Newborn sleep: is it possible for a baby to sleep on his side, on his stomach, recommended positions for infants

The child sleeps on his back.

The supine position is considered the most useful for the correct formation of the spinal column. In addition, this position significantly reduces the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). But, lying on his back, the baby involuntarily twists his arms and legs while sleeping, which means he can wake himself up and scratch himself or “pull” the blanket to his face, limiting the access of oxygen. And he will wake up ahead of time. To prevent this from happening, before placing your baby on his back, put cotton mittens on him and remove the blanket. If a baby has a stuffy nose, the position on the back becomes dangerous: mucus from the nasal passages can enter the windpipe and cause suffocation.

What position is best for a newborn to sleep in?

Our mothers and grandmothers advise placing the newborn on its side in order to protect it from getting the masses formed during regurgitation into the respiratory tract. However, modern recommendations state that the most correct sleeping position is on your back. According to many studies, this position significantly reduces the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), which occurs during sleep.

It is best to place the baby on his back and gently turn his head to the side. The baby is not yet able to change the position of the head on its own, but you can provide soft support just in case. With each subsequent sleep, place your head on the other side to prevent the formation of an asymmetrical skull or flat back of the head.

The baby sleeps on his side.

The position on the right or left side is especially recommended for children prone to prolonged regurgitation, as the safest. In this position, even if he burps in his sleep, the baby will not wake up. Curdled milk will leak onto the mattress. Otherwise, it may get into the windpipe. Pediatricians recommend placing pillows under the back of a baby lying on his side to prevent him from rolling onto his back. American doctors are inclined to believe that lying on the side increases the risk of SIDS syndrome.

Optimal sleeping positions

It is of great importance what position a newborn should sleep in. Are there any prohibited body positions? What sleeping position options are the most optimal for a toddler?

On the side

Is the most suitable of all. Many doctors advise placing the child in this position. To prevent your baby from burping or passing gas, turn him on his side. In order for the baby to be able to sleep on his side and not roll over in his sleep to another position, it is necessary to lay him down correctly. To facilitate this, place a rolled up soft cushion or diaper under the baby's back. Periodically turn your baby over during sleep to avoid neck strain.

On the back

Can a newborn sleep on his back? The opinions of pediatricians on this issue differ, but the majority still comes to a positive answer. The problem is that the child can choke in his sleep with his regurgitation. It is advisable not to leave your baby alone in this position, and be sure to supervise him when he must sleep on his back. From time to time, parents are still recommended to turn the baby to sleep on its side, fixing the position with a bolster or rolled blanket.

On the stomach

If you want to put your newborn to sleep, try turning him on his tummy. This method is an excellent prevention against certain diseases - for example, colic. The digestive system and stomach work even better, promoting the release of gases. In addition, this position is the safest, and you do not have to worry about the baby’s health. For a newborn sleeping, the tummy position is very useful, because it strengthens the baby’s muscles and bones, and also helps him hold his head correctly.

Semi-sideways

The half-side position is the most comfortable for a baby to sleep in. This dream is most useful if the baby constantly burps or experiences abdominal cramps. Make sure that your child does not hurt himself with his nails - you can do this by putting scratchers on him. Decide for yourself what position a newborn should sleep in.

Advice: no matter how the baby sleeps, he should be periodically turned to a different position. This will help avoid deformation of bone and muscle tissue.

Sleeping on your stomach.

Not all babies can sleep on their stomach. Among those for whom this position is not suitable are babies with an enlarged thymus gland (hymomegaly). The organ puts pressure on the trachea, bronchi and blood vessels, causing suffocation. There is evidence that while sleeping on the stomach, the risk of SIDS is highest. But the digestive organs work more efficiently in this position: gases pass away well, and colic stops bothering the baby. Pediatricians advise leaving the baby on his stomach for at least one nap.

What are the benefits of sleeping on your stomach?

