Dr. Spock
Doctor Benjamin Spock lives on, through his vast knowledge of babies and children, his countless books on how to take care of babies, children and teenagers are still very popular. Issues on SIDS, Montessori Schools, and child discipline are issues that the world still continue to do studies on and debate on till this day.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a big issue among parents and pediatricians, continuous debates go on between parents and pediatricians, if babies should be put on their stomach to sleep or on their backs. When Babies are put on their stomach to sleep, the babies sleep soundly and get startled less. So for parents that haven’t gotten sleep for days they tend to choose to put babies in this position because, finally they get to get some sleep. Parents do this of course taking precaution, buy not smoking keeping baby close by while sleeping and by breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics AAP recommends that babies should only be put on their stomachs during what they call “tummy time” while the child is up, alert and playing. The AAP also recommends to reduce the risk of SIDS parents should “Use a firm mattress (avoid soft bedding) Not letting your baby sleep in your bed. Breastfeeding your baby, if possible. Protecting your infant from exposure to cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoke. Running a fan in your baby’s room at night to improve air circulation” (“Sleep”). The AAP only recommends baby to be put on their stomach only if the pediatrician recommends it or if “Infants with complications of severe spitting up (reflux)” (Children).
The other disadvantage to putting baby to sleep on its back is that they can develop “plagiocephaly” a flattened head. Dr. Spock didn’t recommend it, he said that it was “more comfortable with colic babies the pressure on the abdomen relieves the gas pain, and if they vomit they’re less likely to choke on their vomitus” (Spock and Rothenberg 210). He also opposed it, because “babies tend to
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a big issue among parents and pediatricians, continuous debates go on between parents and pediatricians, if babies should be put on their stomach to sleep or on their backs. When Babies are put on their stomach to sleep, the babies sleep soundly and get startled less. So for parents that haven’t gotten sleep for days they tend to choose to put babies in this position because, finally they get to get some sleep. Parents do this of course taking precaution, buy not smoking keeping baby close by while sleeping and by breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics AAP recommends that babies should only be put on their stomachs during what they call “tummy time” while the child is up, alert and playing. The AAP also recommends to reduce the risk of SIDS parents should “Use a firm mattress (avoid soft bedding) Not letting your baby sleep in your bed. Breastfeeding your baby, if possible. Protecting your infant from exposure to cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoke. Running a fan in your baby’s room at night to improve air circulation” (“Sleep”). The AAP only recommends baby to be put on their stomach only if the pediatrician recommends it or if “Infants with complications of severe spitting up (reflux)” (Children).
The other disadvantage to putting baby to sleep on its back is that they can develop “plagiocephaly” a flattened head. Dr. Spock didn’t recommend it, he said that it was “more comfortable with colic babies the pressure on the abdomen relieves the gas pain, and if they vomit they’re less likely to choke on their vomitus” (Spock and Rothenberg 210). He also opposed it, because “babies tend to