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Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2007;92:F331-F332 doi:10.1136/adc.2006.113720
  • Sleeping positions of preterm infants
    • Perspective

Placing preterm infants for sleep: first prone, then supine

  1. Christian F Poets,
  2. Anette von Bodman
  1. Department of Neonatology, University Hospital
    Tübingen, Germany
  1. Professor Christian F Poets, Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Calwerstr 7, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; christian-f.poets{at}med.uni-tuebingen.de

    Perspective on the paper by Kassim et al (see page 347)

    Supine sleeping is recommended to prevent the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In preterm and/or low birthweight infants in particular, prone or side sleeping is associated with an increased risk of SIDS with an odds ratio of between 37 (side position) and 140 (prone position) compared with term infants sleeping on their back. This risk is multiplicative to the individual risks associated with either prematurity or the prone/side position.1 2

    These epidemiological data contrast with the fact that infants who are born prematurely exhibit less apnoea and intermittent hypoxia, have better thoracoabdominal synchrony, higher lung volumes and better oxygenation when nursed in the prone position, which is particularly true for …

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