Register | Login
Login
Sign in with:
---------- OR ----------
Create Account | Login
Create account
As a Member You Can:
  • Join clubs to discuss your interests
  • Connect with people like you
  • Share information, seek advice, get support

   
parenting
in Mumbai (change city)
Select City
  • All
  • Delhi
  • New Delhi
  • Gurgaon
  • Noida
  • Mumbai
  • Pune
  • Banglore
  • Hyderabad
  • Ghaziabad
  • Chandigarh
  • Ahmedabad
  • Kolkata
  • Chennai
  • Coimbatore
  • Jaipur
select‌ stage
 
Newborn Care Topics..

 
You are here : home > Newborn Care > Baby's Sleeping > Correct Sleeping Position

Correct Sleeping Position

Correct Sleeping Position

Babies sleep in different positions. Sleeping in the same position can cause flat head. Sleeping on the tummies can be a cause of SIDS. Which is the best sleeping position? Read on to know.

What is the best sleeping position for my baby?

Initially, doctors used to recommend making babies sleep on their tummies to reduce the risk of their choking on spit. Some recent studies have shown that there is an increased risk of cot death or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), when babies sleep on their tummies. Thus, doctors now recommend that babies be made to sleep on their backs or sides. Once your baby can turn over on her own, this point is moot because she will settle down in whatever position is most comfortable for her.

How to prevent sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS?

Here are some useful tips that can help avert dangerous conditions like sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS. Let us first look into the conditions that increase risk factors.
  1. Babies sleeping on their tummy.
  2. Babies sleeping on too soft surfaces like lamb's wool, sofa, pillows, soft toys and soft mattress when you are not around.
  3. Conditions when bedding covers face of the baby resulting in accidental suffocation or too much of heating.
  4. In case you are into the habit of smoking since pregnancy or after birth.
Following good sleeping practices can help reduce chances of SIDS among children.

Good Sleeping Habits

Here are some good sleeping practices that you need to follow to ensure the risk factors are reduced to the minimum. Take a look:
  1. You need to make sure your baby is lying on her back. Even if she rolls over in the bed, make sure she is on her back when she is asleep.
  2. The chances of vomiting and chocking also reduce when you put her on her back. Pillows, doonas, soft toys only increase chances of suffocation and thus must be kept away from the bed.
  3. Your baby's head must not be covered when she is sleeping. The bedsheets of her bed must be tucked well, so that it does not cover her head accidentally.
  4. Co-sleeping with your baby until she turns 1-year-old is important. It is a good idea to have her cot placed beside your bed when she is too young.
  5. If you are a smoker you need to know that second hand smoking can cause immense harm to your little one.
  6. Chances of SIDS with smoking are very high. Talking to your doctor or visiting a counsellor may help when you are trying to quit smoking.
  7. Using well fitted and firm mattress is essential to ensure safety of your baby. It is better to avoid any padding over the mattress or a second mattress.
  8. You need to be careful and see the baby is not getting over heated with too much of clothing. Keeping her cool shall ensure a good night's sleep as well.
  9. Do not be concerned by the flat head syndrome of your baby. Babies are born with soft skull that tends to get flattened when she is sleeping on her back or on one side for long which gets back to normal as she grows.
Apart from the risk factors involved, correct sleeping position also ensures that her posture has good impact on her muscles, bones and over all shape of the body.
These are some of the tips shared when you want to ensure your baby sleeps in the correct position. These shall reduce the risk factors to a considerable extent and you too can enjoy a good night’s sleep. For any further queries and concerns you can always have a talk with your doctor.



Cancel
Save Edit
parenting
Notifications
14 Comments
Sort by Newest

avatar

Anjana
Anjana.14 years ago
i have twin babies and both have different sleeping schedules. specially at nights, it becomes very difficult for me to sleep.
 
 
 
.
Reply
Mom of 3
Mom of 3.14 years ago
bottle-fed babies do not sleep better than breast fed. i nursed our first, a girl, she slept through the night and took naps. both boys however, would not sleep, not through the night and rarely a nap. people told me it was because i nursed, so i gave a bottle. they would still get up. i tried cereal in the formula, letting them "cry it out", a jar of food, absolute quiet, a nightlight, a noise-machine (sounds of the ocean, womb,...) no matter the amount of food or the lack of naps during the day. they do not sleep through the night. i do not smoke, drink, or consume anything with caffine or artificial flavors or coloring. don't listen to the breast vs. bottle debate. every child is different. i can say that my children have only been sick once in two years- so if you want to give credit to nursing-my sister's children (bottle fed) are always sick. her son also does not sleep well.
 
 
 
.
Reply
namitha
namitha.14 years ago
my cute little one wakes up two three times at night..the intervals are quite less now a days
 
 
 
.
Reply
ranjani
ranjani.14 years ago
my baby is 7 weeks old.she is not at all sleeping.tried many ways.is that ok if baby does not sllep.
 
 
 
.
Reply
Seema
Seema.14 years ago
although every child is different, most cases of early waking or middle of the night waking can be attributed to a specific problem. with my kids it was wet diapers. i could guarantee that once my son wet his pants, he would start crying till i went in and changed him. double diapering quickly solved this problem and now he sleeps through the entire night without even stirring.
 
 
 
.
Reply
Seema
Seema.14 years ago
i'm still one of those mothers who believes that scheduling is number one when it comes to importance. without fail irregardless of whether of not i put the babies to bed or a babysitter is over putting the babies to bed for the night, diapers are religously changed at around 7:00 p.m. after the diaper changing is done the children have about half an hour or so before they are put in their cribs. this is followed by a story then it's nighty nite. i have found that just by creating a regular set routine ecpecially during the evening, my children sleep and function better.
 
 
 
.
Reply
JO
JO.14 years ago
you will know when it is feding time with breastfed babies because your breast start to hurt when it is feeding time
 
 
 
.
Reply
29 year old blanket addict
i think that is extremely facinating reading everyones opinions on sleeping issues. when my mother would breastfeed me as a child, she'd rub a blanket on my cheek and off i'd go to sleep. the blanket became my only comforter and i would need it to go to bed every night. my parents tried several times throughout my childhood to get rid of the blanket as i was becoming to old for it. their attempts were unsuccessful.i am twenty nine years old with a husband and eleven year old daughter and still sleep with my blanket.i dont travel without it. blankets are a good way to help kids get off to sleep, but they can also produce long term habits that are terribly hard to break.
 
 
 
.
Reply
Archa
Archa.14 years ago
my baby daily sleep after 2.00p.m. it is very diffcult for me.
 
 
 
.
Reply
christina marie
christina marie.14 years ago
i'm nursing my 3mth old baby. almost a month he doesn't want to pass motion. i have to put enema 3 to four days in wk
 
 
 
.
Reply
Back to Previous Page   |   More on Newborn Care Index

 








Subscribe




All tips on Baby's Sleeping
You ever wanted in one place.
No need to go anywhere else. No spam.

*No spam only genuine emails
Follow us on:



Featured Articles - Infertility | Baby Development | Health and Fitness | How to Get Pregnant | Parenting Advice | Weight Loss | Pregnancy Advice | Name Numerology
Baby - Baby Photo Contest | Lucky Names | Lucky Birthdates | Horoscopes | Chinese Calendar | Compatibility Test | Fun Zone
Parenting - Message Boards | Planning a Baby | Pregnancy | Parents of Babies | Baby Names | Baby Name Poll | Birth Announcements | Parenting Quiz
Family - Cooking Club | Love & Relationships | Beauty Tips | Kids Weight Calculator | Recipe Maker
General - Calorie Counter | Personality Quiz | Love Signs | Compatibility Quiz