Although sleeping on your stomach comes with some risks, this position is beneficial for your baby. It’s good if you sometimes practice it for sleep, but it’s absolutely forbidden to leave a newborn unattended during this period.

Benefits of sleeping on your stomach:

• The position of the body is very similar to the position of the baby in the womb. In mom’s tummy, the baby felt calm and safe, and accordingly, taking this position, he remembers these sensations and rather calms down and relaxes.
• It is believed that sleeping on the stomach helps develop the skill of lifting and confidently holding the head.
• This body position contributes to the proper formation of bones and joints.
• When the baby's tummy comes into contact with any surface, a kind of massage occurs, which has a positive effect on gastrointestinal motility.
• This way, the newborn often sleeps more peacefully and is less likely to be awakened by the flapping and shaking of the limbs (Moro reflex).

If your baby is nervous or restless, you can practice sleeping on your stomach carefully and under your supervision. The ideal option is if you place him with his tummy on your stomach and let him sleep like that.

Why do you need to change your baby's sleeping position?

The shape of a child's head changes throughout the year under the influence of internal and external circumstances. One of them is contact with a horizontal surface. Due to the fact that the baby lies all the time, the bones of his skull become flatter. If the mother puts the baby to sleep in different positions, the shape of the head changes evenly, maintaining the correct roundness. The situation is different when the baby spends too much time in the same position, for example, constantly sleeping on its side or back. In this case, the bones of the temporal or occipital region are completely aligned, and the head looks sloping on one side. This feature will disappear when the baby learns to walk. The time spent in a horizontal position will be reduced, and the beveled area will regain its previous roundness.

Correctly selected sleeping positions for a newborn help him rest better, grow faster, gain strength and adapt to the world more easily. Sometimes, from the very birth, babies prefer one position to another, and it is important for young mothers to find a compromise between the child’s wishes and the recommendations of pediatricians so that the baby grows up healthy, well-built and cheerful.

Conditions for sound sleep

Very young children may nap on their stomach, back, or side.
However, the choice of a specific position is entirely up to the child. It is important to determine in which position the baby feels best. Parents should create optimal conditions for relaxation. This will help the baby quickly calm down and ensure deep and healthy sleep at night and during the day. The air temperature in the children's room should be 20-22 degrees. If you go beyond this temperature range, the baby will feel uncomfortable. As a result, it will start:

• to wake up suddenly;
• cry;
• fidget on the bed.

It is also necessary to adhere to a suitable humidity level - from 55 to 75 percent. To do this, we recommend regularly performing wet cleaning or purchasing an automatic air humidifier.

You should choose a mattress or crib of medium hardness. The baby bed should not be too soft or too hard. A smooth and even surface without folds or bumps is suitable.

How to make sure that a mattress is suitable for a child? It’s very simple: put your baby on it, wait a couple of minutes and look at the place where he was sitting. If there are no sagging or indentations in the surface, then it is a good mattress to use.

To ensure that your baby has a restful and sound sleep, remove bright lighting from the room. If possible, provide reliable sound insulation (this will protect the child from extraneous noise - loud conversations, sounds of the elevator, music, and so on). Just before you go on vacation, be sure to turn your phone on silent mode. Now you can choose a suitable sleeping position.

Supine position

This position is good because the baby does not need to be constantly monitored. There is no additional stress on the airways. Nothing interferes with the movement of the limbs; the muscles do not lose tone.

Carefully turn the baby onto his back, bend his arms so that his fists are pointing up. The legs should be bent at the knees and slightly apart. The head should be turned to the side. According to pediatricians, this position is completely natural for babies.

Infants can be placed on their back for both night and daytime sleep. It is not by chance that you turn your head. This will help your baby burp normally without the risk of choking. In addition, alternately changing the side in which the baby’s head is turned will help avoid the development of defects in the cervical spine.

