For a long time, doctors, pediatricians, and grandmothers have advised new mothers to place a new baby on his or her stomach. As the baby sleeps, he/she seems so comfortable. While this was the way for placing a baby down to sleep for hundreds of years, new study now shows that problems can occur when the child’s nose and mouth are turned face down. Sometimes, a newborn does not have strong enough neck muscles to turn the head, sadly leading to suffocation.
Because of this problem, many experts now believe Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS is directly related to a baby sleeping on his/her stomach. Therefore, it is likely that you will be taught to place your child on its back instead. Even if a well-intending grandmother tells you that the baby needs to be on the stomach, this is false. Now keep in mind that as your child grows older and gains better muscle strength and control, chances are he or she will roll over to sleep on the stomach from time to time, which is fine.
The bottom line is that as a new mother, you want to do everything possible to protect the health of your child. Because of the link discovered between SIDS and the face down position, it is highly suggested that you place the baby face up. Make sure your baby has firm bedding without stuffed animals, bed bumpers, or overly large comforters. While little, these bed accessories are less a threat but you can bet your child will move about during sleep and all of these items could also block the airway if the child is on his/her stomach. Therefore, simply place your baby down, keeping him/her warm during wintertime with a sleeper suit opposed to a blanket.
In addition, if you have a newborn that is premature, you might have already been through some trying times regarding reflux or respiratory distress. In this case, talk to your pediatrician about suggestions for keeping your baby safe. Finally, remember that placing your child down on his/her back immediately after feeding does not increase any risk of choking. Therefore, follow the guidelines provided by your doctor and place your baby asleep on the back.