The child tries to roll over on his stomach in his sleep. Action plan if the baby turns over on his stomach in his sleep and wakes up

The importance of posture in children during sleep

If you put a child to sleep and he turns on his stomach, having slept all night, then in the morning instead of being cheerful and in a good mood, he may feel tired and weak. In some cases, painful sensations may appear in different parts of the body, which aggravates poor health.

Doctors recommend falling asleep in a comfortable position, however, it is important that the spinal column forms a straight line. The best position in this case is on your side. At the same time, it is important to choose the right pillow so that kinks do not form in the cervical region, complicating the blood supply to the brain.

If the body position is not physiological, then the following processes become difficult:

blood supply;
intestinal motility;
functioning of internal organs;
Sometimes breathing may be depressed.

In this case, instead of proper rest, the body is forced to work harder to compensate for the load created by the incorrect position.

Choosing the right position for children

The task of parents is to teach their children, taking into account their age, how to rest and what not to do under any circumstances. First of all, you should provide comfortable conditions for sleeping in the nursery, namely:

The mattress should be of medium hardness. It is best to go with the orthopedic option.
The pillow should be small in size; experts recommend choosing buckwheat husk as a filler - such an accessory helps you fall asleep faster, while maintaining the health of the cervical spine.
For young children, you should purchase beds with small sides, since at this age the child can actively move in his sleep and fall on the floor.
Before going to bed, it is recommended to ventilate and maintain the air temperature in the room within 18-20 0 C.
You should not put your child in a bed that is too soft and warm - overheating of the body and incorrect body position will not contribute to proper rest.
It is recommended to use pajamas and bedding made from natural fabrics.

If your child likes to sleep turned to his side, it is best to place him on his left side. This will promote better functioning of the heart and digestive system.

Basic criteria for normal body position:

The spine forms a straight line.
Legs slightly bent. When lying on your side, you can place a small pillow between your knees, and when lying on your back, place it under the bend of the knee.
In the chosen position, the spine is stretched in all its parts, natural curves are preserved, blood circulation is not hampered, and the body experiences pleasant relaxation.

Summary

Parents decide whether to allow a child to sleep on their stomach or not. Remember that this is not dangerous. Medical contraindications are a powerful argument against sleeping on your tummy, and the rest is just speculation. If the baby constantly wakes up during the night somersaults, be patient. Over time, he will learn to control his body, and you will remember with a smile the problem that is now so distant.

Instructions

First of all, it’s worth saying that sleeping on a baby’s stomach is not as dangerous as many parents fear. This is a natural position for a baby, much more comfortable than sleeping on the back. When the child turns over on his stomach, he pulls his legs to his chest, his body is grouped, the position resembles that of the mother’s womb. In this position, the load on the spine is reduced, the baby will not. He can sleep in this position quite calmly until the morning.

However, parents understand that if a child buries his mouth and nose into the mattress or burps in his sleep, this can lead to SID - sudden infant death syndrome, when the baby simply suffocates in his sleep, without realizing it and being unable to call for help. Almost all parents are afraid of the manifestations of this syndrome in the first year of life. Therefore, they continue to place their children on their backs even after they learn to roll over on their stomachs on their own.

One way to cope with such upheavals during sleep is to tightly swaddle the baby. It’s not for nothing that until recently, babies were tightly wrapped in diapers and left there all night. In this position, the baby calms down faster, does not hit himself with his hands, and therefore does not wake up or roll over in his sleep. However, there are also disadvantages: this is an extremely uncomfortable position for the baby. Imagine being unable to move all night. Then there will be no rest, the body will ache and ache. This also happens in a baby; tight swaddling harms blood circulation and the supply of oxygen to all organs.

A child needs to move in his sleep in the same way as an adult, so turning over onto his stomach after 5-6 months is almost inevitable. But at this age, ADHD syndrome is no longer as terrible as for 1-3 months. In order for the baby to wake up as little as possible and rush around restlessly in his sleep, he needs to be properly calmed before going to bed. Do not engage in any noisy games 1-1.5 hours before bedtime, give your child a soothing massage, give him kefir or milk to drink, read a calm fairy tale or poetry, sing a lullaby. Then the child will also behave calmly in his sleep and may even sleep all night without turning over.

If you are afraid of your baby rolling over, you can place hard pillows on both sides of the baby to prevent his movements during sleep. An even better way would be to put the baby to sleep not in a spacious crib, but in a cradle that well outlines the baby’s body and allows him to lie in only one position - on his back. Sleeping in a cradle will be preferable for children up to 5 months, then the child becomes too large and mobile to get enough sleep in a confined space.

Children enjoy sleeping with their parents the most. Sometimes this is the best way for parents not to worry about the baby and not to get up to his crib several times a night. However, it is usually very difficult for a child to wean himself off such sleep. Therefore, if possible, it is better to immediately accustom your baby to his crib and the correct position for sleeping in it.

Babies sometimes cause a lot of trouble for their mothers because they refuse to go to sleep correctly, on their side or back. The dangers that arise if a child turns over on his stomach in his sleep and how to avoid this are discussed below.

Advantages and disadvantages of sleeping on your stomach

The opinion of doctors regarding sleeping on the stomach is unanimous: constantly being in this position at night is dangerous to health. However, there are some advantages of such a holiday:

With increased gas formation, pressure on the stomach will relieve intestinal colic and bloating.
If there are problems with the kidneys, then this position will help optimize their functioning and improve the patient’s condition.
For back pain, doctors sometimes recommend sleeping on your stomach for a while to relieve strain on overstrained muscles.

