My old good friend Sophie’s baby had been sleeping well until recently when she started a funny habit. Every time she falls asleep, she buries her head in her bassinet before falling asleep. On trying to turn the baby’s head, they return to the same position.
This habit has been worrying Sophie sick. She doesn’t know what it means when a baby buries face when sleeping. Is it normal?
I have compiled possible reasons babies bury their faces when sleeping, the risks, and remedies.
Read on.
Reasons a Baby Buries Face When Sleeping
A baby may bury their face when sleeping due to self-comfort, the desire to feel something covering her face and a need to feel mommy’s scent.
Additionally, some babies breathe better with their noses pressed against the bedding. Burying the face is also a reflexive response in babies signalling the need to breastfeed. It’s for the same reason that babies also enjoy burying their little faces on your chest.
The habit of a baby burying their head when sleeping is normal, but I know it can be shocking to any mother. Relax. Your baby is OK and healthy. It would help if you kept a watchful eye to ensure they sleep comfortably.
Is it Normal For a Baby to Sleep With Their Face Buried?
Yes. Burying the face is a normal habit that most babies outgrow with time. It’s a reflexive response that makes babies snap back to the position a few minutes after flipping them.
It’s not uncommon for mothers to worry about suffocation. Do not panic. Your baby has a natural mechanism that helps them adjust once they feel like running short of air. In most cases, they turn their head to catch some air.
Often, babies relate the pressure they feel when lying on their chest during breastfeeding with comfort. So, when they feel tired, overwhelmed or sleepy, they can bury their tiny heads in anything available. It’s a way of self-soothing, and you have nothing to worry about.
Why Does Baby Bury Face When Sleeping?
Any unusual behaviour from babies can give parents sleepless nights. Weird cries, burrowing, or sleeping habits may leave you in confusion. What if a baby likes to sleep with their face buried?
Some most possible causes of baby sleeping with their head buried are as follows:
1. While Feeling Comfort
Babies love the feeling of something soft and snugly pressed against their faces. This explains why they love stuffed animals in their cribs.
The soft fabric soothes and relaxes their bodies, making it easy for them to fall asleep.
Babies also relate burying faces to the innate comfort that comes with breastfeeding. They bury their face to seek comfort, like pressing the cheek on their mother’s breasts during suckling.
2. Reflexive response for suckling
A baby burying face on the mattress and burrowing its head on your chest may be a way of communication. Burying your face is a reflexive response when your baby feels hungry or tired.
The response may occur while the baby is deeply asleep, making them bury their head as if trying to locate their mommy’s breast.
3. A desire for mommy’s scent
Babies find their mom’s natural scent to be unique and attractive. Aside from bonding, the smell helps in identification. According to Fit Pregnancy Club, a mother’s scent can reduce cortisol levels, stress and anxiety while promoting longer sleep duration in babies.
If you share a bed with your baby, or they could feel some mummy’s scent in their crib, the baby may bury head to enjoy more and more of their mother’s scent. This smell makes babies sleep better for longer.
4. The need for warmth, safety and security
In some instances, babies enjoy the warmth, safety and security of having their faces covered. The fabric on their face creates a safe, warm womb-like environment that babies love.
5. Better breathing under the mattress
Babies can be amazing. They may enjoy sleeping face-down and breathing into the mattress. According to them, they find the position to have free airflow. Watch your baby closely for safety reasons.
Generally, babies love tactile sensations on their bodies. You have nothing to worry about. Suppose you note that your baby likes to bury their face when sleeping. Most of these little ones often look for comforting sensations, especially before sleeping.
However, do not leave your little munchkin unattended, as they may easily suffocate to death. Remember, not all babies under one year can turn their heads when they feel asphyxiated.
The habit will gradually fade towards their fifth birthday. Some experts encourage using baby-safe plush animals, but I recommend consulting your pediatrician before getting one for your little one.
Any Risks of a Baby Burying Face When Sleeping?
While it’s normal to see your baby burying head, there’s a need to take extra caution.
The following are risks that could result from your baby burying their head when asleep:
1. Sudden infant death syndrome (Sids)
SIDS is a major cause of death in newborns and infants. In the U.S alone, 2,300 babies die of SIDS each year. Most of them die suddenly in their sleep. When your little one sleeps with a buried head, they may experience sudden death due to sleep arousal.
2. Suffocation
The face-down sleeping position may interfere with the proper flow of air in a baby’s nose and lungs.
If unwatched, difficulty in breathing may have life-threatening consequences.
Unnecessary clothes, bedding or pillows around your baby’s sleeping area may increase the chances of suffocation.
When a baby sleeps face-down with their head buried in their bedding, they exhale carbon dioxide and inhale it back instead of oxygen. This is another cause of suffocation since there’s no sufficient oxygen supply.
Baby sleeping with the head buried could be problematic. The good news is that they learn to turn their head to prevent suffocation as they age. You only need to watch and care for your baby while they sleep.
Minimizing The Tendency Of Babies Burying Their Head While Sleeping
Burying one’s head when sleeping is a habit. Nevertheless, no parent can sleep soundly knowing their baby sleeps in such a position.
What should you do to reduce this tendency?
1. Get them Snuggling toys
Buy your baby a small soft baby-approved snuggling toy to comfort them as they sleep.
Not all toys are child-friendly. Ask your pediatrician about the best age-appropriate options available.
2. Avoid mattress protectors
Avoid using mattress protectors and other waterproof plastic bedding. Waterproof bedding prevents soaking/leakages, but they may be risky. If your baby buries face on such mattresses, it may easily suffocate.
3. Use breathable blankets, sheets and blankets
Breathable bedding ensures enough air circulation despite the baby lying with their face down. The bedding also keeps them comfortable through the night.
4. Get a customized sleep sack.
Special sleep sacks or swaddles (for newborns) help your baby sleep better and in a comfortable position.
5. Ensure fast sleep
Ensure your baby is fast asleep before placing them in their sleeping area. Most babies bury their heads before sleeping to soothe themselves. Rock your baby to sleep before placing them in their crib to minimize this habit.
6. Check the babe.
Check on your sleeping baby throughout the night.. Don’t tire from waking up countless times to check on your munchkin. Frequent supervision prevents any accidents and allows early intervention in the event there’s an emergency.
7. Improvise two clean rolled-up towels
Roll up two medium-sized towels on each side of your baby’s head. The towels ensure their head remains in a less risky position as your baby naps.
8. Follow the best sleep practices
Ensure you follow the recommended best sleep practices. Follow the recommended sleep practices to keep your baby free from sleep-related hazards. The CDC recommends:
- Babies should sleep on their backs.
- The use of a firm mattress as compared to fluffy, springy ones.
- Creating a specialized baby’s sleeping area, such as a crib.
- Using soft, breathable sheets and blankets.
Parenting isn’t for the faint-hearted. It’s full of trial and error, but eventually, you’ll get over the challenges. With patience and hard work, babies/children can easily train out of unusual habits.
If the little one insists on burying their head. It’s OK. Ensure they breathe freely while in that position, and try adjusting them when necessary.
Wrapping Up
Babies are cute when asleep, but there’s nothing funny when a baby buries face when sleeping.
With questions like, “why do babies cover their faces when sleeping?” Here are a few points to note.
It’s normal for your little one to sleep with their face buried in their bedding. However, watch them to avoid accidents. Face-burying is a way of self-soothing.
The desire to feel their mother’s scent, a need for comfort, warmth and security, and the reflexive response to hunger are possible reasons for this habit.
Using a sleeping sack, folded towels, and observing safe sleep practices are ways to minimize face-burying. If you have any concerns, talk to your healthcare provider.
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