All Natural Mommies

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It’s a question all parents ask themselves at one point or another – Where and how do you put your baby to sleep?

The first part of that question, for me, and most “natural parents” is pretty easy – co sleeping is a great way to offer yourself at night just like you do during the day! Not only that but it’s also been proven that co sleeping actually helps your baby breath better. Dr Sear’s said this:

“Our study revealed that babies breath better when sleeping next to their parents than when sleeping alone. Their breathing and heart rate were more regular during shared sleep, and there were fewer “dips,” or low points in respiration and blood oxygen from stop-breathing episodes.”

But what about the How – how should a parent put their baby down to sleep? On their back, stomach, side? What’s actually best?

According to a recent survey done by the University of Auckland, out of 400 mothers more than one third put their sleeping babies on their stomachs to sleep – one of the reasons stated was back sleeping can lead to creating a misshapen head.

On the other hand more than 65% of mothers put their babies to sleep on their backs out of the fear of SIDS and their babies dying due to not being able to breath or being suffocated. You can read more about the study here.

Well this question is really one isn’t it? I personally think it depends on some circumstances – for one thing if your baby suffers reflux (GER), as both of my two did.

Doctors in Australia did a study with 24 babies who had been diagnosed with Reflux. They studied several different sleeping positions, including back, stomach, left and right side. They also elevated the bed of these babies and tested all the sleeping positions again.

They found that elevating the bed did nothing in terms of helping keep reflux symptoms down. However, they did find that a baby sleeping on their stomach or left side did help ease reflux symptoms.

They also found that for babies sleeping on their back, when they do vomit could aspirate the liquid, which can stop breathing, leading to death. You can read more about it here.

In addition, if you have not heard there is a SIDS prevention method that has been 100% successful since 1989. Mattress-wrapping for SIDS prevention, has been publicized in New Zealand since 1994, and has been 100% successful. Approximately 660 crib deaths occurred in New Zealand during the years 1995 to 2003 inclusive, but there has been no reported SIDS death among the very large number of babies who have slept on wrapped mattresses. From 1994 to 2002 the nationwide rate fell by 62%.

Evie who runs Prevent SIDS.org has devoted her whole website to preventing SIDS though mattress wrapping, and the toxic gas theory.

Then you have the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for Back to sleep – with no exceptions. You can read more about Back to sleep here.

They also note not to have any bedding around where your baby is going to sleep whether it be a crib, co sleeper or your bed. This information it seems, is what all the experts agree with, no use of pillows, or blankets, especially before your baby is able to turn over on their own.

As a parent myself I know how scary SIDS is, it’s a very real risk, one in which I have been lucky to not have hit my home. With both of my kids I put them to sleep on their tummies, I did not use a mattress wrap either. Matter of fact I like most of you did not even KNOW about the mattress wrap! So I can tell you the choice is a hard one – my best advice; research and then decide what you and your family is comfortable with!