The harm from such a pose is immeasurably greater than the benefit. Consequences of sleeping on your stomach:

Cerebrovascular accident. When lying on your stomach, your head inevitably turns to the side. This position causes compression of the vessels passing through the cervical spine and feeding the brain.
Difficulty breathing due to compression of the chest. The lungs are not able to fully open, as a result of which gas exchange deteriorates; air rich in carbon dioxide stagnates in the alveoli. The quality of sleep is noticeably reduced, and it will take more time to recuperate. If a child has a tendency to apnea (stopping breathing), then the likelihood of suffocating in this position is high.
Disruption of the urinary tract and reproductive function due to compression of internal organs.
The risk of developing breast cancer in girls increases, since the growing mammary glands become deformed and stagnant processes develop in them.
The likelihood of a stomach ulcer or gastritis increases due to the reflux of the contents of the duodenum. This can be prevented by abstaining from food 4 or 3 hours before going to bed.
Pain in the cervical and thoracic spine due to incorrect and unnatural body position.
Cosmetic defects in the form of sagging skin of the face and chest, the appearance of early wrinkles.

To place a child correctly, it is necessary to help him learn to find a position in which the body will function normally and the body will rest. A bent spinal column during sleep will deprive the muscles of relaxation, disrupt the normal blood supply to the tissues and cause ill health.

Action plan if the baby turns over on his stomach in his sleep and wakes up

In the second month of life or a little later, babies begin to roll over onto their tummy. This skill indicates the correct development of the baby and good coordination of movements. The little one practices his new skill all day long. But sometimes the mother is worried that the child turns over on his stomach in his sleep and begins to wake up. What to do in this case?

Sleeping on your stomach and safety

Special mattress to hold the child in one position

Despite the benefits of sleeping on your stomach, take care of your baby's safety.

The mattress should be firm to avoid suffocation while sleeping. For the same purpose, a pillow is contraindicated. For a child under one year old, a folded diaper under his head is sufficient. Yes, and it is used only to indicate a place for the head. It is quite possible to do without it.
Don't put tiny toys in the crib. The fur of a soft bear can get into the respiratory tract and cause allergies. If the baby touches a hard rattle, it will hit itself and wake up.
While sleeping on the stomach, the baby may crawl. He pushes off with his legs and moves forward slightly. To protect the little head, use soft sides for the walls of the crib.

If you take these simple rules into account, your baby will not be in any danger while sleeping on his stomach.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is often associated with infants sleeping on their stomachs. Such assumptions are not confirmed by anything. Pediatricians associate SIDS with underdevelopment of the central nervous system and other child health problems. Unfortunately, all the reasons are still unknown. However, this has nothing to do with your sleeping position.

When is sleeping on your stomach contraindicated?

The child is crying because he woke up and something hurts.

Sleeping a child on his stomach has its contraindications. First of all, they are related to the health of the baby:

Infantile torticollis. It can be congenital or acquired. Being in one position for a long time, the neck muscles weaken on one side and become stronger on the other. When the symmetry of the muscles is disturbed, the child's head is slightly tilted to one side. It is difficult for a baby to turn his head to the right or left, depending on the location of the pathology. When sleeping on his stomach, the baby puts his head on the side that is more comfortable for him, aggravating torticollis.
Central nervous system disorder. For certain problems, a neurologist may recommend not placing the child on his stomach while sleeping.
Apnea. If your baby holds his breath, it means his breathing reflex is not fully developed. Do not place your baby on his stomach. Having buried his nose in the mattress, the baby may not feel the need to raise his head. If there is a history of apnea, parents are advised to acquire a breathing monitor.

If your baby has any health problems, talk to your doctor about sleeping on his stomach.

A child should absolutely not sleep on his stomach if his parents smoke in the apartment. Nicotine is a poison that affects the child’s immature respiratory system. Having inhaled smoke, the child feels suffocation, sometimes a spasm, and tries to turn away from the negative factor. And he can only turn on his stomach towards the mattress. The consequence is suffocation. Don't risk your baby's health!

Why does a baby roll over and cry?

For a healthy baby, sleeping on the stomach has many advantages. But what to do when a child rolls over on his stomach in his sleep and cries? In this case, the mother is forced to get up a dozen times at night to turn the child onto his back or side. Let's figure out why the baby still wakes up:

The baby is scared. At first, the child turns over onto his tummy with a jerk, sometimes not fully understanding why he is doing this. In a dream, a sharp turn frightens the baby, and he cries. So, all that remains is to wait - with age, the fear will pass.
Stomach ache. When turning over, the abdominal muscles tense. Lying on his back, the baby may experience minor discomfort - this could be gas or slight overeating. When the abdominal muscles are tense, the pain intensifies, causing tears.
The child hits his nose on the mattress. The nose is one of the most painful points in a person. Despite the fairly soft bed, it hurts the baby when hit. Over time, coordination of movements will improve and the problem will go away.
The baby gets tangled in a blanket or sleeping bag. The baby begins to flounder helplessly and wakes up. Even adults sometimes cannot avoid this fate, let alone a baby. Try changing the blanket. Soft blankets fit the body more tightly and are easier to get tangled in. A blanket made with synthetic padding is more “standing” and fits less, which means there is much less risk of getting tangled in it. In the warm season, you can do without covering. To keep your baby warm, dress him in a onesie.
Uncomfortable sleeping suit. Pay attention to the clasp. Buttons or a snake on the tummy can cause discomfort when turning over. Also look at the applications. Sometimes manufacturers worry about the appearance of children's clothing, forgetting about convenience. The reverse side of the application may be scratched, causing irritation or itching.

There may be many more reasons, but babies, unfortunately, have not yet learned to speak. So we can only guess.

How to prevent night coups?

A sleep-deprived mother becomes nervous. To avoid taking it out on your loved ones, try to prevent your baby from turning over during sleep.

If your baby is under 4 months old, use loose swaddling.
Place the baby on its side, placing a cushion folded from a blanket in front near the baby at the level of the chest and tummy, so that the baby does not rest his face on it. The roller will delay the coup.
Instead of a crib, temporarily use a stroller cradle. There is little space in it, and it is very difficult to roll over.
Place your baby to sleep next to you. You won't always be able to prevent a rollover, but you can quickly return your baby to an acceptable position.
Place your baby to sleep immediately on his stomach. If your baby is comfortable sleeping on his stomach and doesn’t wake up from rolling over, lay him down the way he likes.

Be patient. 2-3 weeks will pass and you will forget about this problem.

When sleeping on your stomach is dangerous

When a child turns over on his stomach in his sleep at one year of age and older, this does not pose any threat to his health. In some conditions, it is still better to refrain from such a position and carefully turn the sleeping person onto his side or back.

