If a 4 month old baby sleeps on his stomach. Can a baby sleep on his stomach. Waking up and crying - possible causes

Often it becomes a problem for a mother to refuse to sleep on her back or side. We will tell you what to do if a child rolls over in a dream on his stomach, whether you need to worry about this and how to protect him as much as possible from possible dangers.

Sleep on the stomach. What to do?

Many babies like to sleep on their tummy from infancy.. They funny pick up their legs and snore sweetly, or even grunt. However, for mothers, such a position of the child’s body is alarming and even frightening. Many people wonder if such a dream is harmful and whether constant falling asleep on the stomach promises health problems. Moreover, grandmothers and other relatives unanimously claim that sleeping on the stomach for a child is scary and unacceptable. And there is too much conflicting information on the women's forums. Some mothers write that the baby can suffocate or choke in a dream. Others even scare the likelihood of SIDS. And still others reassure that nothing bad will happen to the child.

Answering the question of what to do if the child rolls over on his stomach in a dream or does not want to fall asleep on his back, you can answer briefly - nothing. In fact, this habit does not represent any fear. And even brings great benefits for the baby.

Benefits of sleeping on your tummy

Looking at the strange position of the baby sleeping on the tummy, many mothers believe that he is very uncomfortable. The legs are tucked up, the baby seems to be on his knees. In fact, this position repeats the position of the fetus in the womb. The child subconsciously chooses the best option for him, because sleeping on his stomach reduces the load on the still weak spine.


The first months the child has frequent problems with digestion. This also manifests itself in gases,. And many experienced pediatricians recommend putting the baby on the tummy more often. It is in this position that the processes of digestion are normalized. As a result, the baby is less likely to experience colic and other troubles.

READ ALSO: How to properly lay a newborn baby on the tummy

In addition, in this position, the baby feels much more comfortable. The lower part of the body is slightly raised, which means that the blood supply to the brain improves. The muscles of the spine, shoulders and neck are strengthened much faster. If during such a dream the baby also spreads its legs widely, then this is just a wonderful prevention of dysplasia.

Also, many parents are concerned about the frequent burping of a small child. Children under one year, and sleeping on your back can be a threat - the baby is able to choke at night. If he sleeps on his tummy, this will not happen.

Some moms are concerned about the direct link between sleeping on their stomachs and SIDS, known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. In fact, the causes of SIDS are not known to medicine, but eminent professors completely reject the possibility of death due to the position of the child's body in a dream. There seems to be a deeper reason behind the health aspects of babies.

READ MORE: Can a newborn sleep on his stomach? Baby sleeping on stomach - pros and cons

So what to do if the child rolls over in a dream on his stomach?

One of the parents, worried, turns the baby back on its back, someone leaves it as it is. In fact, there are no reasons for great unrest here. But some points should be considered:

  • The presence of a small pillow or its complete absence. Babies up to a year do not need a pillow at all, it needs to be replaced with a simple thick diaper. Lying on his stomach, the child should not sink his face into the soft tissue. In general, all pediatricians unanimously repeat a simple truth - there should not be any toys, pillows and other clutter in the crib, which, if dropped, can endanger the life of the baby. Closer to the year, you can purchase a thin small pillow designed specifically for young children. We also read: ;
  • Sleep options on your back. If for some reason you are afraid to leave your baby to sleep on your stomach, you can consider ways to get him into a "normal" position. Falling asleep on the tummy, many babies manage to crawl in their sleep on the bed, lie down across and twist in the most unimaginable positions. You can eliminate these movements by swaddling, but it is only convenient for parents. Kids here have a hard time in every sense - and it is impossible to move, and blood circulation can be disturbed. Swaddling can be replaced by wrapping the baby in hard pillows that make it difficult for the baby to turn over. Or replace the crib with a crib. And finally, many parents put their baby next to them to control their sleep. However, this option is not always good, since later it is very difficult to wean the baby from the habit of falling asleep in the parents' bed ();
  • Exclusion of the development of torticollis. This applies to children in the first months of their life. Keeping your head in the same position often can cause torticollis. To prevent this from happening, you need to take care of the alternation of sleep on the left and right sides ();
  • Preparing the child for sleep. Proper preparation can ensure a restful and healthy sleep for your baby. An hour and a half before falling asleep, it is necessary to exclude noisy games. You can take a child with a soothing massage, give him a glass of warm milk, tell a good story. A reassured child will fall asleep quickly and may even sleep through the night in one position. You just need to get up more often at night and check how he sleeps. INTERESTING: .

