IS SLEEPING ON THE SIDE SAFE FOR BABIES?

Can a baby sleep on one side? No- sleeping on the side is not a safe option for children, as it can directly lead to a number of health conditions in the child.
 

1. Harlequin Colour Change
 

In this condition, the side which the baby is asleep on changes colour to pink or red, while the other half remains unaffected. There is always a clear demarcating line that runs through the centre of the body of the child, with either side coloured markedly different. The sleeping side will be a bright pink or red, while the other side will be normal. This occurs when the child sleeps on his side for hours. However, it is to be noted that even though it may look alarming, this condition does not have any ill-effects on the child. The condition is a benign one, and the colours fade away in a matter of minutes after switching the side of the baby. This condition is thought to occur due to gravity affecting the blood flow in the immature blood vessels of the child, causing accumulation of red blood cells near the skin. 
 

2. Flatheads
 

At a young age, the skull of the child is soft and malleable. This allows the brain to grow and expand, and the skull expands at the same rate too. Flatheads occur when pressure builds up at some point of the skull, causing it to go concave or flatten, or even sink inwards. This can happen if the child is placed in the same position repeatedly so that the contact area on the head is the same. Flatheads can occur in children even if the child has been sleeping straight, but his head was turned to the side. The improper shape of the skull may result in the brain being unable to expand, leading to stunted brain growth.

 

3. Torticollis
 

Torticollis is characterised by the abnormal tilting of the neck of the child in one direction, due to the severe shortening of sternocleidomastoid muscle that connects the lateral side of the head to the clavicle. Since the muscles of the child are still tender and growing, they may be affected and shorten due to the repeated sleeping on the side or even turning of the head.

 

4. Risk of Choking
 

Torsion is created in the windpipe, which makes breathing difficult for the child. In some cases, regurgitated food can get accumulated near the tracheal opening, and this results in another choking hazard. Tummy sleeping is more likely when the baby sleeps on his side, and this can increase the risk of SIDS.