The correct position for infants to sleep on their sides is to place a soft pillow on the back while placing the baby’s hands in front of the body.
As infants are not well developed, they cannot sleep on their sides by themselves and need external help to sleep on their sides, so they need to be supported on their backs. The reason for placing the baby’s hands in front of the body is that it is easier for him to adjust his position unconsciously into a supine rather than a prone position.
Babies’ stomachs are in a horizontal position and they tend to spill milk after feeding, and in severe cases, they can aspirate milk into the trachea and suffocate. Therefore, it is recommended that babies sleep on their right side after feeding, which can reduce the occurrence of milk spillage, and also reduce the pressure on the heart, which is conducive to gastrointestinal digestion and absorption.
No matter which sleeping position, parents must pay attention to not cover the baby’s mouth and nose to avoid accidents.