Safe Sleep for Babies: Why Back Sleeping Still Matters Most
New parents are advised to prioritize back sleeping for their babies to minimize risks, including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). However, tummy time during awake hours is crucial for muscle development and preventing flat head syndrome. Here's a guide to safe sleep practices.
The Back to Sleep campaign in the 1990s significantly reduced SIDS deaths by promoting back sleeping. Babies should sleep on their backs until they're a year old. This position allows for better breathing and reduces the risk of choking on regurgitated milk or formula, which can happen if they spit up while sleeping on their stomachs.
Tummy time, while awake and supervised, is essential from around three months old. It helps babies build neck and back muscles, and prevents skull deformation from constant pressure on the back of the head. Once babies can roll over in both directions, they can begin sleeping on their tummies. However, they should still be placed on their backs to sleep until they're a year old, even if they can roll from back to belly but not the other way around.
Parents should be aware of other risks associated with stomach sleeping. Babies may overheat, and their warm breath can collect around their face and head. They're also at risk of suffocating due to inhaling expired air with too much carbon dioxide and too little oxygen. To help newborns sleep better on their backs, parents can use swaddling, white noise, and pacifiers.
Partnering with healthcare providers can address concerns and provide support for new parents navigating safe sleep practices. Always place babies on their backs to sleep, and ensure they've mastered rolling in both directions before introducing tummy sleeping. By following these guidelines, parents can help protect their babies from preventable risks.
