Is it good or bad for babies to sleep on their stomachs?

After having a baby, perhaps most of the parents' thoughts will be on the baby all the time. After 6 to 7 months, some babies may be able to turn over freely when sleeping and sleep on their stomach. We must have all heard that sleeping on your stomach is bad for the body, so is it good or bad for babies to sleep on their stomachs?

According to experts, this is actually a good situation. There are many benefits for babies to sleep on their stomachs:

Improves Sleep Quality:

Foreign scientists once conducted a study on the sleeping postures of 80 healthy babies. Of these, 40 babies usually slept on their stomachs, and the other 40 usually slept on their backs. The results showed that babies who slept on their stomachs slept longer, had higher-quality non-rapid eye movement sleep, and had fewer and shorter awakenings. It can be seen that sleeping on one's stomach helps healthy babies sleep. This may be related to the reduction in external stimuli, such as sound and light, that the body receives when sleeping on one's stomach.

Improve breathing efficiency:

From the perspective of human physiology and anatomy, the thorax and posterior part of the lungs of infants are longer. When infants lie prone, their lungs are least squeezed and their breathing is most in line with natural laws. Data show that when babies sleep on their stomachs, their breathing efficiency is higher, and the oxygen content in hemoglobin increases by 5% to 10% compared to when they sleep on their backs. This shows that there is anatomical and physiological rationality for babies to sleep on their stomachs.

To prevent vomiting:

The capacity of a baby's stomach is very small, the curvature is not enough, and the contraction force of the cardia is weak, so it is very common for babies to spit up milk. The cardia is close to the middle of the stomach. When the human body lies prone, the cardia is raised to prevent vomiting. Even if vomiting occurs at this time, because the baby is facing downwards, he or she will not suffocate due to vomitus being inhaled into the trachea.

Strengthen your body:

When a child sleeps on his stomach, the chest cavity is compressed and the reaction force of the bed can promote the development of the heart and lungs. Babies can lift their heads at 2 months old. As their limbs develop, they begin to move their limbs independently and at will. Sleeping on your stomach is more conducive to physical exercise. From simply raising your head to supporting your head with your wrists, you can strengthen the muscles of your wrists, arms, neck and back. At the same time, children can cultivate an independent and self-reliant spirit by doing various things within their capabilities through their own efforts from an early age.

So, if your baby sleeps on his stomach, it proves that the little one is very strong, which is beneficial to both the body and mind. He can turn over by himself, so he adopts this posture. There are many benefits to sleeping on your stomach, so parents don’t need to worry too much. But it should be noted that the baby's pillow and quilt should be as soft as possible, while the bed and mattress need to be slightly harder.