Study: Baby Sleeps Best On Back
There's new evidence that putting babies to sleep on their backs is the safest position for the infants.
For a long time, the medical community have known putting babies to bed on their backs reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Now, The Early Show medical correspondent Emily Senay explains, a new study found that a baby sleeping on his back may suffer less frequently from ear infections and other common ailments.
The new study from Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine indicates that the benefits of back sleeping may reduce the risk of other illnesses, too.
Researchers asked mothers of almost 4,000 babies which position they put their child to sleep in, and whether their babies suffered from common symptoms, such as coughing, stuffy nose, fever, vomiting or problems sleeping or breathing.
They found that babies who sleep on their backs are less prone to ear infections, and less likely to develop fever or a stuffy nose than those who slept on their stomachs or sides.
Dr. Senay says this is great news, especially when it comes to ear infections, which are very common and can be very uncomfortable. She says any method to avoid them is going to be very helpful.
Ear infections are widely treated with antibiotics, which many believe contribute to the problem of antibiotic resistant germs.
The study also found babies who slept on their backs were less likely to get any common symptoms of illness, and they were less likely to go to the doctor.
The researchers did not find any ill effects from back sleeping at all. So this should provide extra incentive to get with the program for any parents who are still not getting the message about SIDS and sleeping position, according to Dr. Senay.
Education campaigns about the importance of back sleeping have made parents more aware and reduced the incidence of SIDS by more than 40 percent. Unfortunately, says Dr. Senay, some people still have reservations about placing infants to sleep on their backs.
Some have said because they fear that babies sleeping on the back might increase the likelihood of choking on vomit. But the new study did not show any relationship between choking and back sleeping. In fact, says Dr. Senay, they found that children had less trouble sleeping on their backs than on their stomachs.
Researchers don't know the reason that back sleeping seems to be beneficial for babies, but they have a theory that stomach sleeping leads to a higher mouth and throat temperature, which might encourage the growth of bacteria that cause ear infections and other illnesses.