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 Ask Dr. Jana
Infant Sleeping on Mother's Chest | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Jana,
Is it safe and practical to allow your baby to sleep on the mother's chest/stomach? If so, until what age?— Curious in California | | | ANSWER |
May 10, 2001 | | | Dear Curious,
I have to say that when it comes to having a baby sleep on a mother's chest, safe and practical are two different questions.
I think that it is perfectly fine for a mother to allow her baby to occasionally sleep on her chest but would offer several additional caveats. The first is that it is probably not a wise idea to do so when you, too, are sleeping. Not only is it unsafe--as your baby could easily roll off of your chest--but you are probably going to find that you're not well rested if you have to stay perfectly still and constantly worry about your baby's safety.
The other comment I have has to do with infant sleep habits in general. If a baby becomes accustomed to only falling asleep on someone's chest then this can become a dependency, and the baby may soon be unable to fall asleep anywhere else. I generally recommend that parents work toward a goal of getting their infant to fall asleep independently--that is, in the crib without needing to be fed, rocked, or held--by around four months of age.
With these things in mind, I will also tell you that each baby is different and that some go to sleep willingly--anytime, anywhere. Others are sensitive to any change in their routine, and one afternoon spent napping on mom's chest may be enough to set them right back into their old sleep problems. While the safety issue is not trivial, the rest of how you handle this is purely up to you.— by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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