Sleeping position

[bren1888]

My wife and I have been getting mixed messages about the best way to position or 10 day old in her basinette. We have read in so many different publications that on her back is the safest position for sleeping. However when we were in the hospital following delivery we noticed that most of the babies in the nursery were placed on their sides when sleeping. We asked the nurses about it and they said both back and side are good but that sleeping on the side helped minimize the risk from choking - so that got us to wondering why all the advice to sleep your baby on its back if the side is better.

All discussions about sleeping positions seem to focus on Tummy versus back with no mention of sleeping on the side as being an option.

Can you shed any light on this ? We now don't know whether we should have our little girl in her side or her back ?

Bren1888

[auzziekat]

Hi,
I always put my babies on their sides because of flat head syndrome, that is where the back of the head becomes flat from sleeping on it all the time!! Yes back is ok but side does minimise the risk of choking and also it is just more comfortable for them!! The debate was started by a slogan a few years ago Back to Sleep!!! So babies were not being put to sleep on their tummy's any more because of the risk of Sids!!! Although the bottom line is don't put your baby to sleep on his/her tummy, it's your decision whether to put your baby to sleep on his/her side or back, but remember if you put your baby to sleep on his/her side to switch sides every time .. My recommendation is side sleeping!!

Hope this helps!!

Auzziekat

[bren1888]

Thank you for the feedback - it is much appreciated.