Our children will always surprise us, their parents. With their actions and statements, unexpected manifestations of character. And our task is to enjoy every stage of the development of the little man. Therefore, if the baby likes to roll over in his sleep, pull his legs under him and put his finger in his mouth, just try to remember this funny habit. So that years later, having gathered the whole family at the table, with a laugh, remember her.

Position of the newborn during sleep:

Dr. Komarovsky talks about how to sleep properly for an infant:

The child rolls over in a dream on his stomach, calmly falls asleep, and then suddenly wakes up and cries. If the inconvenience is eliminated, and the baby also ...

The baby has learned to roll over from its back to its stomach, but it doesn’t always work back, and is it worried? Does the child roll over in his sleep and, laying on his stomach, calmly falls asleep, and then suddenly wakes up and cries? Do you have to get up several times during the night and turn him over on his back? Worried about whether it is safe for a child to sleep on his stomach? Do not know what to do so that the baby rests calmly and comfortably? Let's understand: what, how and why.

Sleeping on your stomach - an alarm or the norm?

A question that worries all parents: is it permissible that a child (especially still a baby) lies on his stomach in a dream? Yes. This is a natural process laid down by nature. Already in the womb, the baby sleeps with his back up, pulling his arms and legs under him. Known to everyone and everyone the position of the embryo. He is so comfortable and comfortable.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! Be sure to watch the second video about why pediatricians around the world do not recommend putting babies to sleep on their stomach.

Moreover, despite the fears and concerns of parents (he can suffocate, twist his neck, squeeze blood vessels, damage something to himself), if you provide quality care, properly prepare the bed, diapers, clothes in which the baby sleeps, turn on his stomach in a dream - good for the child (provided that he is physically healthy!). So:

  • weak spine is protected from excessive loads;
  • digestive processes are improving;
  • cerebral blood supply improves (especially if the child sleeps with his legs tucked under him and his ass raised);
  • there is a natural prevention of DTS (pathology of the musculoskeletal system - hip dysplasia), when the baby sleeps on his tummy, spreading his legs.

But what if the child is not even a month old, his navel has not yet completely healed, and the baby stubbornly tries to lie down with his back up (especially if a healthy baby is not swaddled before going to bed, but put to sleep freely: in a vest)? Remember what they do in the hospital when a mother sees her child for the first time? It is placed on her chest - belly. So do nothing! It should only be observed that the little one is comfortable and safe. Periodically turn it on the barrel.

Up to a month or two, it is generally not advisable for a baby to lie in one position for a long time: on the back or tummy. The best sleeping position is on your side.

And a well-treated navel will have enough air to heal in any position of a sleeping baby.

If everything is possible and there is nothing to be afraid of, then why does the baby shudder, cry, wake up, lying on his stomach in a dream? There must be an explanation for the worry!

Waking up and crying - possible causes

Increasing, especially repetitive crying is a signal: something is wrong. First of all, check if the baby is comfortable:

  • are there any folds on the bed and clothes (the diaper, vest, sliders have gone astray and presses);
  • whether breathing is difficult (stuffy room, dry air, dusty unironed bed, fluffy sheet, cap strings wrapped around the neck, hot blanket);
  • is the baby cold (the baby freezes much faster than an adult, he warmed himself with maternal warmth for nine months, which he really lacks in a separate bed);
  • whether the baby is wet (even if the newborn is wearing a diaper, and not a gauze diaper, it may be cold from infiltrated moisture);
  • are the arms and legs entangled in the diaper or in the sleep kit;
  • whether a draft or heat from the heater blows on it;
  • whether the light from the night lamp hits the eyes;
  • Is there excessive noise in the room?

