In July 1992 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a statement recommending healthy infants under six months of age be placed on their sides or backs for sleeping. The AAP made these recommendations after they reviewed research studies that showed placing babies on their stomach increased the risk of sudden unexpected death (known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS).

While the risk of SIDS is very low for any child who is placed on their stomach, this change could result in a significant decrease in the overall number of SIDS cases. Other important measures to reduce SIDS deaths include avoiding overheating infants and avoiding their exposure to cigarette smoke.

Pediatric health care providers at The University of lowa Hospitals and Clinics have reviewed studies as well as the AAP recommendations, and feel that this is an important public health issue. We advocate positioning healthy infants on their sides or backs for sleeping and recommend that you discuss this important issue with your child's doctor.

Certain medical conditions do exist for which the stomach lying position is appropriate. Again we suggest you consult with your child's doctor about these and other concerns related to this issue.