So, sleeping on your back has the following benefits:

1. This position is physiologically correct, so it can be safely used for a newborn.
2. It significantly reduces the likelihood of SIDS. We are talking about sudden infant death syndrome, which manifests itself in the form of respiratory arrest during sleep. This usually occurs in the prone position.
3. It is recommended for all children with pelvic dysplasia to rest on their back.

If your baby has a runny nose and can't breathe through his nose properly, lying on his back will make breathing even more difficult. It is better to give preference to the side position (we will discuss it below).

Prone position

This position is also comfortable for sleeping. However, it is not suitable for overly active children. By moving their limbs, they often wake up.

Relatively recently, a similar problem was easily solved with the help of swaddling, which is familiar to us all. However, today many parents refuse this practice. According to pediatricians, swaddling negatively affects the formation of bones, muscles and joints. Due to deterioration of blood circulation, the brain and other organs are insufficiently supplied with blood.

The child should rest on his stomach at least once a day. This pose helps strengthen the spine. And this helps the baby hold his head longer. The position on the tummy also has a good effect on the state of the digestive system:

• gases pass faster;
• The likelihood of colic occurring is almost zero.

A child in this position must be constantly supervised. You need to make sure that the baby can breathe normally. It is important to make sure that the mattress does not interfere with it, and the baby does not experience a lack of oxygen.

The baby should be placed on his stomach on a fairly hard and absolutely flat surface without any folds. There should be no pillows, bolsters or other bedding nearby. Be sure to remove all extraneous items from the baby's crib.

As in the position on the back, in the position on the stomach you need to periodically turn the baby’s head. This must be done after the child wakes up, and not during sleep, as many people think. If for one reason or another you are unable to constantly monitor your baby’s sleep, we advise you to prefer other positions – on your back or on your side. You can carefully reposition your newborn immediately after falling asleep.

Side position

The pose is considered ideal for those children who have digestive problems. Side resting has many benefits:

• Gases pass faster.
• Colic rarely occurs.
• The risk of food debris getting into the respiratory tract during regurgitation is reduced.
• Parents do not need to constantly be near the crib.

How to carefully place your baby in this position? Turn him on his side, then pull one leg towards his stomach and bend the other at the knee. The child's hands will be close to the face, and this poses a certain danger. To avoid accidental scratches, put on your baby a vest with closed (sewn) sleeves. To prevent the sheet from getting wet during salivation, we recommend placing a diaper under the baby’s slightly open mouth.

According to pediatricians, placing newborns on their side is not recommended. This position is best used from one month onwards. You can only turn the child around a little, after securing him with soft pads or bolsters.

To prevent the development of torticollis and other orthopedic pathologies, periodically turn the baby’s head in different directions. The side position increases the load on the hip joints. Therefore, the baby should not often rest in this position.

Creating conditions for sleep

It is important to properly organize care and conditions for the baby. In the first months, he sleeps from seventeen to twenty-two hours - so you should take care of comfort.

You need to observe in what position the baby feels calmer, and adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Maintain the air temperature in the room within 20-23 degrees.
2. Keep humidity in the range of 55-75%.
3. Choose a medium-hard mattress or crib.
4. Eliminate sources of unpleasant odors (especially smoke) and sounds.
5. Twilight in the room is better than bright light and flashing lights.

Temperature is very important for a newborn's sleep. If it is too hot or cold, he will not be able to fall asleep, he will begin to fidget, roll over from any position and cry. To maintain comfortable humidity, it is recommended to regularly carry out wet cleaning or purchase an air humidifier.

You should check whether the hardness of the bed or mattress is suitable. To do this, you need to lay the baby down and after an hour see if there are any dents on the surface: if there are none, the bottom of the crib or mattress is suitable. Lumps and folds are not allowed.

You should also remember to regularly ventilate the room: fresh air helps you sleep sounder and healthier. But the most important thing to remember is the poses.