If all the inconveniences are taken into account and eliminated, and the baby also wakes up and cries, it's time to sound the alarm. He is physically ill. Among the most common causes of anxious awakening of the baby and crying, there may be:

  • bloating, colic in the tummy (excessive gas formation always causes pain until they are eliminated, you can, unfortunately, forget about a restful sleep);
  • intestinal congestion from overeating (at 4 months, when they begin to feed the first complementary foods in the form of fruit juices and purees, this is especially true. And, in general, up to 9, and sometimes 12 months, the baby’s stomach and intestines react extremely unstable to adult food: not all enzymes are still produced for the digestion of food.It must be carefully dosed and sorted);
  • increased tone (a characteristic sign is a head tilted back and up during sleep and tightly pressed hands pressed against the body);
  • disturbed transition from inhibition of the nervous system to excitation (starting, sharp and feverish twitching of the limbs - the baby frightens himself);
  • moving (not even cut yet, but preparing for a sortie) teeth;
  • a runny nose makes it difficult to breathe, or your nose is clogged;
  • the temperature has risen (otitis media, a cold, postpartum jaundice, a rotovirus infection, tonsillitis, or just a reaction to a vaccination);
  • allergies (it may be accompanied by itching, heart palpitations, rash, shortness of breath).

All this is a reason to seek advice from a neurologist, gastroenterologist. But first of all - to the local (or paid) pediatrician. After a thorough examination, testing, ultrasound (if necessary), the specialist will dispel your fears with a detailed recommendation, prescribe (if necessary) appropriate treatment, a massage course.

Sleep on your stomach without anxiety

Qualified assistance is important and necessary. But we ourselves are able to do a lot so as not to start the symptoms that interrupt the baby’s sleep. Here are the simplest rules:

  1. During daytime wakefulness, we carry out a complex of therapeutic and strengthening exercises for the child, not forgetting to stroke the tummy.
  2. We iron diapers, sleepwear, bed linen, removing particles of dust, powder or detergent.
  3. We remove the soft, sagging featherbed, replacing it with an elastic (preferably orthopedic) mattress. Otherwise, the child's face may sink into the soft folds of the feather bed when he rolls over, which is fraught with extremely deplorable consequences.
  4. We remove from the arsenal of bed linen sheets with a long fluffy pile, terry: they can clog the spout, blocking oxygen.
  5. We part with pillows. The baby should sleep on a flat surface of the crib with a slightly raised (from the side of the head). Up to 6 months (or better - up to a year), a pillow is an unnecessary and harmful item for the baby's spine.
  6. Laying the baby on the belly, gently stroke his back. So the child relaxes and subconsciously prepares for a restful sleep.
  7. Pour a decoction of chamomile into the bathing bath (a tablespoon of flowers is kept in a steam bath for 10-15 minutes, adding boiling water to a liter). It calms the nervous system.
  8. Never play active games with your baby before going to bed, do not tickle and make laugh: an overexcited unequal system is the enemy of a restful sleep.
  9. Be sure to ventilate the room.
  10. After feeding the baby (especially before a night's rest), we lift him vertically, hugging him for a few minutes, so that the excess food and the air absorbed along with it come out with a burp.
  11. From the first days of a baby's life, we give a few drops of water (boiled!), And with excessive gas formation and colic - dill (pharmacy or brewed with our own hands: in a glass of boiling water, insist 1 incomplete teaspoon of ripe dill seeds, then strain).
  12. If the baby is anxious in a dream, stroke his tummy: with light massage movements clockwise (!), Bypassing the navel. The intestines relax - the pain will go away. Sleep will improve.

4 month old baby sleeping on stomach

The birth of a child is always a unique event. No matter how many children are born, the questions that arise in young parents are always the same: how to dress a baby, how to feed them properly. All young parents have these questions, which, however, does not detract from their importance and relevance. After all, every child is unique and unrepeatable.

Why is sleep position so important?

The position in which the baby should sleep worries young parents the most. It would seem that let him sleep as he wants. However, not all so simple. Due to the many publications in which a hypothesis was put forward about the connection between sudden infant death syndrome and the position in which the baby sleeps, the question of whether it is possible for a baby to sleep on his stomach worries almost all parents. After all, the safety of the child comes first.

The risk of sudden infant death syndrome

As for younger children, the answer to the question of whether it is possible for a baby to sleep on his stomach will most likely be negative. The fact is that in the first three months, most babies have one feature that makes sleeping on their stomach dangerous for them. If a child between the ages of 0 and 3 months closes the nostrils, then he will not make attempts to release, but simply stop breathing. Typically, these brief pauses in breathing last up to 15 seconds. But if the child's face is buried in a soft pillow or mattress, then respiratory arrest can lead to suffocation.