Cold, bronchitis or runny nose. With rhinitis, the nasal passages are clogged with mucus and normal breathing is disrupted. If we take into account that air begins to stagnate in the lungs due to compression of the chest, then we can assume a worsening of the condition due to the habit of lying on the stomach.
Intestinal motility disorders, full stomach and other digestive system diseases can be aggravated due to insufficient blood supply at night.
Diseases and curvatures of the spine are an absolute contraindication to sleeping on the stomach.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system, especially in the presence of circulatory disorders, do not allow rest in this position.

Healthy children, as well as adults, are not recommended to sleep on their stomachs, since if such a position becomes permanent, pathologies cannot be avoided. At two or more years of age, children can be taught to sleep in the correct position. At the same time, falling asleep should not be accompanied by discomfort or negative emotions. You should not lift your child at night in order to turn him on his side or back. It is recommended to carefully turn the sleeping person to his left or right side, so as not to wake him up.

It is noted that sudden infant death syndrome, which occurs in children under one year of age, is associated specifically with the position on the stomach during sleep. Therefore, pediatricians recommend keeping the child in this position while awake, since pressure on the abdomen facilitates the passage of gases. The habit of lying in this way has a beneficial effect on physical condition and promotes early physical development.

The exact cause of sudden infant mortality has not been established, but a direct link has been proven between sleeping on the stomach and the death of children. Most of the dead were in exactly this situation. It is believed that a soft mattress and pillows, colds and difficulty breathing through the nose significantly increase the risk of death from suffocation in children who are placed to sleep on their stomachs.

Important! At older ages, the likelihood of dying from sudden infant death syndrome is close to zero.

If the child sleeps on his stomach, then Komarovsky recommends determining whether the child has risk factors such as:

runny nose;
soft mattress and pillow;
dry and warm air in the bedroom;
warm and soft blanket;
parents smoke.

These tips are relevant for children aged from a week to a year.

Pediatricians and psychologists recommend teaching children to fall asleep correctly from an early age. The first and main recommendations are as follows: maintaining a daily routine appropriate to age and ensuring physical activity while awake. Violation of the routine can turn the life of the entire family upside down and deprive the household of free time, proper rest, and turn the child into a twitchy and hysterical creature.

Five tips that, if followed, can improve your sleep quality and make it easier to fall asleep:

The size of the bed should correspond to the age of the child; for younger children, sleeping furniture should have small sides to prevent falls.
The pillow should not be too soft or large. Its task is not to raise the head, but to support the neck, ensuring its level position. It is ideal to use an orthopedic pillow.
Blood circulation in the extremities should not be impaired: an arm or leg may become numb if they are bent or pressed with body weight.
The head should not bend too close to the chest: in this case, the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, which negatively affects health. The problem can be solved by selecting a quality pillow and teaching the child to sleep correctly.
In the evening, you should create an atmosphere conducive to rest, introduce rituals (bathing, reading fairy tales, quiet activities), after which children will eventually reflexively try to fall asleep.

The importance of correct body position while resting is no less important than good posture and proper seating at the table. It is very important for a growing body to get proper rest in order to develop well and maintain a healthy state. Providing a comfortable place for your child to sleep and creating a suitable environment is one of the important tasks of parents. At an older age, you should explain how to lie on the bed correctly and why it is important. Young children can be placed in the desired position.

If your baby sleeps on his stomach, this may pose some risk to him. We are talking only about children in the first year of life, especially under the age of three months.

Many mothers will say that the baby sleeps on his stomach much calmer and stronger, does not wake up and does not cry, and this is true. In general, a newborn cannot roll over onto his tummy on his own; only his mother can put him to sleep this way; usually they sleep on their back, while their legs and arms remain bent. If the child is not swaddled, at sharp sounds he shudders, spreading his arms wide and getting scared, this causes him to wake up and cry. If the baby sleeps on his stomach, then this reflex does not work. In this position, gas releases better and colic is less disturbing, which is why sleep is so sweet. That’s why older babies sleep on their stomachs with pleasure; after 6 months, most mothers simply cannot keep track of the baby, he rolls over onto his tummy on his own and sleeps with his knees tucked under him.

However, if a newborn sleeps on his stomach, this is dangerous. The risk of sudden death syndrome increases. This syndrome is the most common cause of death in children under one year of age; every third child who died has this diagnosis. During a post-mortem autopsy, doctors do not find any reasons for death, and the day before the baby is usually absolutely healthy, and often these are strong children who have not had any health problems.

Risk factors for sudden death syndrome include:

- winter period of time (when the room has dry and warm air)
Age up to 1 year (usually the first 3 months of life)

Smoking of parents, late or young age of mother.

Male gender of the child

Soft pillow or mattress

— sleeping on your stomach

- symptoms of mild ARVI in a child

Children are dying from simply...forgetting to breathe.

. There is no other explanation. An immature respiratory center at an early age and the presence of a protective reflex of holding the breath when the nose is blocked lead to the fact that if there is an obstacle to breathing, the child stops breathing and dies. In infants, the nasal passages are narrow and easily clogged with mucus and crusts, if there is an acute respiratory viral infection, or even if there is just dry air in the room, in a position on the tummy the risk that the nose will be completely blocked increases even more, which is why newborns should not sleep on the stomach.

A child can sleep on his stomach if: he is healthy, if the mattress is hard and smooth, if there is no pillow, if the room is cool and humid, if the parents do not smoke, if the mother is nearby. But failure to comply with even one point can result in the death of a child. If your older baby likes to sleep on his stomach, try to provide him with all these conditions to minimize the risk. And when choosing whether to sleep on the stomach or on the back of a newborn, you can choose an intermediate option; why not sleep on the baby’s side? This way there is no risk of sudden death syndrome, and the baby will sleep more peacefully.

Conclusion: Newborns can only sleep on their stomach if you can eliminate all other risk factors for sudden death syndrome, but in 99% of cases this is not possible. And in this case, sleeping on your stomach is not only harmful, but simply dangerous, you may simply lose it. If you have a soft mattress or pillow, if the apartment is dry and warm, if anyone smokes, never put your child to sleep on his stomach.

