Study: Back-Sleeping Not Harmful To Infants
Infants Who Sleep On Back At Lower Risk For Ear Infection
POSTED: 4:55 p.m. EDT May 12, 2003
UPDATED: 6:01 p.m. EDT May 12, 2003
CHICAGO -- A study found that putting babies to bed on their backs to help prevent sudden infant death syndrome does not lead to other health problems.
Researchers from the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research looked at data on more than 3,700 babies. They found that babies who slept on their backs had no more problems than did babies who slept on their bellies. They also found that babies who slept on their backs had fewer fevers, stuffy noses, and ear infections, or otitis media.
The researchers are not sure why back-sleepers had fewer symptoms than stomach-sleepers. One possibility is that stomach-sleepers have higher mouth and throat temperatures than do back sleepers. These higher temperatures may encourage the growth of bacteria involved in colds and ear infections.
Some parents have felt that back-sleeping might leave babies choking on their own vomit if the babies threw up. Others believe that infants sleep better on their stomachs. But many studies have found that placing babies on their backs reduces the risk of SIDS.
"The research showing that putting infants on their backs to sleep is saving lives is now revealing an outstanding additional benefit, the reduction of otitis media in infants," said Dr. James F. Battey Jr., director of the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders.
The study is published in this week's issue of the journal Archives Of Pediatrics and
Adolescent Medicine and was funded by the NIDCD and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Researchers from the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research looked at data on more than 3,700 babies. They found that babies who slept on their backs had no more problems than did babies who slept on their bellies. They also found that babies who slept on their backs had fewer fevers, stuffy noses, and ear infections, or otitis media.
The researchers are not sure why back-sleepers had fewer symptoms than stomach-sleepers. One possibility is that stomach-sleepers have higher mouth and throat temperatures than do back sleepers. These higher temperatures may encourage the growth of bacteria involved in colds and ear infections.
Some parents have felt that back-sleeping might leave babies choking on their own vomit if the babies threw up. Others believe that infants sleep better on their stomachs. But many studies have found that placing babies on their backs reduces the risk of SIDS.
"The research showing that putting infants on their backs to sleep is saving lives is now revealing an outstanding additional benefit, the reduction of otitis media in infants," said Dr. James F. Battey Jr., director of the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders.
The study is published in this week's issue of the journal Archives Of Pediatrics and
Adolescent Medicine and was funded by the NIDCD and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Copyright 2003 by Lifewhile.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