Rules for organizing children's sleep

Sleep is of great importance for the human body, especially small ones. It is in a dream:

• somatotropin (growth hormone) is formed;
• energy reserves are restored;
• the energy spent during the waking period is replenished;
• the nervous system is strengthened.

The most correct decision would be to put the newborn to sleep immediately in his crib, which, if desired, can be placed next to the parent’s bed by removing one side. It is recommended that the head be turned to the side: use a soft toy or folded blanket for support. When he learns to control the position of his body himself, the support can be abandoned.

To make the process of falling asleep pleasant and short-lived, create suitable conditions in the room:

1. Provide air temperature within 20-22 degrees. You can determine whether your baby is cold or sweaty by touching the back of his head.
2. Provide sufficient humidity in the room, especially during the heating season. If the air is dry, the newborn will be thirsty and wake up more often. If you don't have a humidifier, ventilate the room well in the summer and hang wet towels around the room in the winter.
3. Keep the room quiet. This does not mean that there should not be a single sound, but it is worth taking care that the phone does not ring suddenly or the TV does not play loudly. It is best if the mother sleeps while the baby is resting.
4. During nighttime sleep, keep the room dark. Only dim night light is allowed. Bright light sources are very undesirable.
5. When deciding what is best to put your newborn to bed in, give preference to spacious and comfortable clothes made from natural materials. If the room is cool, cover it with a warm but light blanket.

Correct Positions

It is ideal to find a compromise between sleeping together with the baby and sleeping in a crib: it is important for the child to feel the presence of his mother nearby, but if you sleep together, there is a danger of crushing him or not keeping track of his position.

The most common sleeping positions for a newborn include:

• on the back;
• on the tummy;
• on the side.

It is believed that it is safest and healthiest for a baby to sleep on his back. This way there is no pressure on the airways, nothing interferes with the movement of arms and legs - the baby can be left alone. The main thing is to spread your legs a little and bend them at the knees, and point your hands so that your fists point upward. You must turn your head to the side: now, if the baby burps, he will not choke. It is important to ensure that the head turns in different directions each time - this way you can avoid torticollis and curvature of the spine.

Sleeping on your back is allowed both at night and during the day. The main thing is that there are no contraindications to the position.

The position on the back is contraindicated if the baby has a runny nose: this makes breathing even more difficult. You cannot place a child in this way if he has muscle hypertonicity: he will constantly wake himself up with chaotic blows. This position is also prohibited for dysplasia and spinal abnormalities.

The baby can be placed on his tummy. This way he will fall asleep more soundly, learn to hold his head up faster and explore the room better.

It is advisable to leave him in this position for at least an hour a day, but you absolutely must not leave and stop watching! Children placed on their stomachs may bury their nose into the mattress and stop breathing. The position on the tummy helps to release gases faster and bring relief during colic, but you need to turn your head to the side and carefully smooth the mattress. It is forbidden to wrap the baby in blankets and diapers in this position.

Side sleeping positions are not recommended in the first months. Although this position speeds up the removal of gases and prevents suffocation from belching, the baby can roll over onto his stomach or scratch his face with his hands. Therefore, it is better to dress him in vests with sewn-up sleeves. To avoid the newborn turning over, you can lay him on his half side, placing blankets or bolsters under his back. This position should be avoided if the child has problems with the spine: this increases the load on him.

Semi-sideways

This position is considered even safer than sleeping on your side. This position is suitable for newborns who often spit up, with painful colic and difficult passage of gases.

To prevent the child from adopting a different position, the baby must be positioned correctly - place a cushion from a diaper or blanket at the back. To avoid torticollis, do not forget to roll over to the other side.

But if the baby has a problem spine, this position will have to be avoided so as not to put unnecessary strain on the back. Small children often scratch themselves and get scared, so it is better for infants to wear baby vests with sewn-up sleeves or wrap them in a cocoon diaper.

Recommendations

It is better not to swaddle a child: this compresses the limbs, makes it impossible to move, which leads to weakening muscle tone and weakening blood flow to the brain, and as a result, development may slow down.