A newborn is considered a baby from birth to the 28th day of life. The main feature of this period is that the child cannot yet hold his head up on his own. This means that if an infant sleeps on his stomach, he can suffocate by burying his nose in the mattress or in the fold of the sheet.

He still lacks self-preservation skills, he cannot breathe through his mouth, his body does not listen to him, and he will not be able to react correctly to a lack of air. From the first days of a child, it is important to find contact, to feel what he needs, he must bathe in his mother’s love. The baby may cry constantly, and in order to somehow calm him down, the mother puts him to the breast.

Having eaten, he calms down and falls asleep. Is it possible to leave a newborn like this so that he continues to sleep and enjoy the warmth on his soft belly under the strict control of the person closest to him - his mother? Better not.

Mommy gets very tired while caring for the child, and she will most likely fall asleep, and this is very dangerous, since there is a chance that the baby will “fall asleep.” Therefore, it is better to wait until he falls asleep more soundly, and then put him in his crib. It is safer for your baby to sleep alone.

Wakes up and cries - possible reasons

Increasing, especially repeated crying is a signal: something is wrong. First of all, check if the baby is comfortable:

are there any folds on the bed and clothes (diaper, baby vest, rompers are bunched up and are pressing); is breathing difficult (stuffy room, dry air, dusty unironed bed, fleecy sheet, cap ties wrapped around the neck, hot blanket); is the baby cold? (the baby freezes much faster than an adult; he has been basking in his mother’s warmth for nine months, which he really misses in a separate bed); is the child wet (even if the newborn is wearing a diaper and not a gauze diaper, he may be cold from the penetration of moisture); whether the arms and legs are tangled in the diaper or in the sleep set; whether there is a draft or heat from the heater blowing on it; whether the light from the night light is shining into the eyes; whether there is excessive noise in the room.

If all the inconveniences are taken into account and eliminated, and the baby also wakes up and cries, it’s time to sound the alarm. He's physically ill. Among the most common reasons that cause a baby to wake up anxiously and cry may be:

bloating, colic in the tummy (excessive gas formation always causes painful sensations, until they are eliminated, you can, unfortunately, forget about restful sleep); intestinal congestion from overeating (at 4 months, when they begin to introduce the first complementary foods in the form of fruit juices and purees, this is especially true. And, in general, up to 9, and sometimes 12 months, the baby’s stomach and intestines react extremely unstable to adult food: not all enzymes are yet produced to digest food. It must be carefully dosed and sorted); increased tone (characteristic sign - head thrown back and up during sleep and arms pressed tightly to the body); disturbed transition from inhibition of the nervous system to excitation (shuddering, sharp and feverish twitching of the limbs - the baby scares himself); moving (not even cutting yet, but getting ready for an outing) teeth; runny nose makes it difficult to breathe, or the nose is clogged; fever has risen (otitis media, colds, postpartum jaundice, rotavirus infection, sore throat, or just a reaction to a vaccination); allergies (it may be accompanied by itching, rapid heartbeat, rash, difficulty breathing) .

All this is a reason to seek advice from a neurologist or gastroenterologist. But first of all, go to your local (or paid) pediatrician. After a thorough examination, tests, and (if necessary) ultrasound, the specialist will dispel your fears with detailed recommendations and prescribe (if necessary) appropriate treatment and a course of massage.

Pros and cons of different sleeping positions

On the back.

The situation is good, the most common, but not the safest.

When regurgitating, vomit may enter the respiratory tract during inhalation. In the best case, aspiration pneumonia will develop, in the worst case, the child will simply die if not noticed in time.

In this regard, sleeping on your stomach with your head turned to the side is even safer. Of course, before putting the baby to bed after feeding, he must be held upright for some time until burping occurs.

But this will not save you from regurgitation one hundred percent, since the sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus is still weak, and if there is anxiety, especially on a full stomach, the baby will most likely burp.

Another disadvantage of sleeping on your back is the flattening of the back of the head when this position is abused.

On the side.

This seems to be the best sleeping position for a baby. In this position, regurgitation is not scary. The only thing is that you need to change sides to again avoid deformation of the head, as well as load on one or the other hip joint.

On the stomach.

As mentioned above, sleeping on the stomach is contraindicated for very young children. This position is allowed only when they learn to hold their head and can turn it to the side on their own. This will happen closer to 1 month.

But in order for the child to learn to hold his head, he must be laid on his stomach. This is a very useful procedure, and pediatricians tell all mothers about this during their visits.

Laying on your stomach helps:

strengthening the muscles of the neck, back, abdomen;
prevention of hip dysplasia (spread the legs at a right angle when laying them out);
development of crawling skills (the palm is used to bring the legs into a bent position, and the baby tries to push off);
release of gases.

You need to lay it out daily before each feeding, for about 10 minutes. To make the child less worried, at this time you can stroke his back, legs and speak gentle words.

Let's figure out at what age a baby can sleep on his stomach. At 1 - 2 months, when the baby has learned to hold his head, sleeping on his stomach is no longer so dangerous. But you still need to keep an eye on him from time to time.

At 3-4 months, the muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle will become stronger, and the baby will not only hold his head, but also try to push off the surface with his arms. From now on, you don’t have to worry about your baby.

At 5 months, babies begin to roll over from their back to their stomach and back and choose their own position.

A child turns over on his stomach in a dream: reasons, development standards, advice from doctors and parents

Isn't it interesting to watch a small child grow, develop and acquire new skills? For most parents, one of the first exciting developmental milestones is watching their babies learn to roll over.

The first time you see your baby arch his back, lift his head, lean to the side, and then suddenly - flip! So cute and exciting, but! Unless it happens that the child is sleeping and rolls over on his stomach. Then it becomes frustrating and tiring.

Why? Because a baby who is just starting to roll over is a baby who is not sleeping.

A child turns over on his stomach in his sleep: safety comes first!

Can a baby sleep on his stomach? Short answer: no. A baby sleeping on his stomach inhales less air. This increases the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In 2020, about 1,600 children died from this cause!

