What should I do if my baby doesn’t sleep flat?

When adults sleep, their postures are generally fixed. Many people like to sleep on their backs or sides. In addition, everyone will turn over and change their sleeping posture at night. In contrast, babies often have various sleeping postures. For example, many babies like to sleep on their stomachs, and some do not straighten their legs when sleeping. These phenomena are very common. If the baby often does not sleep lying down, is there any way to correct it?

What should I do if my baby doesn’t sleep flat?

When the baby has this condition, the nurse should not be sleepy. Generally speaking, he just needs to develop good sleeping habits. It is basically unexpected, so there is no need to worry too much. You just need to pay attention to the baby's care. There is no need to worry too much.

This is the sleeping habit of each baby. If the baby can turn over by himself, generally speaking, you don’t need to pay special attention to it. Just sleep however you want and be comfortable. If the baby cannot turn over by himself, it is best for him to sleep on his back and just adjust the posture after falling asleep. Things will gradually get better as you grow older.

There are three sleeping positions for newborns: supine, side-lying and prone. Here are some detailed explanations:

1. Supine

Sleeping on your back helps your baby's facial features develop properly and symmetrically, relaxes the muscles, and does not cause pressure on the heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, bladder and other organs. It also allows parents to directly observe the baby's facial condition while sleeping and feel the changes in their child as he grows day by day.

However, it is generally best not to place a newborn baby in a supine position immediately after feeding, as this can easily cause the baby to spit up milk, causing the milk to flow down the cheek into the ear and induce otitis media. The correct way to do it is: after feeding, pick up the baby first, let him lean upright on your shoulder, and pat his back gently until the baby burps, and then let him sleep on his side.

2. Side lying

There are two types of side sleeping: left side sleeping and right side sleeping. For babies, sleeping on the right side also increases swallowing movements during sleep, promotes the drainage of mucus in the middle ear, reduces the chance of bacteria retention, reduces the risk of infection, and thus avoids the occurrence of otitis media.

The disadvantage is that it is not easy for babies with short arms and legs to maintain this posture for a long time. In addition, sleeping on your side in the same direction for a long time may cause the left and right sides of your head and face to become asymmetrical in size.

3. Prone position

Prone position is beneficial for shaping the head and facial contours, but it can easily block the baby's nose and mouth, causing the risk of suffocation. And this sleeping position is the most direct cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

But in fact, a newborn baby has the ability to defend itself. When lying face down on one side, he will instinctively expose his mouth and nose and breathe comfortably. Sleeping on his stomach helps the growth and development of the chest and lungs.