Side position
Children begin to turn onto their side on their own as soon as their position on their back becomes more stable, and begin to pull their knees and feet towards their stomach. After this, any child automatically leans on his side and even begins to play in this position. This happens to most children from the 4th month of life.
If your baby has mastered this stage, he will also begin to roll over on his side at night, and then even on his stomach if he wants. As soon as the baby learns to change his positions on his own, do not stop him, let him do it. People develop individual sleeping positions from infancy, and peaceful, restful sleep is for everyone - children and parents! - a must for relaxation after a hard day.
In the past, when the supine position was no longer recommended for sleep, newborns began to be placed on their side. So until the 4th month, the child alternately lay on one side and then on the other. But if this position was used too often, it had a negative effect on the development of the hip joints in some children. The problem was that babies up to the 4th month did not develop adequate muscle protection, characteristic of a healthy child of this age, and the insufficiently developed and protected femoral head was displaced in the joint. When a baby lies on his side, his hips move relative to his spine, meaning his hip joints are no longer centered.
However, if you learn how to properly position your baby on your side, give your baby a little help, and don't exclusively use this position for sleeping, side sleeping can provide some benefits. When compared with the previously discussed supine position, we can say that in this position the risk of sudden infant death is lower. The advantage is that the back of the child’s head does not come into contact with the surface so often and therefore is not crushed. And if you place the child on different sides alternately, then asymmetry in the head and body is less likely to develop.
If you want to put your baby to sleep on his side correctly from a physiological point of view, take a special pillow for baby care or use a towel. To do this, roll up the towel, then place it around the child, starting from the forehead. Then place it behind the baby's neck, back and twist the end of the towel between his legs. In this case, the upper leg does not fall, but is slightly supported in the turn.
The position, where the child has limited space, as in the womb, is suitable for newborns and even premature babies. In any case, it is worth wrapping babies this way to support their hip joints, which will be better maintained in this position.
Babies spend most of their time sleeping, and many prefer to do so while lying on their side. This position seems harmless enough, but in fact, spending long periods of time on one side can have serious health consequences.
Is it safe for a baby to sleep on his side?
Sleeping on one side for babies is fraught with health complications, in particular:
- Harlequin syndrome
Harlequin syndrome is a unilateral erythema that affects almost 10% of newborns. It is usually observed in the first week after birth and is manifested by a change in the color of the side on which the baby lies: it becomes pink or red with a clear demarcation passing through the central axis. As a result, one side of the body becomes red.
The condition is completely benign and does not cause any long-term health problems. After changing the position, the red color disappears within a few minutes.
Medical experts don't know the exact cause of this phenomenon, but they suspect it is caused by immature blood vessels in the skin. Harlequin syndrome may also be associated with polycythemia and may be explained by a possible gravity-induced accumulation of red blood cells among cutaneous vessels.
- Flat head syndrome, or Plagiocephaly
The bones of a newborn baby's skull remain soft and pliable. That is why, if the baby is in one position for a long time, there is pressure on the head, and there is a risk of flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly). The bones in this area descend and become concave or flat.
It is primarily a skeletal abnormality which, however, may result in delayed brain growth due to the small cranial space.
Flat head syndrome also occurs when a child sleeps upright but rests their head on the side, and from sleeping on one side for long periods of time.
If the diagnosis is made in a timely manner, plagiocephaly can be corrected with the help of special braces on the head - children's helmets.
If the child’s condition is not severe, the doctor will simply recommend changing the position during sleep. This should be enough to correct the flathead.
- Torticollis
Torticollis is an abnormal tilt of the neck in one direction due to severe shortening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which connects the side of the head to the collarbone.
Torticollis can occur for several reasons, one of which is an uncomfortable posture during sleep. Due to the fact that the child's bones are actively growing and are still soft, the sternocleidomastoid muscle may contract due to repeated lying on its side or turning the head to the side. This condition not only affects muscle growth but also causes abnormal bone growth.
The problem of torticollis can be resolved with physical therapy. In addition, the child may be prescribed a special tourniquet that wraps around the body and has a soft padding for the neck. He directs his head in the opposite direction, causing the neck to return to its original position.
- Risk of suffocation
Side sleeping causes a twist in the windpipe, which can make it difficult for a baby to breathe. In addition, regurgitated food accumulates around the tracheal opening, creating a choking hazard. This is also common in the prone position and increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
How to prevent your child from sleeping on his side?
To prevent your baby from sleeping on his side, you can try the following measures:
1. Place your baby on his back while sleeping
The simplest thing is to put the baby on his back while he sleeps. Research has proven that this position is the most optimal for preventing fatal diseases such as SIDS, as well as reducing possible upper respiratory tract infections.
2. Don't put unnecessary support structures in your bed.
Do not place any supporting structures in the crib: homemade pillows, specially made bumpers. They have no proven effectiveness and do not promote safe sleep for a child. Plus, pillows can even encourage your baby to roll over while sleeping.
3. Never use sleep positioners
Sleep positioners are not safe for babies. In fact, some of these aids are designed to encourage your baby to sleep on his side, while others encourage him to lie on his back.
Sleep positioners have been shown to pose a choking hazard.
4. Swaddling may increase the risk of rolling over.
Swaddling increases the risk that your baby will turn on his or her side while sleeping. The fact is that as a result of wrapping, the baby ends up in a smooth cylindrical cocoon, which allows the newborn to easily roll over. In fact, swaddling may increase the risk of SIDS.