Now, as for how to help your baby through this stage and maximize everyone's sleep: First of all, remember that there is no “cure” for this. Baby rolling is a completely natural part of his growth and development, so there is nothing you can do to correct or stop this process.

However, some parents find that turning the baby over every time the baby rolls onto his or her stomach in sleep is a great way to help your baby get through this stage.

This is especially true for children who can only roll in one direction, but cannot yet learn to roll in the other, and who do not really like to “freeze” in a certain position.

Since this stage is usually short-lived (usually 2-3 weeks), this is a simple, short-term solution.

First of all, it is important to make sure that the baby's newfound mobility does not create a dangerous situation when the baby rolls onto his stomach in his sleep.

It is known that babies should always be put to sleep on their back, but if they lie on their tummy, then depending on their age and capabilities, you can either return it back face up or leave it in this position.

The safest place for a baby to sleep is in his crib in the same room as his parents or adults. But what if the baby rolls over on his stomach in his sleep? Does it still need to be returned?

Why is sleeping on your back so important?

Infant deaths associated with sudden unexpected death (SIDS) have fallen by 80% since safe sleep campaigns were introduced in the 1990s. Experts estimate that 9,500 babies' lives were saved in Australia alone.

There is now strong evidence in many countries that the position of a newborn turning over on his or her stomach during sleep significantly increases the risk of sudden death.

Research has also found side sleep position instability, with many babies found on their tummy after being placed to sleep on their side.

Babies born prematurely are at increased risk of sudden death more often.

The good news is that the risk of SIDS decreases significantly before your baby's first birthday. It peaks between 1 and 4 months of age and then begins to decline. In fact, 90 percent of SIDS cases involve babies under 6 months of age.

Why does a child roll over on his stomach in his sleep? The position in which we sleep determines how easily and how often we wake up during sleep. Arousal is a physiological defense mechanism that is thought to be deficient in children who succumb to sudden and unexpected death.

What causes SIDS? What we know, don't know and suspect

When we fall asleep, our blood pressure, heart rate and breathing slow down, and there may be pauses in breathing (apnea). Brief awakenings from sleep increase all these indicators.

Studies done on babies have shown that placing a baby on their stomach not only makes it more difficult for them to wake up, but also reduces blood pressure and the amount of oxygen available to the brain. Parents sometimes place their baby on their stomach because they “sleep better that way.” This is because babies don't wake up in this position very often.

However, keep in mind that sleeping on your back improves airflow.

Does sleeping on your back interfere with burping?

Some parents are concerned that when a baby rolls over on his stomach in sleep, he is at risk of choking on vomit (baby burping is inevitable at this age). But a careful study of the child's respiratory tract showed that children who fall asleep on their backs are less likely to choke on vomit than those sleeping on their stomachs, no matter how paradoxical this may sound.

In the supine position, the upper respiratory tract lies above the digestive tract.

Thus, the milk regurgitated by the baby, rising up the esophagus, is again easily swallowed and does not enter the respiratory tract.

When a baby is placed on his stomach, the esophagus is positioned over his upper airway. If a baby spits up or vomits milk, the milk or liquid can be inhaled relatively easily into the airways and lungs.

At what age can babies sleep on their stomach?

Babies begin to learn to roll over from their back to their stomach as early as four months. But it may take longer until the baby is about five or six months old because it requires stronger neck and arm muscles.

Therefore, pediatricians recommend that a baby sleep on his stomach no earlier than when he reaches one year of age. As a rule, at this stage children can already sit without support and roll over freely. During this period, the child is already strong enough to roll away to a safe place if he needs to.

Don't overdo it, be calm and confident

Babies should always be placed on their back. But once your baby can confidently turn his back down or up, he can be left in the position he prefers to sleep in (usually around five to six months). If children cannot yet roll over on their own, they should be placed on their backs if parents discover that they are sleeping on their stomachs.

Prevention measures

Encourage tummy time play when your baby is awake, let him practice and lie on his back on his own as long as you can control him.
Don't stop breastfeeding until at least 6 months.
If you are still swaddling your baby, stop as soon as he starts to roll over. Plus, all that rolling will no doubt loosen the diaper, which can be a major suffocation risk. Instead of swaddling, try a sleep sack.

Don't overheat the room, don't dress your child more warmly than necessary, and don't let anyone smoke near him.

Baby's sleeping place

Recommendations for organizing a place for a child to sleep:

Keep the crib away from toys and blankets (unless you are swaddling) and use thick bedding. Loose blankets may increase the risk of SIDS.
Use a durable crib mattress and make sure it meets safety standards.

Various devices such as wedges and positioners that are used to prevent infants from rolling over should never be used as they may pose a suffocation hazard to the infant. Unless your pediatrician recommends them, in which case he'll suggest placing them under your mattress. There should be nothing in the crib other than the baby and secure bedding to keep him warm.

Source: https://FB.ru/article/460725/rebenok-vo-sne-perevorachivaetsya-na-jivot-prichinyi-normyi-razvitiya-sovetyi-vrachey-i-roditeley

What are the benefits of sleeping on your stomach?

If an infant sleeps on his stomach, then:

he feels protected, the feeling of a warm crib gives him confidence in safety;
the handles are spread out in different directions and will not disturb his sleep. After all, children often wake themselves up, since any irritant triggers the Moro protective reflex, in which they sharply spread their arms, and then can hit themselves in the face with them;
self-massage of the abdomen occurs, peristalsis improves - this is a good prevention of colic and, therefore, the key to a restful and sound sleep;
there is no deformation of the bones of the skull and hip joints;
The neck muscles are trained, and the child holds his head better.

The room temperature is no more than 20 degrees Celsius.

If it is winter, then be sure to ventilate before going to bed.

In summer, you can sleep with the window open, avoiding direct drafts.

Optimal humidity in the bedroom is achieved by ventilation and installation of special devices for air humidification.

There should be nothing unnecessary in the crib (diapers, blankets, soft toys, etc.), this is especially important if the baby sleeps on his stomach, in which case he can bury his nose in them.

