Grandparents, friends, and society flood parents with well-meaning advice, but how can Mom and Dad be sure they are receiving accurate information? With help from Dr. Andrew Adesman and his book "Baby Facts", we separate baby myths from reality.
| 1. MYTH – It’s OK for baby’s to sleep on their side. TRUTH - In 1992, the AAP recommended both the side and the back sleeping position to reduce the risk of SIDS. In 1996, however, after reviewing data from various new studies, they revised their recommendation to back sleeping as the only safe sleep position for babies. These reports indicated that the risk for SIDS is greater for babies placed on their sides versus those placed on their backs, perhaps because babies placed on their sides have a higher likelihood of rolling onto their tummies. In 2005, the AAP began recommending against side sleep position for babies. |  Photo: Dept of Human Health Services/NIH |
| 2. MYTH – Swaddling is and outdated method for comforting a baby. TRUTH – Some experts feel that swaddling in the early weeks can help newborns sleep more comfortably on their backs. This can help minimize the startle reflex and ease colic symptoms in some babies. If you choose to swaddle, take time to learn how to swaddle properly before you leave the hospital. Take care not to swaddle too loosely, as the blanket can come loose and accidently suffocate your baby. Take care not to swaddle too tightly as this can compress your baby’s chest and make it difficult to breathe. Tight swaddling can also cause problems with your baby’s hips and legs. Once your baby starts to wiggle around during sleep, it is probably time to stop swaddling. |
3. MYTH – if my baby is on their back and spits up they will choke.
TRUTH - Many parents place babies on their stomachs to sleep because they think it prevents them from choking on spit-up or vomit during sleep. In fact, the opposite is true – babies are less likely to choke when sleeping on their backs. When babies sleep on their back, the esophagus (food pipe) is below the trachea (wind pipe.) As a result, the spit-up or vomit cannot be breathed into the wind pipe. When a baby sleeps on his stomach, the food pipe is above the wind pipe. Gravity would then allow for the spit-up/vomit to be breathed in, causing the baby to choke. Since babies have been sleeping on their backs, studies worldwide have not found any increase in the incidence of aspiration, choking, pneumonia or other problems. (The image below shows the orientation of the esophagus to the trachea for both positions of your baby.)
TRUTH - Many parents place babies on their stomachs to sleep because they think it prevents them from choking on spit-up or vomit during sleep. In fact, the opposite is true – babies are less likely to choke when sleeping on their backs. When babies sleep on their back, the esophagus (food pipe) is below the trachea (wind pipe.) As a result, the spit-up or vomit cannot be breathed into the wind pipe. When a baby sleeps on his stomach, the food pipe is above the wind pipe. Gravity would then allow for the spit-up/vomit to be breathed in, causing the baby to choke. Since babies have been sleeping on their backs, studies worldwide have not found any increase in the incidence of aspiration, choking, pneumonia or other problems. (The image below shows the orientation of the esophagus to the trachea for both positions of your baby.)
 Image from National Institutes of Health |
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