Is there a risk of choking when my baby sleeps on his or her back?
Many mothers worry that babies sleeping on their backs will choke if they spit up or vomit while sleeping.
Because babies automatically swallow or cough up such fluid, doctors have found no increase in choking or other problems in babies sleeping on their backs.
What about side sleeping?
To keep your baby safest when he or she is sleeping, use the back sleep position rather than the side position. Even though the side position is safer than sleeping on the stomach, babies who sleep on their sides can roll onto their stomachs. A baby sleeping on his or her stomach is at greater risk of SIDS. If you choose to place your baby on his or her side to sleep, make sure the lower arm is in front of the baby to help stop him or her from rolling onto the stomach.
Some products are designed to keep the baby in a certain position during sleep. But there is no proof that using any such product lowers the risk of SIDS.
Some babies have health problems that call for them to sleep on their stomachs. If your baby was born with a birth defect, spits up often after eating, or has a breathing, lung, or heart problem, you should talk to your doctor about the best sleep position for your baby.