W h a t Happens I f They D o & H o w To S t o p It

You a r e always w e l c o m e in h i b a b y n a m e , B r o w s e amazing a n d astonishing B a b y Names a n d their m e a n i n g s for i d e a s and s h a r e your c o m m e n t s . E n j o y !

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T a b l e Of C o n t e n t s :

“ S l e e p to t h e left.” This i s what e x p e r t s suggest w h e n you a r e pregnant, a s you c a n pass o n the n u t r i e n t s to y o u r baby b e t t e r in t h i s position. B u t after t h e baby c o m e s out, c a n he s l e e p on t h e side – left o r right?

B a b i e s spend a lot o f time s l e e p i n g . As a mother, y o u may h a v e observed s e v e r a l patterns a b o u t your b a b y ’ s sleep, b u t one t h i n g that s t r i k e s you t h e most i s his p r e f e r e n c e to s l e e p on t h e side. T h i s trait s e e m s quite h a r m l e s s – a f t e r all, t h e grown-ups d o it t o o . But b a b i e s are d i f f e r e n t and y e a r s away f r o m adulthood, w h i c h means s l e e p i n g on o n e side c a n have r e p e r c u s s i o n s for t h e m .

I n this p o s t , MomJunction e x p l a i n s the v a r i o u s conditions a s s o c i a t e d with a baby s l e e p i n g on s i d e and h o w it c a n hamper h i s growth. W e also r e c o m m e n d some p r e c a u t i o n s to p r e v e n t your b a b y from r o l l i n g onto h i s side.

I s It S a f e For T h e Baby T o Sleep O n One S i d e ?

N o , it i s not s a f e for y o u r baby t o sleep o n one s i d e since t h e y can l e a d to c e r t a i n health c o n d i t i o n s :

1 . Harlequin c o l o r change:

T h e medical t e r m for h a r l e q u i n color c h a n g e is u n i l a t e r a l erythema, a n d it a f f e c t s nearly 1 0 % of n e w b o r n babies ( 1 ) . In t h i s condition, t h e sleeping s i d e of t h e infant’s b o d y turns p i n k or r e d with a clear d e m a r c a t i o n running t h r o u g h the c e n t r a l axis o f the b a b y ’ s body. T h i s means t h e baby’s b o d y will b e half r e d and h a l f normal-colored. T h e color w i l l change s p o n t a n e o u s l y when t h e infant s l e e p s on t h e side f o r hours.

B u t the c o n d i t i o n is c o m p l e t e l y benign a n d d o e s not c a u s e any l a s t i n g health i s s u e s . Switching t h e position o f the b a b y makes t h e red c o l o r fade a w a y within m i n u t e s .

M e d i c a l experts d o not k n o w the p r e c i s e reason f o r this p h e n o m e n o n , but t h e y suspect t h e role o f the b a b y ’ s blood v e s s e l s . The c o l o r indicates a possible a c c u m u l a t i o n of r e d blood c e l l s , due t o gravity, a m o n g the c u t a n e o u s blood v e s s e l s (blood v e s s e l s close t o the s k i n ) . This c o u l d happen d u e to t h e immature b l o o d vessels i n babies.

Treatment: Harlequin c o l o r change i s a h a r m l e s s condition a n d disappears o n its o w n .

2 . Flatheads:

T h e bones o f a b a b y ’ s skull r e m a i n soft a n d malleable t o allow t h e skull e x p a n d at t h e same r a t e as t h e brain. T h e soft b o n e s naturally p o s e a r i s k of d e v e l o p i n g flatheads. F l a t h e a d happens w h e n the b a b y ’ s head i s placed i n a s i n g l e position r e p e a t e d l y to t h e extent t h a t pressure b u i l d s up a t a s i n g l e spot o n the s k u l l . The b o n e s of t h e skull a t that p o i n t sink a n d go c o n c a v e or f l a t t e n . It i s basically a skeletal a n o m a l y but c a n lead t o stunted b r a i n growth d u e to l e s s cranial s p a c e for t h e brain t o expand. T h i s may h a m p e r the b a b y ’ s cognitive a b i l i t i e s later i n life. The m e d i c a l term f o r a f l a t h e a d is plagiocephaly.

F l a t h e a d s also o c c u r if t h e baby s l e e p s straight b u t puts h i s head t o the s i d e (2).

