The best position to sleep the baby
What is the best position for my baby to sleep? It is a very frequent question among mothers in pediatric consultations, and one of the main recommendations of pediatricians in the first visits of the baby. In 1992 the American Pediatric Association carried out an outreach campaign known as "Back to
What is the best position for my baby to sleep? It is a very frequent question among mothers in pediatric consultations, and one of the main recommendations of pediatricians in the first visits of the baby.
In 1992 the American Pediatric Association carried out an outreach campaign known as "Back to sleep", recommending placing the baby on his back to sleep lo, which clearly prevented the Sudden Infant Death. As a result, according to some studies, mortality was reduced by up to 40%, which made the campaign a success, and the recommendation is fully accepted and disseminated among pediatricians.Baby postural plagiocephaly
Placing the baby face up
has resulted in an increase in cranial deformities known as postural plagiocephaly, which has become a concern among moms. The sutures (tissue that joins the bones of the skull) are open, unlike other pathologies such as craniosynostosis (early and abnormal closure of cranial sutures), more serious and complex.The pediatrician must rule out associated pathology, such as torticollis or neurological alterations that may cause the child to always look on the same side. In some cases they require rehabilitation exercises.
There is no scientific evidence that currently shows that postural plagiocephaly produces other alterations than the
cranial and / or facial deformity , that is, it is a rather aesthetic issue, but sometimes it can be so striking that it requires treatment .There are protocols such as the Hospital Infantil 12 de Octubre in Madrid, to channel this pathology and coordinate the actions of the main specialists involved: pediatricians, rehabilitators and pediatric neurosurgeons.
Recommendations to avoid cranial deformity
To avoid deformity, postural changes in the bed should be encouraged, and to improve the already established ones, simple measures can be taken: Pon - Put toys on the opposite side to the plane, so that the head.
- Place the crib in such a way that the child is stimulated and speaks from the opposite side to the flattened. They usually look at the parents' bed, so they can change the direction in which the baby is placed, that is, the head of the crib, so that each time he or she lies on one side.
- Allow the baby to play on his tummy for the first 3-4 months, provided he is awake and in the presence of the parents, to strengthen the cervical muscles.
When these measures are not enough, the option of a
cranial orthosis
that is, the helmet, which must be applied after 5 months must be considered. There are many colors and designs. They are used for about 22-23 hours a day to be effective, and the results are so good that it's worth the effort. Specialized orthopedics should always be consulted on these topics.
