Should newborns & babies sleep on their tummy or facing up?
By camar_lyn
@camar_lyn (1028)
Singapore
February 9, 2007 7:38am CST
Newborns!!! What a bundle of joy they bring to families around the world. I've had this heated discussion with my dad for as long as i can remember. Being older than i am (of course since he IS my dad), he thinks the old ways still works and shouldn't be changed. What's the fuss you might say?Should newborns sleep on their tummy or facing up? My dad's stand point is, newborns must sleep facing up. When i asked him why, he said, "That's just the way it's been done".
For me, they should sleep on their tummy. The reason is, it would be easier for them to burp out the undigested milk, they won't choke on their vomit, able to develop their sense of touch much earlier since their hands are free to feel around the cot, less instances of colic and it allows the brain cells to develop the natural way (i.e. without hindrance as when the baby is facing up).
What do you think? On their tummies? Or facing up looking at the ceiling? Let's put this matter to rest once and for all.
3 responses
@halfserious (99)
• United States
9 Feb 07
This is a really really good topic. If your baby is able to roll over and change position, it probably makes sense for them to sleep which ever way they are most comfortable. Don't force them to sleep a particular way, as it may have some longterm effects on their sleep habits. I've always thought that the most natural way for babies to sleep is on their side.
For a few different nights put your baby down a different way. Observe which way they wake up, and also if they sleep through the night or wake up crying shortly after. If you find they are in a most comfortable position consistently, put them to sleep in that position.
Good luck!
1 person likes this
@camar_lyn (1028)
• Singapore
9 Feb 07
Thank you for your response. It does make sense not to 'force' them sleeping in a particular way. However, i'm sure you already know that a baby's brain grows rapidly compared to ours. By sleepin on their backs, babies will have a head that is flattened at the back. I'm not a scientist nor a professor but i think many successful athlete has a well shaped head that is why they look good even without their hair.
@debbrion (22)
• United States
9 Feb 07
I think it's the babies decision. All the rules say to put the babies on their back because of SIDS and what-not, but my boys didn't sleep that way. They wanted to be on their belly. This supposedly helps with acid reflux too. I think it also helps with them get used to being on their belly and crawling. I don't know if my boys were just early bloomers, but both of them were crawling around 6 months. Who knows. I just feel that they know what they want and if you are comfortable doing so, then it's fine. The rule of thumb has been changed so many times over the years and really, has anything changed? A baby will be fine on their belly or their back. So, my vote is leave it up to the baby.
@camar_lyn (1028)
• Singapore
9 Feb 07
Hi debbrion, thank you for your comment. I have 2 boys (aged 3 and 5). The first boy, Ziggy, was brought up sleeping on his back. Qiffy on the other hand, has been sleeping on his tummy since he was born. Sleeping on his tummy really helped him to be an early crawler. He was already cruising around 11-13 months.
Now that they are slightly older, they sleep any way they want. How old are your kids?
@jewel76 (2305)
• Canada
9 Feb 07
WHen i was a child, the "right" way was on the tummy. But it has changed over the years..Now, they say the best way is on their back, with their head tilted to the side, so if they vomit, it will simply leak off of their cheek and they will not choke on it. Because if they are on their tummy, they don't necessarily have the strenght to lift up their heads and could therefor suffocate in the vomit.
1 person likes this
@camar_lyn (1028)
• Singapore
9 Feb 07
Hi jewel76, thank you for your comment. I do appreciate it. Tks! God Bless!
