Pat, when you talk about "back" to sleep and "tummy" to play, many parents do
not think of playing time for babies until they are several weeks old or even
a couple months.  You also said your instructions are that while the baby is
on their tummy and then fall asleep that the parents are to turn them over to
their backs.  Does this mean that parents should not lay their babies on their
chests when in bed?  This is such a natural position for parents and babies
to sleep together but the message you give (and I am not picking on you, but
using your comments as an example to what most if not all parents hear) is that
this is potentially harmful and therefore they should never do it or so afraid
to relax while doing it.
My instructions to parents are: during the day place the baby on their
tummies, on a firm surface, while they are in the same room, especially just after a
feeding.  If the parents leave the room, the baby should be switched to their
backs.  At night baby to be placed on their backs in cribs and other sleeping
areas but they can lay the baby on their chests.  I talk about doing this
starting when the parents go home.
You also commented on how SIDS has gone up in Day Care because babies are
being placed on their tummies.  Do you have some data on this?  I would like to
see this.  I am not advocating returning to the prone position for sleep but I
do not believe that any and all babies placed on their tummies during any
sleep time will have a high percentage of SIDS.  I look at my 2 children, 22 and
20, who are healthy and all children at that time slept on their tummies only.
Daily tummy time, even when asleep, while a parent is with the baby is good
for the baby both for their health and future development.
I did go to the site Karen posted on the head deformities, very sad, but back
to sleep has no negative effects -- right?!
Sorry for the length.
Ann Perry RN IBCLC
Boston, MA




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