Fear of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, leads more than 75 percent of parents to put their babies to sleep on their back, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. For parents whose babies have conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease or upper airway disorders, tummy sleeping is often the difference between your baby getting some sleep and not sleeping much at all. If your baby needs to sleep on his tummy for a legitimate medical reason, a few tips can help ensure his safety.
Step 1
Educate yourself on the dangers of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS. Tummy sleeping is associated with higher rates of SIDS than back sleeping, but even then the rates are not that high. While no death rate is acceptable, the rate of SIDS was around 1 percent before the National Institutes of Health initiated its "Back to Sleep" campaign. It's now half that rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.
Step 2
Remove all bedding from the crib, including blankets, pillows, crib bumpers and stuffed animals. Babies who sleep on their stomachs can roll into soft bedding, or pull it close to them and suffocate, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics' Healthy Children website.
Step 3
Install an apnea monitor in your baby's crib. If your baby stops breathing because of a face-down position, the monitor will sound. Motion monitors and video monitors can also help provide you with peace of mind, but these are optional, as Kids Health reports that babies usually cry when they're having trouble breathing.
Step 4
Check on your baby periodically during naps and throughout the night to make sure your baby's airway isn't blocked. Correct her position if her arm is in front of her face or if she's too close to the side of the crib. Babies who tummy sleep run the risk of re-breathing the same air they just exhaled, according to Kids Health.
Things You'll Need
- Apnea or motion monitor (optional)
References
- Healthy Children: Back to Sleep, Tummy to Play
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics: SIDS Rate and Back Sleeping
- Kids Health: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- National Institutes of Health: Back to Sleep Public Education Campaign
- Baby Center: When is it Safe to Let My Baby Sleep on His Tummy?