In addition, a runny nose and too warm air in the room can contribute to respiratory arrest. The nasal passages of babies are extremely narrow. Dried mucus, turning into crusts, can block the baby's access to oxygen.

Some parents note that their child sleeps on their stomach most of the night and worry that such a position may adversely affect health. Such fears are justified, since many natural processes are impeded in this position, which can cause various disorders and poor health. Doctors note that compression of the chest and abdominal wall during sleep can cause respiratory arrest and digestive disorders in a weakened person.

The importance of posture in children during sleep

If the child is put to sleep and he himself turns on his stomach, having slept like that all night, then in the morning instead of cheerfulness and good mood, he may feel tired and weak. In some cases, pain may appear in different parts of the body, which aggravates poor health.

Doctors recommend falling asleep in a comfortable position, however, it is important that the spinal column forms a straight line. The best position in this case is on the side. At the same time, it is important to choose the right pillow so that kinks do not form in the cervical region, making it difficult for the blood supply to the brain.

If the position of the body is not physiological, then the following processes are hampered:

  • blood supply;
  • intestinal peristalsis;
  • functioning of internal organs;
  • sometimes breathing can be oppressed.

In this case, instead of proper rest, the body is forced to work in an enhanced mode in order to compensate for the load created by the wrong position.

Choosing the right position for children

The task of parents is to teach their children, given their age, how to relax and what not to do under any circumstances. First of all, you should provide comfortable conditions for sleeping in the nursery, namely:

  • The mattress should be of medium firmness. It is best to stay on the orthopedic option.
  • The pillow should be small in size, experts recommend choosing buckwheat husk as a filler - such an accessory helps to fall asleep quickly, while maintaining the health of the cervical spine.
  • For younger children, beds with small sides should be purchased, since at this age the child can actively move in his sleep and fall to the floor.
  • Before going to bed, it is recommended to ventilate and maintain the air temperature in the room within 18-20 0 С.
  • You should not put the child in a bed that is too soft and warm - overheating of the body and incorrect body position will not contribute to proper rest.
  • It is recommended to use pajamas and bed linen made from natural fabrics.

If the child likes to sleep on his side, then it is best to lay him on the left side. This will contribute to a better functioning of the heart and digestive system.

The main criteria for the normal position of the body:

  • The spine forms a straight line.
  • The legs are slightly bent. When positioned on the side, a small pillow can be placed between the knees, and when positioned on the back, place it under the knee bend.
  • In the chosen position, the spine is stretched in all its departments, natural curves are preserved, blood circulation is not hindered, the body experiences pleasant relaxation.

Advantages and disadvantages of sleeping on your stomach

The opinion of doctors about sleeping on the stomach is unanimous: constantly being in this position at night is dangerous to health. However, there are some advantages of such a holiday:

  1. With increased gas formation, pressure on the stomach will relieve intestinal colic and bloating.
  2. If there are problems with the kidneys, then this position will help optimize their work and improve the patient's condition.
  3. For back pain, doctors sometimes recommend sleeping on your stomach for a while to relieve tension from overstressed muscles.

The harm from such a posture is immeasurably greater than the benefit. Consequences of sleeping on your stomach:

  1. Violation of cerebral circulation. When lying on the stomach, the head inevitably turns to the side. This posture causes squeezing of the vessels passing through the cervical spine and feeding the brain.
  2. Difficulty breathing due to chest compression. The lungs are not able to fully open, as a result of which gas exchange worsens, air rich in carbon dioxide stagnates in the alveoli. At the same time, the quality of sleep is noticeably reduced, it will take more time to recover. If the child has a tendency to apnea (stopping breathing), then the likelihood of suffocation in this position is high.
  3. Violation of the urinary tract and reproductive function due to compression of the internal organs.
  4. The risk of developing breast cancer in girls increases, as the growing mammary glands are deformed, stagnant processes develop in them.
  5. The likelihood of gastric ulcer or gastritis increases due to the reflux of the contents of the duodenum 12 back. You can prevent this by abstaining from food 4 or 3 hours before going to bed.
  6. Pain in the cervical and thoracic spine due to incorrect and unnatural body position.
  7. Cosmetic defects in the form of sagging skin of the face and chest, the appearance of early wrinkles.