When breastfeeding (and bottle-feeding), you should not put the baby down right away; it is better to hold him upright for at least ten minutes, pressing him to your chest and resting his head on your shoulder. This way the nutritional mixture will be better absorbed and the baby will burp less.

It is extremely undesirable to place the child so that the head is higher than the feet. In the first months, only the horizontal position is correct

An incorrect position can lead to:

• skull deformations;
• excessive load on the spine;
• colic;
• sudden infant death syndrome.

If you have doubts whether your baby can sleep in a particular position, you should consult with pediatricians. Proper placement will avoid unpleasant consequences and help the little person grow up healthy and cheerful.

Young mothers often complain that the child does not sleep well. Let's figure out where these ideas come from and how a newborn should sleep day and night.

After the birth of a child, new worries and worries have been added to your life. Mothers worry about how much the baby has gained in a month, whether everything is okay with his health, they get tested, get massages, etc. Few people are interested in the basics of healthy sleep from birth; they go to the doctor when “it’s impossible to live like this anymore.”

When asked about poor sleep, doctors (pediatricians or neurologists) often answer: “Be patient, it will outgrow,” without going into detail or explaining the reasons. But the baby is growing, and sleep is not getting better; “sleepy” baths, soothing potions or magic cereals help only partly. The problem cannot be solved by external means; an integrated approach is needed.

Unfortunately, baby sleep problems are not uncommon. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 62% of babies over the age of 6 months do not sleep “through the night,” and 37% wake up 2 to 8–12 times per night. Many parents in Russia sincerely believe that this is normal, “everyone is like this,” it just has to be experienced until the child turns “one, two, three. of the year". We hasten to please you: the situation can be significantly improved! We'll tell you how a newborn should sleep correctly.

Expert advice

Experts strongly recommend following some tips to ensure that your baby sleeps peacefully and soundly.

It is best not to put the baby to bed immediately after finishing the feeding procedure. It is recommended to hold the baby for 10-15 minutes. During this time, the baby will have time to burp, and the processes of digesting food will begin. This will save your small child from colic and excessive gas formation.

Do not swaddle your baby tightly. You can completely abandon the idea of ​​swaddling, since free movement of the limbs is the key to the proper formation and development of bones and muscles.

It is strictly not recommended to cover the baby with a blanket above the chest. It is best to secure a baby blanket or blanket with legs or an orthopedic mattress.

Experts strongly recommend allowing your baby to independently choose the most suitable sleeping position. Parents need to watch the baby for some time and understand in what position the small child is most comfortable in the “land of dreams.”

Sleep functions

Healthy, quality sleep for a young child is a priority along with nutrition and development. During the first two years, the baby sleeps on average almost 10,000 hours (about 14 months) and is awake for about 7,500 hours (about 10 months). Why is it so important for a mother to organize quality sleep for her baby?

• Child brain development and growth: Sleep is believed to be a major brain activity in the early years of life. Children's sleep is characterized by a higher proportion of REM sleep (compared to adult sleep), during which dreams provide visual images to the child's developing brain, thereby stimulating brain growth.
• Restoration of strength and accumulation of energy: one of the main functions of sleep is anabolic (storage), bringing a feeling of physical rest, allowing the accumulation of energy potential. For what? Learn to happily roll over, sit down, crawl, stand up!
• Memory and attention: it is sleep that helps a child learn new knowledge and skills and consolidate them. This complexly organized process involves the functions of attention, memory, systematization and many others.

• Psychological protection: sleep helps relieve colossal psycho-emotional stress accumulated during wakefulness.
• Growth and development of the body: scientists have found that growth hormone (somatotropic hormone) is secreted in the most significant quantities (80%) in the first two hours of sleep.
• Strengthening the immune system: Research shows that in case of infectious diseases, the body recovers during deep sleep. At this time, the immune system is “charged”.
• Mood: good sleep sets a positive vector for the whole day. All parents know this.

