How to Position a Sleeping Preemie Baby

Do you have a preemie baby? If so, did you know that premature babies are the most at risk for respiratory illnesses such as RSV (Respiratory Synaptic Virus), Pneumonia, and Obstructive Airway Disease? Knowing how to correctly position a sleeping preemie baby so that the maximum amount of air gets to the lungs is crucial. Preemies are also more susceptible to colds due to the premature development of their lungs and airways. Proper positioning can help relieve cold symptoms and reduce the risk of complications from prematurity and, ultimately, give immature breathing systems an increased chance to mature.

Things You'll Need

• Sleep positioner or Boppy pillow, swaddle blanket, crib, port-a-crib or bassinet

Instructions

Proper positioning is crucial

1. Make sure that the bedding in your baby's bed is secure, meaning tucked under the corners of the bed. In the hospital, nurses usually swaddle the baby and then put it in a bed with some kind of border around the baby to restrict movement. This is done so that the baby will feel safe, secure and tightly packed, just like the womb environment. All bedding should be secure.

2. Border the baby with either a Boppy pillow or two car-seat headrests. To use the Boppy pillow, place the baby inside it and make sure the baby is far enough up so that it won't slip down and get smothered in the pillow. Boppy pillows have a tag that says you shouldn't use them for sleeping, but some recommend using them until the baby begins to scoot and roll over when not asleep. This would indicate a range of movement greater than you would want with a sleeping baby in a Boppy pillow. To use the two headrests as a border, place one so that the baby's head is inside the "U" shape and the other so that the baby's feet are inside the "U" shape.

3. Purchase a sleep positioner (if you decide to use it instead of a Boppy pillow) that elevates the baby's head. However, make sure not to choose one that has elevated sides. Babies have been known to roll off of this kind and suffocate. Place a swaddled baby inside the positioner so that its head is elevated but all other parts of the body are contained to restrict movement. Several sleep positioners are available in stores today, but the best are those that keep baby snug, contained and elevated.

4. Swaddle your baby with a thin blanket. Some swaddle blankets have velcro, but they are usually made for full-term babies. Make sure that you swaddle your baby by folding the top corner of the blanket down, placing the baby on top, wrapping the feet up close to the body, then the sides of the blanket tightly around each other. This way, you have a custom made swaddle for your baby.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that you place your baby in a secure and elevated posture. Never disobey or ignore the warning tags on products. If you think the baby's range of motion is too great and the article could be hazardous, do not use it.