Baby Sleeps on His Back

Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 in Early Development, Sleep

We can’t stress enough the importance of placing newborns to sleep on their backs. Research has shown that babies who are placed on their backs to nap are less likely to succumb to SIDS.

The ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign is a new phenomenon. While the jury is out on exactly why sleeping on the back is better, the number of SIDS-related deaths in the USA has dropped from 5,000 to 3,000 annually since back-sleeping parents has been recommended to parents.

Some babies – especially newborns – are soothed when placed on their stomachs. If you do need to place you baby on their stomach, supervise them the entire time. Place them on their back when they are to sleep.

In regards to choking and vomiting, babies are hard-wired to spit up and placing them on their back does not increase their risk of choking.