Conditions for comfortable sleep

The optimal air temperature in the room in which the child sleeps is 18-20 degrees. The required air humidity is 50-70 percent (provided using an ultrasonic humidifier and controlled using a hygrometer).

Before going to bed, the room should be thoroughly ventilated and, if necessary, wet cleaned.

It is advisable to minimize in advance all possible dust accumulators: carpets, mountains of soft toys. Wash curtains, vacuum upholstered furniture.

Little Eva has been sleeping with me since the maternity hospital - she refused to sleep separately there, and it didn’t take long to persuade me. The crib is still empty and only there for decoration. But now I’m already sure that I’m doing everything right, so I just enjoy sleeping with her, which is what I wish for you, regardless of which option you prefer, the main thing is to love your babies, the fact that we have them is a great happiness!

Happy Lena Zhabinskaya was with you, bye-bye!

Physiology of sleep

Most parents are familiar with the following situations: in some families the baby wakes up immediately, as soon as he is transferred to the crib; For others, the child sleeps only in their arms; Often parents have to rock/pump him in a stroller so that the baby can sleep longer.

And there are children who generally sleep for 20-30-45 minutes and cannot continue sleeping further, although “it is clear that they want to continue sleeping, but cannot fall asleep.” What is the reason? In understanding the structure and physiology of children's sleep.

If your baby sleeps restlessly

It happens that the baby sleeps very restlessly and lightly. Parents are concerned about what could cause this phenomenon and how to correct the situation. If the baby does not sleep well and wakes up frequently, it is likely that the temperature regime differs from the optimal values.

The cause of restless sleep may be an incorrect level of humidity in the room in which a small child sleeps. In addition, this phenomenon is often caused by problems with the baby’s digestion, excessive bloating, and colic. This problem is especially relevant for children from 0 to 3 months. As a rule, after reaching the age of three months, the baby’s digestion normalizes, and with it sleep.

In any case, new mothers and fathers need to study their child, his character traits, in order to be able to guess the causes of restless behavior and be able to eliminate them in a timely manner.

How sleep works

How should a newborn sleep per month? As such, there cannot be a norm at this age. The baby is awake, eats, and then sleeps at its own pace. In total, about 16-18 hours a day.

By four months, children's sleep patterns change - the infant's sleep architecture begins to become similar to that of an adult. From this moment on, the child’s sleep (like the sleep of an adult) is divided into two phases: slow-wave sleep and rapid sleep. Each phase is important and serves different functions.

Non-REM sleep (NREM) includes four main stages:

1. Drowsiness;
2. Shallow sleep;
3. Deep dream;
4. Very deep sleep (it is responsible for restoring energy, as if rebooting our body, relieving accumulated fatigue).

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is sleep with rapid eye movement. It provides psychological protection functions, filters information and reboots the brain. It seems to us that the baby’s brain is resting, but in fact it is working and growing. The REM sleep phase in a child of four to ten months occupies approximately 40% of the entire cycle (at birth - 50% in full-term babies, and decreases to 20% by 10 years). The active REM phase often recurs in infants, creating shortened sleep cycles.

Conditions for a comfortable sleep for a newborn

The sleep of a newborn has distinctive features that need to be taken into account when putting the baby to bed. Falling asleep is followed by shallow sleep, then deep sleep. These two phases periodically replace each other, then the child wakes up. Deep sleep occurs a long time after falling asleep and does not last long.

An adult almost immediately plunges into a phase of sound sleep; this does not happen in a baby. You need to wait a little, not make any noise, until the child falls asleep deeply. In the first minutes, he can wake up from any movement or rustle. When a relaxed expression appears on the face and the baby unclenches its fists, it means that the deep sleep phase has begun.

