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October 09, 2022 3 min read
We've heard some parents and grandparents say that putting your baby to sleep on their tummy helps them sleep better, or that their baby is just a natural tummy sleeper.
So we've set out on a research to debunk some of the myths that babies sleep better on their tummies.
There are many experts that explain the best way to burp babies is when they are face down, and massaging your hand upwards on their backs to encourage any air bubbles that have been swallowed during feeding. Helping your baby to burp ensures any trapped wind passes out up the oesophagus and through their mouth. These air bubbles that don't get passed out can cause wind pains for your baby resulting in a fussy and unsettled baby.
Truth: Burping and passing of wind helps to alleviate tummy discomforts in babies. However, it's best to do this straight after a feed well before putting them to sleep. When they are ready for sleep, it is safer for them to sleep on their back.
Many believe that there is greater likelihood of their baby choking on any fluid or spit up when sleeping on their back - this is simply not true.
Truth: Babies are born with a reflex to keep their airway clear to avoid choking. This reflex will enable them to automatically cough up or swallow any fluid or spit up. Evidence has shown that babies are more likely to choke or aspirate when sleeping on their stomach.
According to the AAP, healthy babies placed on their back to sleep are less likely to choke on vomit than tummy sleeping infants. Your baby's airway anatomy and their gag reflex will keep that from happening.
Watch the video below created by Cribs for Kids to find out why!
Babies develop the ability to roll at different ages through their developmental stages. They learn to roll from back to front before they are able to roll from front onto their back. Therefore, an infant who rolls onto their stomach may not be able to roll back.
If your baby is sleeping face down (prone), they are more likely to occlude their mouth and nose if their sleeping surface is soft and compressible. Worse yet, many baby swaddling products restrict arm movement and they would be unable to push away from the surface. If they are unable to use their arms to push away from the surface of inhaled and exhaled air and would result in the re-breathing of carbon dioxide (C02).
Truth: Re-breathing of carbon dioxide has been linked to SIDS and infant suffocation.
Watch the video below from Professor David Greenblatt to find out what the real dangers of rebreathing carbon dioxide (C02).
[YouTube link to Professor David Greenblatt's video titled: SIDS and the dangers of infant suffocation]
The following tips are recommendations from the AAP:
Want to know more, check out the links below:
How infants’ respiration and circulation work
What is the difference between Suffocation and Asphyxia?
Visit the AAP for the latest evidence-based advice on how to keep your baby safe and reduce the risk of sudden infant death.
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