Placing the child on his stomach is considered one of the beneficial positions for him, but in return it has many health risks, and therefore, placing the child on his stomach during sleep should be avoided.

Some infants tend to sleep on their stomach more than other positions, and the mother finds her child more calm in this position, and the mother may put her child on his back or one side, and find it rolling until it settles on his stomach.

This situation can pose a risk to the health of the infant, because it exposes him to respiratory failure and suffocation, and therefore many mothers wonder how to secure the child from the risks of sleeping on his stomach.

The risks of the child sleeping on his stomach

Before we tell you how to protect the child from the risks of sleeping on his stomach, you must know these risks:

1. Sudden infant death syndrome

A baby's chances of developing sudden death syndrome increase in the first year of his life if he sleeps on his stomach, especially during the first four months.

This is because he does not know how to act if he is unable to breathe and does not give an impression or response and remains asleep in his position, and it is also difficult for him to move from his stomach to the position of the back.

Therefore, it is recommended that the child sleep on his back during the first year of his life.

2. Ear infection and fever

A child sleeping on his stomach can cause a fever and an ear infection, and he can also get a stuffy nose, especially if he suffers from influenza, and the pressure on his lungs increases, which causes him many infections in the respiratory system.

3. Re-breathe

The child is exposed to a condition called "re-breathing" when sleeping on his stomach, where he inhales his exhalation, meaning that he inhales poisonous carbon dioxide and thus may cause death.

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4. Increased risk of reflux

When a child sleeps on his stomach, the chances of burping or acid reflux can increase, and this leads to restriction of the breathing process, especially for children who suffer from the problem of reflux.

5. Increased body temperature

Sleeping on his stomach causes an increase in body temperature, especially in the summer season, which results in a fever and dehydration.

6. Damages to the heart

Some studies have indicated that children who sleep on their stomachs are more likely to have a rapid heartbeat and pressure on body parts, unlike sleeping on the back, which causes rest and relaxation for all parts of the body.

Benefits of sleeping on his stomach

On the other hand, there are several benefits for a child to sleep on his stomach, including:

• Avoid infecting the child with a flat head: which occurs as a result of the child sleeping on his back or one of the sides for long periods.
• Strengthening the head muscles: Because the child learns to control his head faster and frequently moves and raises it up in a sleeping position on the stomach, and thus contributes to strengthening his head and neck muscles.
• Learn a lot of skills: such as raising the head, crawling, crawling, and rolling. The sleeping position on the stomach helps him to start trying these new skills.

How to protect the child from the dangers of sleeping on the stomach

In order to avoid the child sleeping on his stomach and the damage that occurs in this position, it is advised to follow the following:

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• Putting the child on his back: This is at bedtime, and the side cushions can be placed for him in order to reduce the chances of him moving into the position of the stomach.

The child can be placed on his stomach while he is awake, to get the benefits of sleeping on his stomach without causing him any harm.

In the case of breastfeeding the child before bed, he can be placed on his back to start feeding, and after he stops feeding and falls asleep, the mother slowly pulls the nipple so that he does not wake up and complete his sleep on his back.

• Observing the child during sleep: Try to notice the child from time to time while he sleeps, to make sure that he stays on his back or one side, and if he sleeps on his stomach, you must adjust his position.

Placing the baby's mattress next to your mattress helps make it easier for you to follow him all the time.

• Wrap the baby correctly: by using a swaddle, but be careful not to put pressure on the chest area so as not to harm him.

• Choosing the right bed for the child: The fixed bed is the best fit for the child, because the moving bed helps him move more easily.

The flexible mattress makes it easy to block the child's nostrils, as well as the soft and soft pillows that are easy to move and fold. Do not fit the infant, and you should also not leave any additional toys, pillows and blankets on the bed.