Question
A five-month-old baby, after learning to roll over, prefers to sleep on its stomach. Parents are worried that this sleeping position may compress the baby’s abdomen or cause breathing difficulties, so they often turn the baby from prone to lateral, sometimes waking the baby and causing crying.
Answer
Parents’ concerns about babies sleeping on their stomachs are understandable. They worry that the position may compress the chin and affect breathing, or that the baby may inhale exhaled air, leading to hypoxia. However, in fact, sleeping on the stomach is beneficial for a baby’s physical and mental health. But it is important to note that the baby’s blanket and pillow should be as soft as possible, while the bed and mattress should be moderately firm. In addition, it is best to have a parent nearby to guard against the baby’s head being buried in the pillow or blanket, which could lead to an accident.