What is the best baby sleeping position?

Most of the baby's time is spent sleeping. Babies aged 0-3 months usually sleep 16-20 hours per day. Even so, it's not just quantity, but baby sleep must also be of good quality. Like adults, before sound asleep, babies usually turn their bodies over to find a sleeping position that they think is the most comfortable. Given that your little one is in a vulnerable period, it is very important to pay attention to your baby's sleeping position.

The sleeping position of the baby can be fatal

Sleeping position for babies under 6 months of age should be the main concern of every parent. The reason is, this will increase the risk of your little one experiencing it Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or sudden infant death syndrome.

This is also in line with the results of research conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics. They found that a safe sleeping environment and proper sleeping position reduced the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, shortness of breath, and difficulty moving. So, that's why as a parent you should always pay attention to your little one's sleeping position to minimize the various kinds of risks that have been mentioned earlier.

Supine sleeping position

The baby on his back is a very common position. Usually this position will be experienced by babies who are around 0 to 3 months old. The reason is, at that age the baby is not able to roll over. The US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) labels the supine position as the best sleeping position for babies. In fact, it is highly recommended for babies to sleep in a stretched position for the first 6 months.

The supine sleeping position for babies has been shown to reduce sudden infant death syndrome by as much as 50 percent. However, if it is too long in the supine sleeping position it can cause plagiocephaly, or in everyday language it is called "peyang head".

To keep the shape of the baby's head in order to avoid headaches, change the sleeping position alternately facing left and right and the baby is positioned on his stomach while playing. In addition, you can also use a special head pillow which is often called a "peyang pillow". The function of this pillow is to maintain the shape of the baby's head.

Side sleeping position

Some mothers may often let their babies sleep on their side. In fact, sleeping on your side can endanger the health of your baby, you know! Babies who sleep on their sides allow for movement and will often end up in a prone sleep position, which puts your baby's tummy under his body. Well, things that will increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) significantly.

Prone sleeping position

This sleeping position is still a debate. The reason is that according to statistical data, the syndrome of sudden death of babies occurs in a lot of babies who sleep on their stomachs. The cause of this sudden infant death syndrome is significantly due to the baby's face being too close to the mattress which indirectly causes the baby to experience breathing problems due to not getting enough oxygen.

Things that must be considered other than the baby's sleeping position

Apart from sleeping position, there are other things that you should also pay attention to, including:

Maintain room temperature so that your little one can sleep comfortably.
Place the baby in a room that is well ventilated.
Keep all toys and dolls away from your baby's bed.
Use nightgowns and other covers in place of blankets.
Maintain cleanliness of the bed by regularly changing the sheets and pillowcases bolsters. In fact, if necessary, you also regularly dry your little one's bolster pillow under the sun.