Is it okay for a baby to always sleep on their side?
May 10, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Ma Yan
Introduction
Since the lower esophageal sphincter in infants has not yet fully developed, sleeping on their side can help prevent milk from flowing back and being accidentally aspirated into the airway, thus avoiding aspiration pneumonia. However, consistently sleeping on one side may lead to frequent pressure on the ear, causing deformation, facial asymmetry (uneven face size), and skull deformities. It may also affect the conduction function between the left and right brain hemispheres, which is unfavorable for overall physical development.
Letting a baby sleep on their side has both benefits and drawbacks. The specific analysis is as follows:
1. Benefits
Since the upper esophageal sphincter (at the top of the stomach) in infants has not fully developed, milk may leak from the corners of the mouth during nighttime feeding. Sleeping on the side can prevent milk from flowing back into the airway, reducing the risk of aspiration and aspiration pneumonia.
2. Drawbacks
If a baby consistently sleeps on one side for prolonged periods, it may lead to deformation of the ear shape due to constant pressure, cause facial asymmetry (uneven face size), and potentially result in skull deformities. This could affect neural conduction between the left and right brain hemispheres and negatively impact overall physical development.
It's recommended that babies alternate between different sleeping positions—supine (on the back), left-side lying, and right-side lying—to help shape the head properly during sleep.