It is advisable to have a hard mattress on the baby’s bed; it is better to remove the pillow completely, since it will definitely not be needed until the baby is a year old.

Avoid smoking in the apartment, even in the room next to the child’s bedroom and on the balcony.

Before laying down, be sure to clear the child’s nasal passages of crusts and mucus so that nothing interferes with breathing through the nose.

The doctor says

Even the well-known pediatrician Komarovsky expressed his opinion on this matter: “If there is at least one point - a pillow, a dry room, a soft and crooked mattress, smokers in a close environment - you cannot sleep on your stomach!”

The decision whether an infant can sleep on his stomach is, of course, made by mom and dad. It is important that they have information and read specialized literature.

As they say, forewarned is forearmed. You need to consider all the pros and cons of sleeping on your stomach. There is nothing cuter than a sweetly sleeping baby. Love your children, and they will thank you with their sincere smile.

When a child sleeps on his stomach, many new parents begin to worry whether this position is dangerous for the health of their beloved child, because for a long time the younger generation has been warned that such a position can cause the death of a newborn, since it often leads to suffocation. Experts say that this popular belief is incorrect, and sometimes it is even beneficial for a newborn baby to sleep on his stomach. Nevertheless, doctors warn that if the baby often sleeps on his stomach at night, parents will need to constantly monitor the baby, this is the only way to ensure complete safety.

Can a baby sleep on his stomach? International medicine is of the opinion that sleeping on the stomach is guaranteed not to cause health problems only if the infant does not have any pathologies and is completely healthy.

Some experts even claim that babies sleeping on their stomachs experience physiological development a little faster, which also has certain advantages.

As for the possible dangers, sleeping on your stomach can lead to the following consequences:

sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The main cause of death in this case is a sudden stop in breathing caused by the fact that the child is sleeping with his face buried in the pillow. In a certain position, the supply of oxygen will be minimal, which will cause breathing difficulties. Since infants are very weak physically, they cannot turn around on their own, resulting in suffocation and death;
suffocation with vomit. In the first few months of life, all newborns retain the regurgitation reflex. Parents should constantly monitor the condition of their child and be able to promptly prevent the ingestion of vomit. It is extremely important to remember that if the baby sleeps on his stomach with his butt up, if he burps, he may not wake up and suffocate on vomit. If fluid enters the respiratory tract, there is an increased chance of developing aspiration pneumonia;
constriction of the chest. When a baby sleeps on his stomach, with his legs tucked or straightened, the chest will be compressed in any case, as a result of which the baby's air supply will be disrupted. Although doctors assure that such a deviation cannot cause suffocation, if the baby lifts or jerks its limbs in its sleep, it makes sense to consult a doctor.

It is impossible to say specifically how best to put a child to sleep, since much depends on the age of the baby and the general state of health.

Is it possible for a newborn to sleep on his stomach, is this beneficial and after how many weeks of life will such sleep be completely safe? Experts warn that despite the fact that in most cases sleeping on the stomach does not pose a threat to life, in the first weeks after birth it is still not worth putting the baby in this position. But at 3-4 months of life, it is not only possible for a newborn to sleep on his stomach, but also necessary.

If the last meal was taken several hours before rest, and there is no large amount of undigested food in the stomach, sleeping in this position will bring the following advantages to the baby:

If a newborn sleeps on his stomach, with his legs tucked under him and his arms folded, and at the same time snoring evenly, then this position is as comfortable as possible.

The most reasonable thing that parents can do in this case is to discard all prejudices and simply better monitor the baby’s sleep.

Even if an infant likes to rest with his back up and does not sleep for a long time in a different position, it is not recommended for parents to turn him into this position until 2-3 months. In the first months of life, a newborn cannot sleep on his stomach, since the muscles are very weak, and the baby may simply suffocate, unable to turn his head. If the child accepts this position several months after birth, there is no need to worry.

At what age can a baby be allowed to rest on his stomach and why? Babies should not sleep on their stomach until 3 months, but after this period it is already possible. No matter how strong and healthy the baby is from birth, only after 3 months will the muscles begin to properly support the neck and such a position will be completely safe.

The only advice that doctors give is to ensure that a laid down baby sleeps without waking up, put him in a crib without toys or any foreign objects.

How to put a child to sleep in the first months of life is up to parents to decide. It is necessary to understand that resting on your back and side under unfavorable conditions can also cause the development of certain deviations. Experts assure that there is no completely safe sleeping position for newborns, since their body and body are extremely vulnerable.

In order for the baby to begin to sleep fully and at the same time his sleep is as safe as possible, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

When caring for children, it is necessary to follow all recommendations of pediatricians. It is important to remember that the child should sleep as much as he wants. But if the baby is less than 2 months old, it is better to put him to sleep on his side, this is the position that is considered optimal and will help all muscles develop. It is very stupid to believe that the only suitable sleeping position is on the back.

How to fight

The first and easiest step to healthy sleep for a child is to create comfortable conditions for him and eliminate the physical causes of restless sleep.

You need to take a responsible approach to choosing a crib, mattress, and bed linen. It is better to choose wallpaper and textiles in light, calm colors, as bright shades are tiring.

In the children's room, the temperature should be maintained at 18-20 ° C and the humidity around 60%, and the room should be regularly ventilated. Newborns can be frightened by complete silence; older children also fall asleep more easily to quiet monotonous melodies, so during “quiet hour” you can turn on a recording of the sounds of nature: rain, the sound of the sea, birdsong and others.

Before going to bed, the baby should be fed and changed. It is recommended to have dinner no later than an hour and a half before lights out. Drinking heavily before bed is not advisable. Newborns sleep better in diapers; for older babies, you need to choose comfortable pajamas that do not restrict movement. After falling asleep, you should ensure peace, protect from loud sounds and bright light. Try not to wake up if the baby overslept during feeding time: an extra half hour of sleep, even on an empty stomach, will not do any harm, but the baby will wake up on his own and in a good mood.

In the first months of life, the baby is still learning to sleep, so often during the active phase of sleep he opens his eyes and begins to whine.