5. Position your baby in the correct sleeping position
If your baby sleeps on his back, change the position of his head every night alternately. For example, if he sleeps on his back with his head turned slightly to the left, then the next night, gently point his head to the right. This will help prevent the development of plagiocephaly.
When can babies sleep on their sides?
The most optimal sleeping position before the age of 12 months is lying on your back. Pediatricians allow rest on the side after one year. The fact is that by this age the child’s esophagus, trachea and general respiratory mechanism are already sufficiently developed, and there are no risks in lying on his side.
What if a child turns over on his side in his sleep?
At about six months of age, your baby may roll over onto his tummy or side from a supine position, and this is a natural part of baby development. If he does this on his own, it means that his muscles have become stronger in order to control his breathing on his own, and he can remain in this position without danger to his health.
However, if your baby turns onto his side before reaching six months, you should turn him back onto his back.
In addition, if you regularly put your baby to sleep on his back, you can develop this useful habit in him.
Sleep in newborns (0-2 months)
What can parents expect?
Newborns sleep lasts from 11 to 18 hours a day, without patterns and circadianity (daily rhythm of sleep). The timing of the formation of the circadian rhythm of sleep is genetically determined and very variable. The ability to distinguish between day and night in newborns is finally formed only by 4 months, and at the end of the 2nd month we begin to notice how newborns begin to distinguish between day and night. During the first few weeks, your babies may sleep from a few minutes to several hours at a time. However, breastfed children have a slightly shorter sleep duration (2-3 hours) compared to bottle-fed children (3-4 hours). Also, during the first weeks, newborns have very little ability to differentiate between day and night. Expect that your children may be quite active during sleep. All children grimace in their sleep, smile, make sucking movements, toss and turn and move their legs, stretch and shudder. These movements are considered completely normal, and children may also make various sounds, such as sighs, sobs and screams.
Where and how should children sleep?
- Positioning the baby during sleep. The child can sleep wherever the parents choose a place for this. This could be a cradle or a separate crib, a bed in the parents' room or in the room with a brother and sister. Some parents prefer their newborns to sleep with them, in which case parents should be aware of the risk of suffocation in their sleep so that appropriate measures can be taken.
- Sleep on your back. All babies should sleep on their back (especially before 4 months of age) to prevent sudden infant death syndrome.
Practical recommendations for organizing sleep in newborns
- Place your baby on his or her back during nighttime and nap times.
- Place your baby on a firm mattress with a well-protected support structure and no more than 5 cm of slats between them.
- Make sure your baby's face is not covered by a blanket or diaper and remains uncovered while sleeping. If a blanket is used, make sure it covers the baby's legs and is no higher than chest level. The blanket should be tucked under the mattress.
- Try to protect your child from tobacco smoke.
- Avoid overheating your baby at night and keep your baby's room at a temperature that is comfortable for adults.
How to help your baby sleep well
- Learn to recognize the signs your baby gives when he's sleepy. Some tired babies become restless or cry, others rub their eyes, stare at their mother's face, and roll their eyes. Your child will fall asleep much faster and easier the moment you feel that he is tired.
- Try to stick to a schedule and especially to sleep at night. Despite the fact that the child still poorly distinguishes between day and night, he may have excessive daytime sleep and night awakenings, try to keep the child more at night. To do this, limit the amount of light at night and try not to play with your child before bedtime. Play with your baby throughout the day and confidently wake him up for regular feeding and play. However, such recommendations apply only to full-term healthy newborns, since extremely premature children need an individual regimen and the process of maturation of the sleep-wake rhythm in such children takes longer.
- Respond appropriately to your baby's sleep needs. Newborns often need to be rocked to sleep and fed while they sleep, which is great for the first two weeks or months of life. However, if your child is already 3 months old, try to create a daily routine and bedtime routine.
- Create a bedtime routine. Even a child of several weeks of age develops sleep habits based on reflexive behavior. The bedtime routine should be calm and include any activity that you choose yourself: bathing, rocking and carrying.
- Try to sleep when your baby sleeps. Parents also need sleep. Try to take a nap when your baby sleeps. In an ideal situation, rely on someone around you to watch your baby while you sleep. It is especially important for nursing mothers to get enough sleep.
- Contact your doctor if you are unable to formulate a daily routine for your child. Children who are especially agitated and restless may have diseases such as colic, gastric reflux (return of stomach contents into the esophagus), rickets or iron deficiency anemia. Skin diseases accompanied by itching always disrupt sleep in newborns. Problems associated with breathing disorders (features of the anatomical structure of the upper respiratory tract with a decrease in air flow during sleep) require polysomnographic examination and treatment by specialists.
How long should a newborn sleep?
There are no strict standards - it all depends on the individual characteristics of the child’s body. For example, it is believed that with hypoxia, a newborn can sleep longer than healthy children. In general, in the first month of life, the baby is able to sleep up to 18-20 hours per day. He does not yet have a sense of day and night, and periods of uninterrupted sleep last no more than 3-5 hours, regardless of the time of day.
If you feed your newborn by the hour, take note: every time after the next meal, hold the baby upright to expel air to reduce the risk of gas, and then put him to sleep in the crib on the other side than the previous time. Alternating sides is necessary to prevent the habitual tilt of the head, torticollis, and also to form a more even skull of the baby.