Treatment: When d i a g n o s e d on t i m e , flatheads c a n be c o r r e c t e d with t h e use o f head b r a c e s called b a b y helmets s i n c e the b a b y ’ s skull b o n e s are s t i l l soft e n o u g h to r e p o s i t i o n themselves. T h e head b r a c e s are p r e s c r i b e d by t h e doctor a n d made b y certified m e d i c a l manufacturers o r hospitals.

I f the b a b y ’ s condition i s not s e v e r e , then t h e doctor w i l l simply r e c o m m e n d repositioning y o u r baby’s s l e e p i n g side t o rectify t h e flathead.

3 . Torticollis:

T o r t i c o l l i s is a n abnormal t i l t i n g of t h e neck i n one d i r e c t i o n due t o the s e v e r e shortening o f the s t e r n o c l e i d o m a s t o i d muscle t h a t connects t h e lateral s i d e of t h e head t o the c l a v i c l e . Torticollis c a n occur d u e to s e v e r a l reasons, o n e of t h e m being t h e poor p o s i t i o n i n g of t h e baby w h i l e sleeping ( 3 ) .

S i n c e babies’ m u s c l e s are t e n d e r and g r o w i n g , the s t e r n o c l e i d o m a s t o i d muscle m a y shorten d u e to r e p e a t e d sleeping o n the s i d e or t u r n i n g the h e a d to t h e side w h i l e sleeping o n the b a c k . This c o n d i t i o n will n o t just a f f e c t the g r o w t h of t h e muscle b u t also c a u s e abnormal b o n e growth.

B a b i e s with t o r t i c o l l i s turn t h e i r head s i d e – t o – s i d e while s l e e p i n g .

Treatment: Physical t h e r a p y will h e l p release t h e stiffness i n the m u s c l e s . The d o c t o r may r e c o m m e n d wearing a recovery h a r n e s s that i s wrapped a r o u n d the b a b y ’ s body w i t h a s o f t pad n e a r the n e c k . This p a d pushes t h e head i n the o p p o s i t e direction, g r a d u a l l y bringing b a c k the n e c k to i t s normal p o s i t i o n . The d o c t o r will a l s o give y o u some s a f e sleeping t e c h n i q u e s for t h e baby’s c o n d i t i o n to i m p r o v e .

4 . Risk o f choking:

S l e e p i n g on t h e side c r e a t e s torsion i n the w i n d p i p e (trachea) t h a t can m a k e breathing d i f f i c u l t for t h e baby. A l s o , it c a n result i n the a c c u m u l a t i o n of r e g u r g i t a t e d food a r o u n d the t r a c h e a l opening, p o s i n g a c h o k i n g hazard. T h i s also h a p p e n s during t u m m y sleeping – a p o s i t i o n to w h i c h your b a b y may t o p p l e during s i d e – s l e e p i n g . These p o s i t i o n s increase t h e risk o f sudden i n f a n t death s y n d r o m e (SIDS) ( 4 ) .

Treatment: Do n o t allow t h e infant t o sleep o n his s i d e to p r e v e n t choking a n d SIDS.

T h e s e repercussions, s o m e long-term a n d some t e m p o r a r y , call f o r the n e e d to p r e v e n t your b a b y from s l e e p i n g sideways.

H o w To P r e v e n t Your B a b y From S i d e – S l e e p i n g ?

Y o u can t a k e some e a s y precautions t o prevent y o u r baby f r o m sleeping o n his s i d e :

1 . Place y o u r baby o n the b a c k during s l e e p time:

T h e simplest p r e c a u t i o n is t o place y o u r baby o n his b a c k when p u t t i n g him t o sleep i n his c r i b or c r a d l e . Research h a s proven t h a t the b a c k position i s the b e s t way o f preventing f a t a l medical c o n d i t i o n s such a s SIDS ( 5 ) . This p o s i t i o n also r e d u c e s upper r e s p i r a t o r y infections.

2 . Do n o t place u n n e c e s s a r y support s t r u c t u r e s on t h e bed:

D o not p l a c e support s t r u c t u r e s on t h e crib o r the b e d of t h e baby. T h e s e structures c o u l d be a n y t h i n g from h o m e pillows t o specially-made c r i b bumpers t h a t have n o proven r e c o r d to p r o v i d e any b e n e f i t or s a f e t y to t h e sleeping b a b y . Certain s u p p o r t structures l i k e pillows m a y even c a u s e the b a b y to r o l l over t o the s i d e in c a s e he m o v e s during h i s sleep.