To lay the child correctly, it is necessary to help him learn to find a position in which the body will function normally and the body will rest. A bent spinal column during sleep will deprive the muscles of relaxation, disrupt the normal blood supply to the tissues and cause ill health.

When sleeping on your stomach is dangerous

When a child in a dream rolls over on his stomach on his own at the age of one and older, this does not pose any threat to his health. In some conditions, it is still better to refrain from such a pose and carefully turn the sleeping person on his side or back.

  1. Cold, bronchitis or runny nose. With rhinitis, the nasal passages are clogged with mucus and normal breathing is disturbed. If we take into account that air begins to stagnate in the lungs due to compression of the chest, then we can assume that the condition worsens due to the habit of lying on the stomach.
  2. Intestinal disorders, full stomach and other digestive system disorders can be exacerbated by insufficient blood supply at night.
  3. Diseases and curvature of the spine are an absolute contraindication to sleeping on the stomach.
  4. Diseases of the cardiovascular system, especially in the presence of circulatory disorders, do not allow rest in this position.

Healthy children, as well as adults, are not recommended to sleep on their stomach, because if such a position becomes permanent, pathologies cannot be avoided. At two or more years of age, children can be taught to sleep in the correct position. At the same time, falling asleep should not be accompanied by discomfort or negative emotions. Do not lift the child at night in order to turn on its side or back. It is recommended to gently, so as not to wake up, turn the sleeping person to the left or right side.

It is noted that the syndrome of sudden infant mortality, which occurs in children under one year old, is associated precisely with the position on the stomach during sleep. Therefore, pediatricians recommend keeping the child in this position while awake, since pressure on the stomach makes it easier for gas to pass. The habit of lying in this way has a beneficial effect on the physical condition and promotes early physical development.

The exact cause of sudden infant death has not been established, but a direct link between sleeping on the stomach and the death of children has been proven. Most of the dead were in this position. It is believed that soft mattresses and pillows, colds and difficult nasal breathing greatly increase the risk of death from suffocation in children who are put to sleep on their stomachs.

Important! At an older age, the likelihood of dying from sudden infant death syndrome is close to zero.

If the child sleeps on his stomach, then Komarovsky recommends establishing whether the child has such risk factors as:

  • runny nose;
  • soft mattress and pillow;
  • dry and warm air in the bedroom;
  • warm and soft blanket;
  • parents smoke.

These tips are relevant for children aged from a week to a year.

Pediatricians and psychologists recommend from an early age to teach to fall asleep correctly. The first and main recommendations are as follows: observing the daily regimen according to age and ensuring physical activity when awake. Violation of the routine can turn the life of the whole family upside down and deprive the household of free time, good rest, and turn the child into a twitchy and hysterical creature.

Five tips to improve sleep quality and make it easier to fall asleep:

  1. The dimensions of the bed should be appropriate for the age of the child, for younger children, the sleeping furniture should have small sides to prevent falling.
  2. The pillow should not be too soft and big. Her task is not to raise her head, but to support her neck, ensuring its even position. It is ideal to use an orthopedic pillow.
  3. Circulatory disorders in the limbs should not be allowed: an arm or leg can become numb if they are bent or crushed by the weight of the body.
  4. The head should not be too close to the chest: in this case, the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, which negatively affects health. The problem is solved by choosing a quality pillow and teaching the child to sleep correctly.
  5. In the evening, you should create an atmosphere conducive to relaxation, introduce rituals (bathing, reading fairy tales, quiet activities), after which children will reflexively try to fall asleep over time.

The importance of correct body position during rest is no less important than good posture and proper seating at the table. It is very important for a growing body to fully rest in order to develop well and maintain a healthy state. Providing a child with a comfortable place to sleep and creating a suitable environment is one of the important tasks of parents. At an older age, you should explain how to lie on the bed correctly and why this is important. Young children can be laid in the desired position.

Some parents notice that their baby begins to sleep on his tummy, in which case mom and dad are worried about how this will affect the child's health. Experts believe that if a child sleeps on his stomach, then many processes in his body are hindered, which causes poor health and various disorders. Doctors report that the baby, lying on his stomach, squeezes the chest and abdominal cavity, because of this, digestive disorders appear and even breathing stops, so this position is dangerous, and sometimes causes death.

Is posture really that important?

