A few days ago, I met with a lovely mother of a three month old baby. She told me that she had never laid her baby on his side and did not know that it was important. Indeed, we hear a lot about the importance of “tummy time”, and we put our babies to sleep on their backs for their safety, but lying on the sides is an issue that many parents have no awareness of.
What are the benefits of lying on the side?
When babies are lying on their side, they bend one side and extend their muscles on the other side. an ability that they must acquire in order to roll over and then crawl on their stomach.
When lying on the side, the chest is loose, relaxed and sunken, which increases flexibility in this area. This helps especially for babies with stiff and constricted chests. This relaxation is especially significant for babies with stomach aches and colic.
Lying on their side, the babies bring their hands to the middle line. They can put their fingers in their mouth, explore them and the toys in their surroundings. with this position they also learn to place their arms in the right place for tummy time, with their elbows placed underneath the shoulders.
Lying on the side improves tummy time and makes it easier to linger in. For babies who do not know how to lay down their head on the mattress when they are in tummy time, I will recommend it even more.
Lying on their side, the baby is less exposed and feels less vulnerable, there are less stimulations, the baby is in their shell and can find peace. This especially recommended for babies with a very present Moro reflex.
Lying on the side helps maintain symmetry. For a baby with a side preference (a baby who reaches out only one hand, rolls over only to one side, crawls by leaning on only one arm), lying on the side will allow get to know the side they are less familiar with.
For all these reasons, I recommend you, dear parents, to lay your babies on their sides during the day, whether as part of a joint play (when you lie next to them, sing to them, talk and play with them), or for their daily nap, while you watch over them. Remember to maintain symmetry and lay them on both sides. If while lying on their side the baby stiffens their back and takes the head back, accompany them with touch and pats to a more organized lying position. Start with short periods of time, use a folded blanket or towel to support their back, and when the baby feels more relaxed in the position, gradually extend the time.