This article will show you how a baby sleeps face down on hands and why it’s a good idea for your baby to sleep like this.
The article will also answer some questions about baby sleeping as well as add a few tips of precautions to help make things safer for babies who sleep like this.
This article is for you if you’ve ever wondered why your baby sleeps like this. Things you need to know:
Baby doesn’t have strong neck muscles, so they can’t turn their head over independently. This means babies can’t turn their heads to the side while they sleep.
Therefore, babies who are face down cannot roll onto their tummies while they sleep but can roll onto the backs of their hands, meaning they’re more likely to get a good night’s sleep.
The baby sleeping in this position also allows the baby’s organs to fall back into place. This can prevent blocked intestine problems and help with digestive problems such as reflux and colic.
Babies who sleep face down on their hands are less likely to be awake by stomach cramping, reflux, or constipation.
By putting your baby face down to sleep, you are helping them get a better night’s sleep and making their life run more smoothly and pain-free.
Placing your baby on their hands and sleeping face down is something that many babies do naturally, and you don’t have to force them into doing this.
Why does the baby sleeps face down on hands?
There are the best 7 reasons why your baby might be sleeping face down on their hands, and here are some of them:
1. The baby could be naturally putting itself into this position.
2. The baby could be doing what he sees other babies doing. Babies often copy the things they see in other people, even older babies. Doing so, they might want to sleep like the older children.
3. The baby might have been put into this position by their parents or carer.
4. The baby could sleep like this because of a digestive problem.
5. Some babies have a condition called plagiocephaly, which makes them sleep facing one way.
6. The baby could be holding a teddy bear or toy in their hands as they sleep.
7. Sometimes, babies come into this position when they have a bad dream, but it’s more likely to happen if the baby is on a hard surface, such as a mattress that doesn’t allow for much movement.
Why is it a good idea for a baby to sleep this way?
There are lots of benefits for your baby if they sleep face down on their hands:
1. With the head on your baby’s side, the neck muscles are more relaxed, and the head can turn over to the other side without any strain.
2. Sleeping face down gives your baby a more relaxing position which means they will sleep more easily than if they were on their tummies.
3. Sleeping face down makes your baby’s organs fall back into place, which can help with digestive problems like colic and reflux.
4. Sleeping face down lets the air flow easily through the airways, so your baby doesn’t get blocked or have problems breathing when in their sleep.
5. Sleeping face down helps your baby to be less likely to wake up from stomach cramps or constipation.
6. If the baby is sleeping on their hands and face rather than their tummy, SIDS is reduced.
7. Sleeping face down makes it easier for your baby to settle themselves back into sleep if they wake up in the night because there is no strain on the muscles due to trying to turn over onto their other side, back, or tummy.
Does sleeping with the baby’s face down on hands have bad effects?
No, there are no side effects in this position at all. There is no reason why your baby shouldn’t sleep like this if it makes them feel more comfortable, and the risk of problems is far less than if they were on their tummy.
One thing you should be aware of is that sometimes babies who sleep face down in a bed will make a ‘mewing’ noise because the sheets are squashing their tongues. This is normal, and your baby will get used to it.
Babies might also pull their hair, cough, and sometimes even vomit while sleeping face down. These things are not dangerous but sign that the baby sleeping face down is having trouble.
The problem could be caused by a digestive problem or the airways being blocked by stomach gas, so you should call your doctor.
Can Babies Sleep Face Down on Chest?
Not everyone agrees that this is a good idea, so you should check with a doctor if you want to try this. The reason why it’s not a good idea is because some babies might want to roll over at night, which would be impossible in this position.
You should also ask a doctor before putting your baby face down on the chest. Some babies are better at sleeping like this if they lie with their face down on their chest so that you might be worrying needlessly.
If you’re comfortable with your baby sleeping this way, you can try it out slowly. Try giving your baby a pacifier or any other object to hold when they are in this position, then slowly move their arms and head around into the position so that you can see how comfortable they are in it.
What If Baby Rolls to Stomach While Sleeping?
If your baby rolls over to their tummy while sleeping, it’s not a problem. All you have to do is place them back into the position where they are face down on their hands.
You don’t need to do anything else, but if you think the baby might be uncomfortable or starting to wake up, you can gently ease them into the position they want to be in.
How To Get Baby To Sleep Face Down On Hands?
This is not a difficult thing to do at all. The best way is to lie your baby on the mattress on their back.
1. Place your baby’s arms and head into the position they want to sleep in.
2. Make sure they are comfortable but not too warm by placing a small pillow behind them or under them if you can’t find a small enough pillow to put under their head.
3. If your baby’s eyes are open, gently close them, but don’t force anything.
4. Lay on the mattress with your baby so that you’re face to face with them, or place yourself by their side so that you can see their face and breathe in the sweet smell of their hair.
5. Stay awake for about twenty minutes if you can and slowly drift off asleep.
6. If your baby moves away from the position you found them in, don’t worry about it too much but if they start to squirm around a lot or begin to wake up, gently ease them into the position they fell into.
7. Try not to get too anxious about how your baby is sleeping, as worrying will make this easier for you to do yourself.
How to Stop Baby Sleeping Face Down?
If your baby isn’t sleeping face down, you can encourage them to do so. You should still talk to a doctor if you’re concerned about this.
1. Ask your doctor if they have a sleep study done on your baby. This will determine whether the baby is sleeping face down and whether there are no other problems.
2. Make sure that you’re keeping your baby’s head and hands in the right position during the day, so when it comes to night time you can place them in their favorite sleeping position without any problems.
3. If you’re trying to get your baby to sleep face down, but they have been sleeping on their back for a long time, then try getting them into the sleeping position first thing in the morning, so if they wake up later in the day that’s where they’ll be.
4. Make sure you’re giving your baby a pacifier or some other object to hold when you put them back into their favorite position so that they are happy and don’t move away from it once they’ve gotten used to having it like that.
Conclusion
There are many reasons your baby might sleep face down, which is perfectly normal. You should never be worried about your baby sleeping in any position as long as they are comfortable and doing okay.
If you’re concerned, you should ask a doctor, but if they are breathing, happy, and not complaining, then there’s no need to worry.
I hope you found this guide helpful, please let me know if you do. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to comment below.