Most of it is shallow sleep. He is more sensitive, the child can wake up at any moment if he feels discomfort, cold, heat, hunger. During it, the baby moves, shudders, can lift his arms, and facial expressions are noticeable on his face. Deep sleep lasts a maximum of an hour. With age, its duration increases, while the superficial one, on the contrary, decreases.

During sleep, the baby should be dressed in the same way as when awake. The main thing is that he is comfortable, not hot and not cold. At night, clothing should allow parents to change the diaper if necessary. It is undesirable to have elastic bands and buttons on it, which can injure the baby’s delicate skin.

If it is higher, the baby will be warm under a knitted sheet. In winter, parents worry even more about how their baby might freeze at night. No need to use wool pajamas and socks. Most likely, the child will be hot in them, and such material can irritate the skin. It is better to take a warmer blanket and cover the baby with it.

How to put a newborn in a crib, in what clothes, is up to the parents to decide, the main thing is not to overdo it so that the baby does not get too hot. Heat exchange in infants occurs a little differently than in adults. Even in a cool room they can be comfortable. You need to be attentive to the child and understand what temperature is optimal for him.

Baby sleeping in a crib

The baby should have a separate blanket, even if he sleeps next to his mother. It is better to tuck it under the mattress and make sure that it is not higher than chest level. Some babies sleep better when swaddled. They are warm, comfortable, and do not wake up every time they move. The swaddling should be loose so that the baby can move.

Additional Information. If the baby sleeps in a stroller, then you need to dress him one layer warmer than yourself and cover him with a blanket. There is no need to use all kinds of accessories, envelopes, overalls, blankets at the same time. The sides of the stroller will protect your baby from the wind, so there is no need to be afraid to walk in windy weather. In addition, many children sleep better in the fresh air. They fall asleep faster and sleep longer.

In summer, it is necessary to ensure conditions so that direct sunlight does not enter the baby’s eyes. It is better not to be in the sun for a long time at all. Strollers now have mosquito nets; you can use a regular diaper. Constant use of nets is not recommended; they interfere with air circulation.

The newborn can sleep in his own crib or with his mother. If he sleeps separately, for the first time it is better to place his bed next to his parents’, so that he feels that his mother is not far away and she can clearly see the baby. When the baby is nearby, you don’t need to waste time getting to him; perhaps just a mother’s touch is enough for the baby to calm down.

It would be good if the baby’s crib has an adjustable bottom (raises and falls) or a front side. So that when the baby grows up, he is safe and does not fall out. The bottom is recommended to be made of slats, then the bed is a little springy, which is more comfortable for the baby and promotes normal air exchange. The front wall must be removable, thanks to this you can place the bed close to the parent's.

Important! You need to prepare a hard mattress for your baby. The bones of a newborn are still soft, the muscles are not fully formed

In order for a baby to have correct posture, he must sleep on a hard surface.

For this reason, there is no need to place the baby on soft blankets. In addition, a hard mattress will not block access to air, even if the child buries his face in it. You can put a special diaper with moisture-repellent impregnation or regular oilcloth on the mattress under the sheet. This will protect him if the baby is in bed without a diaper. The material from which the mattress is made must be hypoallergenic.

Baby in a cocoon

How should a newborn baby sleep (healthy sleep standards)

It is important for a child to get adequate sleep. But it's not just the quality of sleep that matters. The amount of sleep a baby gets directly affects his health, development and mood. Therefore, it is so important to ensure that the baby “gets out” his quota. How should a newborn baby sleep in a crib and what does normal mean? This is the average required number of hours of sleep for a child, required by the body to restore all systems and implement all the above-mentioned sleep functions. A deviation from the norm of an hour in both directions is considered acceptable if the baby behaves positively.

The duration of sleep and the correct distribution between daytime and nighttime sleep depends on age and in the first year of life changes every one to two months.

