1-Year-Old Toddler Dies While Sleeping on Stomach: Medical Experts Warn Parents

A one-year-old child recently died while sleeping on his stomach, highlighting the risks of this sleeping position for children. Medical experts caution parents to be aware of these risks.

In a report on Sunday's 24 Oras Weekend, Dano Tingcungco spoke with Jennifer (not her real name) about the tragic loss of her one-and-a-half-year-old child.

Jennifer described a normal evening on June 21 at their home, with the child having dinner at 8 p.m. and falling asleep after some milk an hour later. At 12:40 a.m., Jennifer found her child lying on his stomach, unresponsive and with a discolored mouth. Rushed to the hospital, it was discovered that the child had aspirated a large amount of liquid and food into his lungs, leading to aspiration pneumonia as the cause of death.

Aspiration pneumonia occurs when foreign substances like food or liquid are inhaled into the lungs, a dangerous condition in babies. Medical staff informed Jennifer that her child suffocated due to sleeping in a prone position.

Experts warn that stomach sleeping can block the airway and increase the risk of rebreathing, reducing oxygen levels in the body and raising CO2 levels. Pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Co emphasized the importance of placing infants on their backs to sleep to prevent such risks.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advocates for safe sleep practices through the 'Back to Sleep' campaign, recommending that healthy babies sleep on their backs to lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Parents are advised to monitor their children closely for breathing difficulties, as young children may not be able to communicate such issues.

According to the source: GMA Network.