Maternal and health experts have warned mothers against making babies, especially those less than one year, sleep on their stomachs, noting that such a sleeping position makes the babies more susceptible to suffocation, convulsions and sudden death.

According to the experts, sleeping on the stomach is dangerous for the infant, especially when the baby remains in that position for a long time.

The experts pointed out that putting babies on their stomachs to sleep comes with a lot of health issues, warning that normal breathing may become compromised, especially when the bed surface is too soft or woollen.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with PUNCH HealthWise, a Consultant Paediatrician, Nephrology Division, Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, Katsina State, Dr. Abdurrazzaq Alege, says sleeping on the stomach has been found to be related to various ailments in infants, the major one being Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Other ailments associated with making babies sleep on their stomach, according to him, include breathing difficulty and misshapen head, stressing that as important as the duration of sleep is, so also is the sleeping position and the sleeping space and environment.

Alege explained, “All the problems listed above have been associated mainly with stomach-sleeping for babies. Stomach or tummy sleeping for children less than one year is not good because it can be very stressful for the baby especially when the baby remains in that position for a long time.

“The nostrils may become partially or completely blocked, thereby reducing oxygen supply to the brain.

This may lead to suffocation, convulsions and possibly death.

Although SIDS is not well reported in developing countries like Nigeria, evidence from the developed countries has shown that the incidence of SIDS reduced by 33 per cent when children were placed on their back to sleep.

 “But despite this reduction by sleeping on the back, we still get reports of sudden death in infants in some cases.

“Therefore, other factors still contribute. These include the sleeping environment, especially if the bedding is too soft and the material interferes with breathing.”

The paediatrician noted that it is important first for mothers to understand that most children less than one year cannot easily change position while sleeping.