At night, babies sleep for a long time - on average 10-12 hours with one or several awakenings. The rest of the time will be distributed between daytime naps. Depending on the age and needs of the child, the number of daytime naps is gradually reduced. Let us pay attention to the dynamics of this process:

Baby sleeping on a pillow

Due to the fact that the spine of a newborn is not fully formed, unevenness of the mattress and a high pillow provoke disturbances in the formation of the musculoskeletal system. In the first three months of life, using a pillow is strictly prohibited.

If spinal curvature subsequently develops, it is necessary to use an orthopedic product. For older babies, it is recommended to purchase a positioner pillow. It allows you to fix the child in the correct position.

As an alternative, products filled with buckwheat husks are used. They improve blood circulation, providing a massaging effect.

Having placed the baby on the pillow, the head should be turned to the side. The child needs this for safety. It is advisable to put scratch pads on your hands to prevent the baby from being injured during sleep. If he sleeps with his head thrown back, we are talking about the presence of hypertonicity. In this case, a consultation with a pediatrician is necessary. It is recommended to choose the right sleeping positions for your newborn, avoiding potentially dangerous ones.

The quality of the baby’s sleep and the intensity of colic in the intestines depend on the chosen position. One should proceed from the age characteristics of the child, his habits and the level of security of a particular position.

Baby sleeps on his back

This body position is considered the safest, so the child can be put to sleep in this position day and night. Remember to turn your baby's head to the side each time so that if he burps, there is no risk of choking.

Torticollis is a common occurrence, so to avoid it, change the side on which you place the head each time. It happens that a child likes to dream with his head turned in one direction. In this case, a flannel diaper folded in several layers and placed under the opposite side will help (if the child puts his head to the left, place the diaper under the right side, and vice versa). Place the baby's head on the diaper, and after a while reduce the number of layers. Over time, the baby will get used to lying down, independently turning his head in both directions in his sleep.

Regardless of the undeniable convenience of this position, sleeping in it is not always safe:

• this is contraindicated in children with hip dysplasia;
• This position is also not recommended if the child has muscle hypertonicity. A baby with muscle tone waves his arms in his sleep and can wake himself up. Of course, this can be avoided if you swaddle him tightly, but not every baby likes to lie wrapped in a swaddle;
• a newborn cannot sleep soundly on his back during colic, when gas formation interferes with him.

How to put your baby to sleep correctly?

Parents adapt to the baby’s biorhythms and behavior and choose the most convenient way to put the baby to bed. Numerous options that help a newborn fall asleep quickly come down to three main ones:

1. motion sickness;
2. co-sleeping;
3. falling asleep on your own.

Let's look at how to quickly put a child to sleep using these methods.

Motion sickness

Motion sickness is a natural need for a baby. It helps you fall asleep quickly, develops the vestibular system and trains coordination in space. Psychologists recommend rocking in your arms (especially in the first three months), which helps you feel the warmth of your mother’s hands and protection from the still unfamiliar world, and is considered a guarantee of the development of a calm, balanced personality.

Smooth rocking in the crib is allowed, accompanied by light, pleasant music. Whether or not to rock your baby is up to you individually.

Co-sleeping

Co-sleeping is indispensable and convenient during breastfeeding for both mother and baby. In the first months of life, it contributes to:

• formation of a balanced psyche;
• trouble-free operation of the baby’s respiratory system;
• increased lactation;
• establishing common biorhythms for mother and child, eliminating confusion between day and night.

There are also numerous arguments against:

• high probability of crushing the baby;
• unhygienic;
• difficulty in falling asleep on your own.

The decision of whether or not to place the baby with the mother depends solely on the decision of the parents and the needs of the child.

Falling asleep on your own

Modern parents often practice falling asleep on their own, putting a lot of effort into it.

The main requirement in this case: daily repetition of the same procedures and adherence to the regime. The baby will get used to the fact that after an evening bath, a warm, tasty treat from the breast or bottle will be waiting for him, and then he will be put to bed and fall asleep. The result will not be long in coming; if you firmly and persistently repeat the same actions day after day, the child will fall asleep instantly.