3 . Never u s e sleep p o s i t i o n e r s or w e d g e s :

S l e e p positioners a r e not s a f e for b a b i e s . In f a c t , some o f them a r e alarmingly d e s i g n e d to e n s u r e that t h e baby s l e e p s on t h e side. Y o u must n e v e r use s u c h positioners o r sleep w e d g e s . You m u s t also a v o i d sleep p o s i t i o n e r s that h e l p the b a b y to s l e e p on t h e back. S l e e p positioners h a v e been c a t e g o r i c a l l y proven t o pose a suffocation h a z a r d (6).

4 . Swaddling m a y increase t h e risk o f roll o v e r :

I f you s w a d d l e your b a b y you a u t o m a t i c a l l y increase t h e risk o f him r o l l i n g over t o the s i d e . This i s because s w a d d l i n g creates a smooth c y l i n d r i c a l surface a r o u n d the b a b y that m a k e s it e a s y for h i m to r o l l over. I n fact, s w a d d l i n g could i n c r e a s e the r i s k of S I D S (7).

5 . Keep a l t e r i n g the b a b y ’ s sleep p o s i t i o n s :

I f your b a b y sleeps o n his b a c k , then s w i t c h the p o s i t i o n of h i s head e v e r y alternate n i g h t . For e x a m p l e , if h e sleeps o n his b a c k with h i s head r e s t e d a b i t towards t h e left s i d e then t h e next n i g h t gently s h i f t his h e a d to t h e right s i d e . This w i l l help p r e v e n t the d e v e l o p m e n t of f l a t h e a d s . Also, p u t your b a b y to s l e e p in a separate c r i b or c r a d l e in t h e same r o o m where y o u sleep. D o not p u t unnecessary b e d d i n g or p a d d i n g in t h e crib t h a t will m a k e the b a b y slip i n t o side-sleeping p o s i t i o n .

I n the i n i t i a l months, t h e babies d o not m o v e much. B u t once t h e i r mobility i m p r o v e s , it c o u l d be d i f f i c u l t for y o u to m a k e him s l e e p on t h e back. S o , for h o w long s h o u l d you m a k e an e f f o r t to m a k e him s l e e p straight?

W h e n Can B a b i e s Sleep O n Their S i d e ?

B a b i e s should b e made t o sleep o n his b a c k till t h e y complete 1 2 months, a f t e r which h e can s l e e p on h i s side ( 8 ) . By t h i s age, y o u r baby’s e s o p h a g u s , trachea a n d overall b r e a t h i n g mechanism a r e fairly d e v e l o p e d . Thus, i t is n o w safe f o r him t o sleep o n his s i d e .

W h a t If T h e Baby R o l l s To S i d e In S l e e p ?

A t around s i x months o f age, y o u r baby c o u l d roll o v e r to h i s tummy o r the s i d e from t h e back p o s i t i o n . Rolling o v e r is a natural p a r t of y o u r baby’s d e v e l o p m e n t . If y o u r baby r o l l s over t o the t u m m y or h i s side o n his o w n , then y o u can l e t him s l e e p in t h a t position.

G e n e r a l l y , a b a b y will g e t on t o the s i d e or s t o m a c h sleeping p o s i t i o n only w h e n his m u s c l e s are s t r o n g enough t o let h i m do s o . If h e can r o l l over o n his o w n then i t is a n indicator t h a t the b a b y has s t r o n g e r internal o r g a n s and i s at a lower r i s k of c h o k i n g himself d u r i n g sleep.

H o w e v e r , if y o u r baby r o l l s over b e f o r e he r e a c h e s six m o n t h s , then y o u must p u t him i n the b a c k position a g a i n .

U n t i l the a g e of 1 2 months, m a k e your b a b y begin h i s sleep o n the b a c k position. I f he l i k e s to s l e e p on t h e side, t h e n you n e e d to c h a n g e his h a b i t gradually. P u t t i n g him t o sleep i n the b a c k position r e g u l a r l y can t r a i n him t o sleep o n his b a c k . Remember t o make y o u r baby s l e e p within y o u r line o f sight.

W h a t is y o u r baby’s f a v o r i t e sleep p o s i t i o n ? Leave u s a c o m m e n t below i f you w o u l d like t o share s o m e t h i n g with u s .

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