Why My Baby Sleeps With Face In Mattress?

ByWinters Hours Updated:

baby sleep with face in mattress

It’s bedtime. You put your baby to sleep on their back as you’ve probably been told is best. But somehow, they manage to roll over and lie, not just on their tummy, but with their face pressed into the mattress! As distressing as this might seem, there is no cause for alarm just yet.

Many parents struggle with the problem of their babies sleeping face-down. Getting your baby to sleep in the proper position cannot be overemphasized.

It gives you peace of mind and you can get the rest you need knowing your baby is safe and comfortable. In this article, we’ll look at possible reasons why babies sleep face down. What to do when this happens and useful tips to help your baby sleep safely.

Recommended Sleeping Position for Babies

Safe sleep conditions are important to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Also known as crib death, SIDS-Related deaths usually occur while babies are asleep. It is the most common cause of sudden death in children between the age of one month and one year.

It often occurs between two and four months of age. An estimated 1,300 babies died as a result of SIDS in the U.S. in 2018 alone. The exact cause of SIDS is unknown, but it has many risk factors. The most critical risk factor is when infants (babies under one year) sleep on their stomachs or on their sides.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), safe sleep recommendations include placing the baby on a flat and firm surface on the back in a crib or bassinet without any additional pillows, blankets, bedding, or toys. Babies should be put to sleep in their own beds (cribs), not a shared bed, but should however be in a shared room.

These safe sleep practices should be applied to all sleep times, whether short daytime naps or overnight. They also apply to all babies under one year. However, after the first year of life, the risk of SIDS reduces dramatically.

Why do Babies Sleep Face Down?

baby sleep with face down

As babies grow older, they tend to roll over naturally, by themselves into a tummy sleeping position. Ironically, babies seem to sleep better in the tummy sleeping position. They enter long periods of deep sleep and do not easily startle or react to noise. They also find this position soothing because the stomach position activates a calming mechanism in babies that are up to 3 months of life.

However, in this position, they are at risk of upper airway obstruction due to carbon dioxide buildup and oxygen loss. Also, the deep, uninterrupted phase of sleep can be unsafe for babies because they have sudden decreases in blood pressure and heart rate. So, it is preferable for babies to be in a lighter phase of sleep more frequently than the deep, uninterrupted sleep cycle.

Although the tummy sleep position is associated with a high risk of SIDS. Research studies have found that the more a baby sleeps in the face-down position, the less likely they are to have SIDS. This is because tummy sleeping allows babies to learn how to move their heads when they are unable to breathe well or when oxygen is low.

What to Do When Baby Sleeps Face Down

baby sleeps face down

Once your baby is sleeping face-down or in a tummy sleeping position, gently turn them over and place them on their backs. It is recommended to continue doing this until the age of one. At this age, or even earlier (from four to six months), they are able to roll over both ways naturally from tummy to back and back to tummy.

Once they are able to do this, it is safe to allow them to sleep in their preferred position. Having to constantly check on your baby to ensure they are in the right sleeping position can be exhausting, especially at night.

Some parents find using technology such as a movement baby monitor under the crib mattress helpful. The device helps to monitor your baby’s sleeping position so you can relax better.

Useful Tips to Help Babies Sleep Safely

  • If your baby won’t go to sleep unless they are on its tummy or in the face-down position, try swaddling. Swaddling prevents babies from rolling over or startling themselves awake by keeping them wrapped safely in a position similar to the coziness of the womb. But, be careful to avoid overheating and hip problems by not wrapping the baby too tightly and avoid swaddling in warm weather. Remember to stop swaddling as soon as the baby can roll over.
  • Ensure your baby sleeps in the same room as you in the first year of life, although not in the same bed. Sharing a bed with your baby increases their risk of SIDS because you could easily roll over onto them or they could snuggle too close and become suffocating.
  • Breastfeed your baby, if possible
  • Use a pacifier
  • Look out for signs of overheating – quick breathing, flushed skin, and sweating
  • Avoid sleep positioners and wedges which are padded risers used to keep the baby’s head and body in place. The Food and Drug Administration advises against them as they can increase the risk of SIDS.
  • Practice making your baby comfortable on their back by rocking them to sleep while on their back before putting them to bed. This way, you can train your baby to be comfortable in the back-sleeping position.
  • Use a firm mattress. Soft mattresses increase the risk of SIDS because the baby can easily sink their face into the material and be unable to lift their head up.
  • Avoid placing soft toys, stuffed animals or plush items in your baby’s crib as this increases the risk of suffocation. They can easily find their airway blocked by any of these items, particularly if they are unable to move their head to breathe better.
  • Try to check on your baby regularly while they are asleep to ensure they are in the proper sleeping position.

Conclusion:

It is important to ensure your baby sleeps in the safest position possible. This means avoiding tummy or face-down sleeping positions and ensuring they are on their back.

Swaddling can help keep them in this position but should be stopped as soon as they can roll over. Additionally, it is important to use a firm mattress and avoid sleep positioners or wedges, and soft toys.

Reference:

Wells D. (2020). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/sudden-infant-death-syndrome

Frost A. (2020). When can babies sleep on their stomachs safely? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/baby/baby-sleeping-on-stomach?utm_source=ReadNext#how-long-to-follow-guidelines