If an infant or a one-year-old child is laid to sleep on a side or on his back, and he rolls over on his stomach at night and sleeps like this throughout the night, then in the morning he is unlikely to have a good mood and cheerfulness. Sleeping on your stomach is often the reason why the baby feels tired, lethargic and overwhelmed after waking up. Sometimes the baby has painful sensations in various parts of the body, because of which poor health only gets worse.

Doctors advise children of any age to fall asleep in a comfortable and comfortable position in the evening, but it is very important that the spine is straight and without bends. The best position is to lie on your side while sleeping, but you do not need to bend your back, for example, fall asleep, curled up or bend, throw back your limbs, bend them under you. Mom and dad must choose the right pillow for their child, who is already 1 year old, so that the cervical spine is even and there are no bends on it. Otherwise, the brain of a small child will be supplied with blood and oxygen in insufficient volume. Although during pregnancy, while in the womb, the position of the fetus was not at all even.

Doctors say that the posture during a night's rest is very important for the health and well-being of a newborn baby, a baby at 6 months, a toddler at 2 years old and older. If the position of the baby’s body is not physiological, then the following processes are difficult at night:

  • intestinal peristalsis;
  • circulation of various parts of the body;
  • the work of internal organs is disrupted;
  • breath is oppressed.

If a child at 4 months or older begins to constantly sleep on the tummy or other uncomfortable position, then the small body will work hard to compensate for the load created by the wrong position of the body.

Suitable sleeping conditions

Mom and dad should teach their child aged 3 months or older to rest in the correct position. If the baby is very small, for example, if he is a month old, or he is two or three months old, then it is impossible for him to explain which position is normal and which is unacceptable. To teach him to rest in the correct position, it is necessary to create comfortable and favorable conditions for sleep. It is important to do the following:

  • choose a suitable medium firm mattress. The best option is an orthopedic model;
  • the pillow should be chosen small. Experts say that immediately after birth and even at the age of 7 months, the child does not need a pillow. This accessory must be put in a crib when the baby is 1-2 years old. It is better to choose buckwheat husk as a filler for a pillow, thanks to this natural material, children fall asleep faster, the cervical spine does not bend, the head does not compress, so the brain is adequately supplied with oxygen;
  • for children aged 4 months and older, you need to purchase a crib with sides, because babies at this age begin to move and roll over from their back to their stomach, and can even fall to the floor;
  • before putting the baby in the crib, it is necessary to ventilate the bedroom, the windows should be open for 15-20 minutes so that the room is filled with fresh air. In addition, when the baby goes to bed at 5 months or at another age, the air temperature should be in the range of 18-22 degrees. During wakefulness, the temperature may be higher;
  • you can not put the child in a very soft or excessively warm bed, because a small body can quickly overheat, the body temperature will begin to rise. Moreover, a soft mattress often contributes to incorrect positioning of the body during sleep;
  • children's bed linen and pajamas should be made of natural, not synthetic materials.

If a five-month-old, six-month-old child or a baby at a different age likes to sleep on his side, then parents need to put him on his left side. Thanks to this, the digestive system and heart work much better, so the baby will be less likely to get sick. The position of the body is normal if the child during sleep:

  • the spine does not have bends;
  • legs slightly bent at the knees. If the baby likes to sleep on its side, then a small pillow can be placed between the knees, and if the little one sleeps on the back, then it is recommended to place the pillow under the bend of the knees;
  • the spine relaxes in all departments, the curves of the body are natural;
  • circulation is not disturbed. If the child draws his arms or legs under him, then they are not supplied with enough blood, they begin to numb and cool.

Advantages and disadvantages of resting on the tummy

All experts answer the question of parents: is it possible for a one-month-old baby to sleep on the tummy all night, they categorically answer “no”, because it is dangerous for the health of a one-month-old baby, a baby at 8 months old, or any other age. However, sleeping on your stomach has several advantages:

