Best Sleeping Positions for Infants: Do’s and Don’ts

The Do’s

Some important tips to follow for your infants sleeping positions are —

• Before 12 months

Sleeping on the back is the safest position for babies aged less than a year. You have to put them to sleep on their backs to ensure they don’t have any trouble breathing. According to research, sleeping on the back reduces a baby’s risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

Some kids may develop a condition known as plagiocephaly (or flat head syndrome) when they sleep on their backs for long hours. This is a condition that may cause abnormalities in the head development of infants. However, this shouldn’t stop you from putting your babies to sleep on their backs.

This condition will solve itself when the baby grows. Also, ensure you make your baby lie down on his/her tummy whenever he/she is awake to avoid your infant being prone to this condition. In simple words, the best sleeping position for infants is on their backs.

• After 12 months

Kids can figure out their sleeping positions after completing a year. So, you don’t have to fret too much about infants sleeping positions anymore. Even if they start to sleep on their stomachs, they can quickly turn over and sleep on their backs again. Their body and muscles are well-developed to handle turning and flipping movements. You should intervene only if you notice your baby facing difficulties while breathing or sleeping on the stomach.

The do’s you should follow —

• Put your baby to sleep at the same time daily. Put him/her to sleep on his/her back right from day one so that your little one gets used to this position.

• Make your baby comfortable by giving him/her a warm hug and uttering some sweet nothings in his ear. Your baby will feel loved and cared for when he/she hears these, helping your infant enjoy a night of good sleep.

• Choose comfortable nightwear clothes for your baby. The dress should align with the climatic conditions in the region where you reside. Opt for a full-sleeved sleepsuit if the weather is cold. Otherwise, a simple, half-sleeved shirt with cotton pants is good enough for your kid to sleep in.

• Ensure your kid’s mattress is fresh and clean always. Use a firm mattress to keep your baby steady while sleeping, thereby avoiding the instances of your baby rolling over on his/her tummy.

• Regulate the temperature in your baby’s bedroom to maintain it at an optimal level so that your baby doesn’t feel disturbed when sleeping.

• During the summer, make your baby sleep on light and comfortable bedding.

• Place your baby gently on his/her back, with your hand over your baby’s head, when you put the little one to sleep. Any rapid movement can wake up your baby, causing him/her to feel cranky throughout the day.

• Cover your baby with a thin blanket, and keep a couple of pillows near him/her to make your child feel secure.

• Keep checking your baby’s sleeping position regularly so you can turn him over on his/her back if your baby has rolled over to sleep on his/her stomach.

• If your baby is down with a fever, dress him/her up in one or two additional layers of clothing to make your child feel comfortable. This works better than switching off the fan or covering the baby with blankets to make him/her feel warm while sleeping.

• Put your baby to sleep only after he/she has been fed and burped well.

The Don’ts

• Don’t make him/her dress in extra-thick layers of clothing or tight clothing when putting your baby to sleep.

• Never put your baby to sleep on an extremely soft or fluffy mattress, water bed, or a sofa-cum-bed.

• Don’t place any soft toys or stuffed animals around his/her crib or bed, as this can lead to suffocation in babies.

• Don’t cover your baby’s face while covering him/her with a blanket during winter.

• Don’t make your baby sleep right under the air conditioner vents or close to an open window.

• Don’t make the room too warm by switching off the fan when your baby has a fever.

• Ensure the lighting in your baby’s bedroom is neither too dark nor too bright.

• Don’t make the baby sleep on his/her belly. This will increase the risk of SIDS. Also, he/she might breathe the air directly from the mattress when sleeping in this position. This will make your baby ingest the germs and microbes, causing breathing difficulties.