Babies don't choke on their sick

[Newnaime]

I've recently had a baby. He was born very mucusy and was bringing this up for a few days, especially when laid down. When talking to a Midwife about how I make a point of laying him on his side (Muslin rolled up behind his back but blanket tucking him in/holding him in place) as I worry he'd choke while I'm asleep, she told me "babies don't choke on their sick" and not to worry so much.
AIBU to think that's irresponsible advice?
This is my second child so I don't worry over the little things that experience has taught me but things like safe sleeping and being aware of how to lay a baby that's prone to being sick when laying down seem pretty important. For a new/first time Mum that might not know little things like laying them on their side or elevating the head end of their crib that could be very dangerous advice, don't you think?

[user1493413286]

Do you know that babies do choke on their sick?
I had a very refluxy baby and she always turned her head to the side to bring milk up so her shoulder and sheet at the side would be wet but she never sicked up down her front.
I’ve also never heard of babies choking on their own sick and something bad happening although I’m prepared to be corrected on that.

[OwlinaTree]

The safe sleep advice is to lay babies down on their backs and not to elevate the crib. I would imagine the research that went into that advice has considered the fact that babies are often sick.

[sueelleker]

Well, adults can-that's why you put them in the recovery position. I should think babies would be worse.

[OwlinaTree]

I don't know if you are right or wrong, but that's what I would think.

[Janleverton]

Dc3 was spectacularly sicky as a baby but never choked even when lying on his back.

[OwlinaTree]

The recovery position is for unconscious people though, not people who are asleep.

[childmindingmumof3]

People used to lay babies on their front or side because they were worried about them choking on sick but that caused higher cot deaths.
I think that is where the midwife is coming from - 'back to sleep' is safest.

[IanRushesInadequateFlushes]

I thought that was there was a projectile element to baby sick, so that they don't choke on it? I'm sure I read that somewhere...

[NerrSnerr]

I would worry more about having the muslin propping the baby up as the safer sleep advice recommends not to do this.

I have never heard of a baby dying from choking on their vomit when sleeping on their backs (or any other way)

[jaseyraex]

My DS had silent reflux. I'd put him to sleep on his back with the cot mattress at a slight angle as that's what they did with the cot in the hospital after I had him. I'd worry about keeping him on his side, what if they roll right on to their front and can't get back over?

[Newnaime]

When I say on his side I don't mean completely, more 45 degrees. And the tucking him in with the blanket then means he couldn't possibly roll onto his front

[BlondeB83]

I would say he would be safer on his back.

[newdaylight]

They used to advise not on side due to the risk of choking on sick. But then research showed that lying on the back is the safest place and babies automatically turn their head to the side when they're sick on their backs if they need to, or they swallow it. This is a reflex they have.

So yes the midwife is correct. There is no increased risk of choking from sleeping on their back.

[RedBlackberries]

Sorry but it's safer to go with the midwifes advice. Always on their back. I was constantly removing rolled up muslins that my mum and sister used to shove under dd. Lots of reassarch went into the safe sleeping campaign and I'm sure they factored in babies being sick.

[newdaylight]

When I saw they can swallow some stuff they bring up that's when its a small amount of fluid. They will reflex cough up proper vomit to clear their airway

[Bixx]

Babies are safer on their backs - even sicky babies. There has been a tremendous amount of research on this and even though it may seem counterintuitive your baby is safer on their back. Placing babies on their sides or tummies increasies the risk of SIDS. Your midwife is absolutely correct.

[BubbleAndSquark]

When your baby next has a cold/cough or something that makes them a bit chesty, listen to their breathing on their side compared to while on their back.
I think the basis of it is that a baby is a lot more likely to have breathing trouble and die that way than by not turning their head and choking on sick. Also usually if baby was to start choking you would be likely to hear whereas trouble breathing would often be silent.

[museumum]

Babies are anatomically different to children and adults. Hence they don’t aspirate milk as often as an adult would. Their larynx and hyoid are in a different position.
If they can breathe with a mouthful of milk I imagine they can with a mouthful of sick too.

[whampiece]

AIBU to think that's irresponsible advice?

Yes YABU. VU.

Years of studies have been carried out to find the safest sleep position for babies. The midwife wasn't just making up some shite, she was giving you advice based on the current sleep guidelines.

Take the advice. You do not know better.

[Thesmallthings]

If just done my peadiatic first aid last week and we spoke about this and its allways safer to lay them on their back.. even propping them up or tucking them in they can roll on to their front.. where they wont be able to lift theur head and turn it.

So if your babies being sick hold them up right but when sleeping allways on their back.