A new born baby (infant) is excessively fragile. They cannot even move their head on their own, they always need supervision. Which is why it can be a huge risk to let a baby sleep on its stomach. Follow this article to learn more about why infants cannot sleep on their stomach and when babies can sleep on their stomach.
Sleeping on your stomach puts a pressure on your front, although it can be a comfortable position for adults but for infants it can be excessively risky. Infants have fragile bones and they are completely dependent on their parents for every little thing. An infant will not be able to change their sleeping position on their own and sleeping in the same position can cause an infant trouble in breathing.
Babies can sleep on their stomach after one year. This is because their bones become somewhat stronger than before, their breathing is more stable, and they can easily roll themselves in their sleep, which means they would not be sleeping in the same position all night long. This way when they feel pressure from sleeping on their stomach, they will change their position immediately.
Follow this article to learn about why infants sleep on their stomach and when babies can sleep on their stomach.
Table of Contents
Why infants cannot sleep on their stomachs?
Infants have excessively fragile bones and it can be dangerous for them to sleep on their stomach. One of the main reasons why an infant is not fit to sleep in a position like this is because of their inability to roll on other positions. Aside from that, the following are some of the reasons why infants cannot sleep on their stomachs.
- Suffocation
- Rebreathing
- Choking on spit
- Rise in body temperature
- SIDS
- Pressure on stomach
Suffocation:
When an infant is sleeping on their stomach, it can cause them to suffocate. The constant pressure on their lungs will make their breathing impaired and they will start breathing heavily. An infant is not capable of dealing with strenuous things like these as compared to an adult. It can cause them serious damage, they can go into a cardiac arrest, their lungs will fill with air, or they will face difficulty after the rise in their body temperature.
Rebreathing:
We all understand that breathing is a process of inhaling and exhaling and for an infant it is excessively crucial. When an infant continues to sleep on their stomach and no one is changing their position then, there is a probability they will start suffocating and this will lead towards rebreathing. Which means, they will not inhale air from their environment, they will inhale air that has been stuck in their lungs.
Choking on spit:
It is normal for an infant to drool excessively when they are sleeping, but when an infant is sleeping on its stomach for a long period of time then, there is a probability they will coke on their spit. This can cause them to have difficulty in breathing. Choking on spit can be excessively dangerous for an infant, it can block their windpipe causing them to have suffocation and impaired breathing.
Rise in body temperature:
When an infant is sleeping on their stomach then, there will be a rise in their body temperature. When a person feels hot in one sleeping position then, they will roll themselves into another position to get some relief but an infant is not fit to do so. This will excessively increase their body temperature, making them feel suffocated and their breathing will become impaired. This will not let them sleep properly and it can be excessively strenuous for the parents as well.
SIDS:
SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) takes place when an infant below the age of one year dies and there is no major cause that can be explained. The reason is unexplained and no one knows what really happened. But according to research, one of the major causes of SIDS is bad sleeping position. Like when an infant sleeps on its stomach, they will get impaired breathing, this can also lead them towards sudden death. The rebreathing and suffocation, both play a huge role when it comes to SIDS.
Pressure on stomach:
When an infant is sleeping on their stomach then, it will put a lot of pressure on their stomach and on their lungs. This will cause them to have impaired breathing and there is a probability they will start choking on their spit. An infant is not fit to deal with such strenuous things, their immune system is not really strong and things can become dangerous for them. Their lungs are not strong enough to take pressure from sleeping on the stomach for long hours.
When can babies sleep on their stomachs?
We all understand that a baby has fragile bones and is not fit to take too much pressure on their body. It is easy for a baby to face breathing issues. This will most probably happen because of the pressure on their stomach. Although it is not a clever idea to make babies sleep on their stomach, it can be excessively dangerous for them. But a baby is fit to sleep on its stomach when they are one year old. A one year old baby is a lot stronger than a baby that has just been born.
When a baby is one year old then, they will be fit to roll themselves over when they feel uncomfortable in any position. This way it will not be dangerous for them to sleep on their stomach. Whenever they feel pressure building in their stomach, they will immediately change their position. This way their lungs and stomach will not feel heavy and their breathing will not become impaired.
According to healthcare professionals, babies start rolling when they are six to seven months old. This means, there are babies who can start sleeping on their stomach when they are six to seven months old. But this will also increase their chances of falling from the bed, which has been a huge source for SIDS. Falling from the bed when a baby is sleeping is excessively common and the fall can cause great damage to the baby.
Just like everyone else, a baby also has a favorite sleeping position. According to research, a baby most of the time prefers to sleep on their stomach. Especially when they reach a certain age, where they easily roll over then, they will prefer to sleep on their stomach only and even if you lay them down straight, after some time, you will find them sleeping on their stomach. This will happen when they roll themselves in their sleep. To avoid any sort of danger, the best thing you can do is to always be near them when they are sleeping or to place pillows near them. This way they will not go towards the edge of the bed.
What are the things you can expect when your baby is asleep?
