So to answer your question both positions are good but stomach position requires you to be very attentive to the child.

Answer 4

Back is safest. New findings in SIDS cases show that babies placed on their tummies may not sense the lack of oxygen if they turn their face into the mattress. This is also the reason to avoid blankets, thick crib bumpers, and toys in the crib.

Answer 5

Always remember - "back to sleep". Studies have shown that putting a baby to sleep on their back reduces the risk of SIDS.

Whenever baby is placed on tummy, be sure it's only for tummytime play and make sure baby is supervised.

Answer 6

The current wisdom says to place a baby on his back to sleep.
I always propped babies on there side after eating, out of fear of aspiration of regurgitated milk/formula.
During 'play' time Baby needs to be on it's tummy part of the time to help strengthen muscles and encourage forward motion that leads to crawling later.

Answer 7

you put your baby to sleep on it's back if you put the baby
to sleep on it's stomach then it could suffocate and die
or have sids(sudden infant death syndrome).my cousin died in 1990 because of sids it stinks.please put your baby to sleep on it's back and have a baby monitor next to the crib or baby that way you know if the baby is breathing or not.

Answer 8

Back , little babys cant pick up their heads if their face gets buried beneath them while on the stomach and that could cause sids.

Answer 9

The latest studies indicate the back. There is a whole campaign called "BACK to sleep" to help people remember this.

Because of this, though, it is important to make sure the baby gets plenty of tummy time during the day--this will help them if they are prone to getting a flat head, too!

Answer 10

It is recommended that a baby be put in its back. That way it will be easy to expell any vomit from its mouth and prevent soffocation. I also think that you can put a baby on its tummy as long as you are watching him/her.