You should not rush to your child at the first sign of awakening; you need to give him the opportunity to calm down and fall back into sleep.

During night feedings, nothing should disturb the baby or attract his attention. If, waking up in the middle of the night, he sees a familiar picture - his room, a night light, his favorite toy - then he will quickly and easily fall asleep again.

Solving psycho-emotional problems will require more effort. First of all, you need to take care of maintaining your daily routine. It can be formed starting from the age of one and a half months, because at this time the little person already pays attention to the difference between day and night. And even in the short time when a two-month-old baby is awake, this difference can be emphasized. Night feedings and changing clothes should be carried out in silence, without talking to the baby, by the light of a night lamp.

During the day, you can play with him, entertain him with songs and nursery rhymes, and during the daytime rest, do not darken the room so that the difference from what the child sees at night is clearly noticeable. For the same purpose, some child sleep consultants advise putting the baby in a different place during the day. The regime must be strictly observed: firstly, the child gradually gets used to falling asleep at the same time, and secondly, children feel much more confident and calm when the day goes according to their usual scenario.

Every family should have a strict rule: wish each other good night only in a good mood.

A person - both an adult and a child - should fall asleep in a relaxed, calm state.

Therefore, all grievances and quarrels should be resolved and forgotten long before bedtime. Otherwise, worries will bother the little impressionable person all night.

Joyful shocks can play the same cruel joke. It is better to move good news, new clothes, a visit from a beloved relative and other joyful events to an earlier time of day.

It is very important for a child to follow a certain familiar ritual before bed. Reading fairy tales, singing lullabies, discussing the events of the day, or another evening tradition will help you calm down and get ready to relax. When choosing such a ritual, you need to take into account the baby’s temperament: someone can be lulled to sleep by a short lullaby, while others need a whole hour to fall asleep.

For the same reason, it is not recommended to organize noisy active games in the evening. The parent who puts the baby to bed should be in a good, calm mood. The child feels his parents’ feelings very well, and if mom or dad are in a hurry or nervous, he unwittingly copies their behavior and then bedtime can take hours.

If a child is prevented from falling asleep by some fears or is tormented by nightmares, he also cannot do without the help of adults. You should treat the child’s problem with all understanding and sympathy. If he asks you to stay with him at night or hide him under his blanket from imaginary monsters, you cannot brush him off or laugh at his request.

In addition, you need to talk to the child about everything that scares him, explain that he is safe and protected. You can share memories of your childhood fears.

Or you can joke and laugh together about what scared the baby.

But to be ironic about the cause of fear, and not about the child himself!

To prevent this problem, you should carefully select the films and fairy tales that your child watches and listens to. They must be age appropriate.

Children should also not see news stories about natural disasters, catastrophes and crimes.

If the causes of sleep disturbances lie in health problems, you need to devote all your efforts to treating the child and alleviating the symptoms that caused insomnia. Recovery will be followed by normalization of sleep.

The health and well-being of a child depends on many factors. And the task of parents is to create all the conditions so that the baby eats properly, sleeps soundly, is healthy and cheerful. Only then will he be able to regularly delight his loved ones with new achievements.

Contraindications

We ourselves often sleep on our stomachs, but for babies this position is not always allowed. A few decades ago, expectant mothers were taught some rules that they had to follow when choosing a sleeping position.

Absolute contraindications to resting on the stomach for a child are:

Problems with the activity of the central nervous system. If doctors suspect dysfunction of this system, it is impossible to place the baby with its back up while sleeping.
After waking up, the child does not move his head for some time. This may indicate severe leakage. To avoid complications, the baby will have to be constantly turned over.
Age up to 3 months.
The mattress is too soft. In this case, there is an increased risk of suffocation due to tissue indentation.

How to teach a child to sleep on his stomach after a certain age must be decided together with pediatricians. But most doctors are of the opinion that after 6 months the baby should independently choose a sleeping position, since this age is quite conscious, and the baby understands how to lie comfortably and how not.

It is extremely important to remember that each person’s body is structured individually, and accordingly, we all prefer specific positions (including children). For example, I never sleep on my back because it always wakes me up.

You place the baby on his back, and he rolls over onto his tummy. Despite the fact that the baby sleeps on his tummy more soundly and longer. Common situation? Are you worried if it's normal for your baby to sleep on his stomach? Does anything need to be done about this? Should I accept this or turn it back on my back? Most young parents have questions: “Why do children sleep like that? Is this pose safe? Is it possible to put a baby to sleep on his stomach? In this article, consultants from the Sleep, Baby team will help you find the answers.

Baby rolls over in his sleep

But still, why does a child sleep on his stomach? And most often, adults notice this around 5 months.

Indeed, sometimes babies themselves begin to roll over on their stomachs in their sleep. If this happens closer to 4-5 months, it means they are learning a new motor skill.

This is normal, this is how the baby learns to roll over

, and does it in his sleep. But never put your baby to sleep on his stomach,

Sometimes the baby tries to find a comfortable sleeping position

. Until almost six months, the baby cannot take a comfortable position on his own and sleeps the way his mother puts him to sleep. The little man is tired of lying on his back, something is numb somewhere, it’s uncomfortable. Also, in this position, the baby does not interfere with himself with his hands and does not provoke himself with uncontrollable shudders. Therefore, sleep on the stomach is usually longer and more sound. The baby turns over on his tummy to make his rest comfortable. It is worth placing the baby on the tummy more often while awake.

Safe sleeping position

It is important to know that there are no official recommendations on the topic of safe posture in Russia. The vast majority of doctors in Russia advise placing babies on their sides, and for some diseases (for example, special forms of reflux) they recommend sleeping on their stomachs.

It is important to pay attention

- ventilate the room before going to bed, maintain a comfortable humidity for babies, provide a safe place in the crib without unnecessary objects. Make sure that your baby’s nose breathes easily: clean dry crusts in time, treat a runny nose. Avoid the baby. And sleep with your baby in the same room for at least 1 year, so you can make sure the baby is safe and help him in time.