The sleep cycle of a baby, especially an infant, is excessively low. But there are some things that you can expect when you put your baby down for a good night’s sleep or for a nap.
- Short sleep intervals
- Separation anxiety
- Fear of noise and falling
- Light sensitivity
- Waking up at night
Short sleep intervals:
A baby, especially an infant, will not need to sleep for a long time. Their sleep interval will be short and they will not fall asleep for a long period of time. As the time goes by, their sleep cycle will continue to change. It will be excessively strenuous for the mother as it can become hard for the mother to keep track of a baby’s sleep cycle.
Separation anxiety:
A baby will most likely experience separation anxiety when no one is around them. This will stem from their fear of losing their mother’s warmth. It is paramount that someone stays with the baby when they are asleep. This way they will not feel anxious when they wake up from their sleep.
Fear of noise and falling:
We all understand that a person is born with two fears, fear of falling and fear of loud noises. A baby will immediately wake up from their sleep when they hear a loud noise or when they feel someone is picking them up, this will activate their fear of falling and they will wake up from their sleep. According to research, when a baby wakes up from their nap all of a sudden, it is most likely because of their fear of falling and loud noises around them.
Light sensitivity:
A baby is excessively sensitive to light and it is a huge source of them not being able to sleep. When there is a bright light in your room, your baby will not be able to sleep for a long interval and will wake up after some time. This is because the constant brightness will cause irritation in their eyes and a baby’s eyelid skin is thin as compared to an adult’s eyelid skin.
Waking up at night:
It is excessively common for a baby to wake up in the middle of the night. This takes place because babies are light sleepers and they do not need to sleep a heavy amount like an adult. A baby’s sleep is limited and it takes place at different intervals. This can make it strenuous for the mother to keep track of a baby’s sleeping patterns. As the baby grows, the sleeping schedule will keep on changing.
What are some tips for you to ensure your baby is getting a comfortable sleep?
Just like an adult, it is paramount for a baby to sleep comfortably because if they are not comfortable then, they will start crying profusely making it hard for themself and for their parents. Following are some tips for you to ensure your baby is getting a comfortable sleep.
- Wrap them in a swaddle
- Room temperature
- Comfortable bedding
- Noise and light
- Stay near
- Give your baby a pacifier
- Lay them on their back
Wrap them in a swaddle:
It is paramount for you to wrap your baby in a swaddle. This will keep them tight and they will feel as if someone is hugging them and they are with someone. Keeping your baby loose will easily scare them and they might get afraid in the middle of their nap when something is touching them. When your baby is wrapped in a swaddle then, they will be fit to sleep for long moments.
Room temperature:
We all understand the importance of having the perfect room temperature. A baby is no alien to room temperatures, it is excessively paramount to have a room temperature that will lure them to sleep for long moments. A perfect room temperature will not let your baby wake up in the middle of the night and they will be able to enjoy a good night’s sleep along with you.
Comfortable bedding:
It is paramount to have comfortable bedding for your baby. Having a soft and comfortable mattress will make your baby sleep for long moments. Make that your mattress, your quilt, and your baby’s nightwear, everything is breathable. This will help in regulation of your baby’s body temperature and your baby will enjoy his sleeping time to the full.
Noise and light:
We all understand that a baby is excessively sensitive towards loud noises and light. This is an internal fear that every person is born with. A baby will not be fit to sleep in an environment that is loud and bright. Make sure that there is no source of noise in your room and all lights are off except for one dim light, this way your baby will not feel scared when he wakes up.
Stay near:
The most paramount thing that you have to do is to stay near your baby when you put them to sleep. Or make sure that someone else is near them, this way, when your baby is up, someone will be there to notify you and to take care of your baby. Being alone will increase a baby’s separation anxiety, so it is supreme for you to stay near them.
Give your baby a pacifier:
A pacifier will stop them from crying when they wake up from their sleep or in the middle of the night. It will buy you some time to prepare things for your baby and your baby will not exhaust themselves by crying profusely. A pacifier will also help your baby fall back asleep and it will also help them find a comfortable position.
Lay them on their back:
You must take notice of how your baby spends the most of their day. If they spend the most moments laying on their stomach then, you must lay them on their back. A baby cannot sleep on their stomach when they are an infant, after one year, when they can roll themselves over, then they can sleep on their stomach, not before that as it will cause them to feel pressure and difficulty in breathing.
Conclusion:
A baby’s bones and muscles are excessively fragile so it is never a good idea for them to sleep on their stomach before they are one year old. An infant will not be fit to roll themselves in a new position when they feel pressure, making it difficult for them to breath and it can also cause rebreathing in babies. When a baby spends too much time sleeping on their stomach then they will experience suffocation, rebreathing, pressure on their lungs, choking, rise in body temperature, and SIDS.
You have to take notice of how your baby spends their day and in what position they are laying down most of the time. This way you will be able to swap their positions when they are sleeping without worrying about your baby having a flat head from one side. You must also keep in mind that a baby sleeps for low intervals as compared to adults, in that limited time, your baby must have a good nap otherwise they will be cranky when they wake up.