  • if the little one has intestinal colic and bloating, then he will doze off very restlessly. If you put it with your back up, then your condition and well-being will improve;
  • when small children have a backache at six months or at another age, they often wake up, in some cases, doctors advise a certain time to rest on the tummy, which reduces the load on tense muscles;
  • if a three-month-old baby, a toddler at seven to eight months or older has kidney problems, then it will be very painful for him to sleep on his back, and sleeping on his tummy optimizes kidney function and improves his general condition.
    The disadvantages or disadvantages of this pose are much greater than the advantages. Rest on the tummy often has the following negative consequences:
  • at the beginning, cerebral circulation is disturbed, no matter how old the child is, it can be a two-month-old baby or a toddler at 5 years old. When he lays down with his back to the top, then his head will definitely turn to the left or right side. This arrangement leads to squeezing of the blood vessels that are located in the neck and supply blood to the brain;
  • breathing will be difficult as the chest is compressed. When the lungs are compressed, they cannot fully open, so gas exchange worsens, air rich in carbon dioxide stagnates. This leads to a decrease in the quality of the baby’s rest, it takes much more hours to fully recuperate. In the event that the crumbs develop apnea syndrome (numerous respiratory arrests), napping on the tummy is contraindicated for him, it is very harmful, it is necessary to wean him from this position as soon as possible, otherwise he may suffocate;
  • if the parents of a child at 10 months or several years old put to sleep on their stomach, then the reproductive system and urinary tract will malfunction, as many internal organs are compressed;
  • the likelihood of developing tumors in the mammary glands of girls increases, since these glands are deformed during their active growth, stagnant processes are observed, leading to the occurrence of cancer;
  • if a child at 5 months or older gets used to sleeping in this position, then the risk of stomach ulcers or gastritis increases, since the contents of the duodenum are thrown back. To avoid these diseases, babies need to refrain from eating 3-4 hours before a night's rest, do not eat after five to six in the evening;
  • if you allow small children in the third or fourth month or older to sleep soundly on their tummy, then they will experience pain in the region of the thoracic and cervical spine;
  • cosmetic defects will begin to appear, manifested by sagging of the facial skin and the early appearance of wrinkles.

A baby at 9 months and at a different age may want to sleep on his tummy, but he must learn to take the correct body position so that his body functions normally. If the spinal column is bent during the night's rest, then the muscles remain tense for a long time, blood circulation is disturbed, which leads to various diseases.

Dr. Komarovsky advises parents to determine if the baby has the following risk factors if he sleeps on his stomach:

  • runny nose or cold. With these diseases, breathing through the nose is disturbed, in addition, sleeping on the stomach leads to stagnation of air in the lungs, insufficient oxygen supply to the blood, so the condition of the crumbs can worsen significantly. And if the little one still buries his nose and mouth in a pillow or mattress, while on his belly, then this is fraught with danger and a great threat, a small baby in a year or two can suffocate when he falls asleep in this position;
  • too soft pillow and mattress in the crib can cause the death of the baby if he lies face down on them, parents will not hear the voice of their son or daughter when they scream;
  • too warm and dry air in the room;
  • too soft and hot blanket;
  • Do parents smoke?

These tips are relevant for children aged from 1 week to a year.

All experts in the field of pediatrics and psychology advise fathers and mothers to start teaching children to fall asleep in the correct position from infancy. So that the child does not cry during motion sickness, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the regime of wakefulness and sleep, according to the age of the little one. If you violate the daily routine, then both the baby and all family members will suffer, they will not be able to sleep a wink for a long time, fully rest, the baby in the first or second year of life will often begin to hysteria and act up. By applying the following simple tips, you can significantly improve the quality of a night's rest and speed up the process of falling asleep:

  • the size of the crib should be appropriate for the age of the baby, so that while in it, he does not need to bend his back, neck or limbs. It is safe for small babies when the bed has sides so that the babies do not fall and cannot crawl away on all fours;
  • the pillow must be chosen not very soft and not too large. This accessory should not raise the head, but support the neck so that it is in a level position. The best option is an orthopedic pillow;
  • you can’t leave the baby even for one hour to sleep upside down, don’t be afraid to wake the baby up and turn it over. It is also the duty of parents to make sure that the baby sleeps on its side or on its back, and does not tuck its arms, legs or even palms under itself, otherwise they may swell and become numb;
  • it is impossible to allow the baby's head to bend too close to the chest, in this position the cerebral circulation begins to be disturbed, this will have a bad effect on health. It is important to choose the right pillow and observe that the little one does not get used to burying his face in it.

In the evenings, parents should create a peaceful, soothing atmosphere in the house. You can read a fairy tale to the baby, turn on or sing a lullaby, play calm, inactive games, swim. Thanks to such habitual activities, the little one will tune in to sleep and will rest calmly.