Difficulties with the gastrointestinal tract

, difficulties with the gastrointestinal tract may arise

. For example, with the introduction of complementary foods, painful natural conditions appear when the gastrointestinal tract is rebuilt to a new type of nutrition. This does not require special treatment, but it is important to monitor the introduction of products and their effect on the baby’s condition. At this age, the baby may suffer from colic.

Sleeping on your tummy helps you survive a painful condition. When you sleep on your stomach, gas flows out more easily, which helps you sleep peacefully. In general, lying on your tummy improves bowel function.

At such an early age, you can practice sleeping in the “belly to belly” position on your mother; this will also be additional tactile contact, which plays such an important role for the development of the baby, especially at this young age.

Thus, sleeping on the tummy is unsafe for a child under 3-4 months. By six months, the baby can protect himself to some extent and has better control over his body. It is better to initially place children on their backs while sleeping. But you shouldn’t deliberately put your baby back on his back if he has rolled over on his tummy. This is normal, as he learns to roll over at this age. Remember that the baby is growing and becoming more independent. Good dreams to you!

A child turns over on his stomach in his sleep, is there a danger in this?

Can a baby sleep on his stomach?

The position of a sleeping newborn baby in a position in which he is on his knees and his legs are tucked to his stomach often alarms inexperienced parents.

Anxiety makes it difficult to concentrate on other things. Don't worry. The baby, while in the womb, spent 9 long months in this position. This is his usual resting position.

Sometimes babies can sleep on their stomachs before they get hungry.

Here are the benefits of sleeping on the stomach for newborns:

When regurgitating, there is no chance that the baby will choke.
A child will not be able to scare and wake himself up with his hands.
The spine does not receive excess load.
Turning over during sleep helps improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
The neck muscles are strengthened when turning the head from side to side.
Blood supply to the brain improves due to an elevated lower body.

There is no need to worry if the baby turns over and does not wake up. This means that it is convenient for him to rest in this position.

Sleeping on your stomach. What to do?

The infant habit of pulling up the legs and sleeping on the stomach often alarms and frightens young mothers. Passions are heating up on the forums of equally inexperienced mothers. The old school of grandmothers also does not benefit new parents.

Frightening thoughts that a baby should under no circumstances sleep on his stomach are based on the fact that the baby can suffocate, choke, or lay off his arm or leg. Few parents believe that nothing bad will happen to their child.

Is it really? And what to do if the child turns over in his sleep, refusing to fall asleep on his back. The slight sniffling and groaning of a baby sleeping on its stomach does not mean anything terrible. This is only good for the baby.

Therefore, you should not take any action to eliminate this habit of your child.

Benefits of falling asleep on your tummy

Initially, sleeping an infant on the stomach for parents seems unacceptable, and the position is uncomfortable. However, the baby subconsciously chooses the usual position even before birth. In addition, such a pose reduces significant load on the still weak spine.

Newborn babies often suffer from gastrointestinal problems. They are characterized by frequent constipation, intestinal colic, and gas formation. Pediatricians advise young mothers to regularly lay their babies belly down, which helps improve the functioning of the digestive system. As a result, children are no longer tormented by unpleasant sensations in the tummy.

Another positive aspect of falling asleep with your stomach down is the strengthening of the muscles of the neck, shoulders, legs, and arms. The position of the baby, in which the head is located below the body, improves blood flow to the brain. The movement of the legs during inversions helps the baby develop musculoskeletal joints.

Frequent regurgitation of infants under one year of age when resting on their stomachs does not pose a threat. Because a baby in such a body position will not be able to choke on vomit.

The idea that sleeping on your stomach carries a risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is wrong. Professors of medicine have proven that the baby’s position during rest has no effect on mortality. The causes of SIDS lie directly in the health of babies.

So what should you do if your baby rolls over on his stomach in his sleep?

Wary parents often turn their children from their stomach to their back. Others simply observe how the kids feel, checking whether their child is breathing. There is no good reason to worry about this. However, it is worth considering the following points:

There should be no toys, large pillows, or other items in the crib that pose a danger to the child’s life. Pediatricians strongly recommend not using pillows until one year of age, and after that it should be small, rather flat. It is important to ensure that when lying on the stomach, the baby does not stick his face into anything. The ideal option for a pillow would be a baby diaper, folded in several layers.
To ensure that the baby falls asleep and wakes up in one position, on his back, on his side, you can use swaddling. A tightly wrapped baby will not be able to roll over onto his stomach. This option is very convenient for mothers. But the method prevents the child from moving, which leads to swelling of the arms, legs, and other parts of the body. In addition, blood circulation is disrupted. As an option, you can replace the spacious crib with a small cradle or cradle. Some parents, to control postures, take the baby with them to bed. This can also be done, but it is worth remembering that it is then difficult to wean the child from sleeping in the parent’s bed.
During children's rest, you need to alternate the position of the child, change the position of the head from side to side. This will help avoid such an unpleasant disease as torticollis.
Properly prepare your baby for rest. Shortly before bedtime, stop playing outdoor games, take a warm bath, give him warm milk to drink, and read a fairy tale. A calm child will easily fall asleep and sleep until the morning. Periodically check what position he sleeps in and adjust his head.

The task of parents after the birth of a newborn is to care and attention to their child. Kids will constantly delight moms and dads with their behavior, first words, steps, and further actions.

It is important to remember every moment that fate gives. Children grow up quickly.

And if the baby does not like to sleep in the correct position, but rolls over on his stomach and sniffles sweetly, do not disturb him, but just smile and kiss.

List of used literature:

Bishop DV, Anderson M, Reid C, Fox AM; Anderson; Reid; Fox (2011). Koenig, Thomas, ed. “Auditory development between 7 and 11 years: an event-related potential (ERP) study.” PLoS ONE
Hu Z, Chan RC, McAlonan GM; Chan; McAlonan (2010). “Maturation of social attribution skills in typically developing children: an investigation using the social attribution task.” Behavioral and Brain Functions
Stiles J, Jernigan TL; Jernigan (2010). “The basics of brain development.” Neuropsychology Review

Source: https://PsySon.ru/rebenok-ne-cpit/rebenok-vo-sne-perevorachivaetsya-na-zhivot.html