Why do babies sleep with their butt in the air

Have you at one point or the other seen your baby sleeping on their chest with their butts in the air – just like a roaster? Did it amuse you? The very image is enough to cause anyone to laugh at the cute baby. Like any parent would be, you may get a little concerned if you notice that your baby keeps up with that sleeping posture. If you are curious about the reason for this, you need to read this end.

Babies can be full of surprises. You should testify that an average baby does a new thing every day that amuses the parent. It could be in little things like how much they manage to comprehend at once. It could also be important things like sleeping patterns and posture. In this article, you will find all the answers and explanations you need about babies that sleep with their butts in the air.

So why do babies sleep with their buttocks pointed up? As of now, there are only theories that explain this as propounded by different experts.

These theories are plausible from a scientific point of view, but no one has been able to prove them directly. Let’s consider some of the most popular theories about babies why to sleep with their butts in the air.

1. Babies do it to be comfortable

Babies (and even adults) assume different sleeping positions they are comfortable with when they sleep. At around 6 months and above, babies have sharpened motor skills and developed skeletal muscles. Sometimes, they feel at ease when they cull up with their buts in the air.

2. Sleeping in that position reminds babies of the womb

Sometimes, when you do something, they bring a feeling of nostalgia; you remember having done something similar and nice. Naturally, you want to recreate the same feeling. This may also be a reason why babies like to sleep with their butts in the air. That position gives them a feeling similar to what they have in their mother’s womb.

This is even more plausible if you consider what doctors describe as muscle memory. To put it in simple terms, the baby’s muscles remember a comfortable position it has assumed consistently in the past.

Due to that, the baby feels very relaxed and safe when they assume this position. That explains why a baby may sleep off too.

3. Babies sleep in that position when they start learning to crawl

It is common to see your babies assuming that position when they are about to start crawling. In most babies, crawling starts by getting on the knees consistently, and afterwards, they move. Babies that get on their knees for most hours of a day may sleep off in this position.

4. It makes babies feel like they are cuddled

Sleeping on the knees give baby the same feeling they get when they are being held or cuddled up by their parents. It should not be surprising to see a baby used to be put to sleep cuddle up with their butts in the air while sleeping.

5. Babies sleeping with their bum in the air

Now, you are aware of why a baby may sleep with her butt in the air. You are closer to understanding why this is normal for babies. It is especially for babies between the ages of 6 months and 12months. Within that period, crawling on related positions helped these children strengthen their motor skills, ability to maneuver their bodies, and skeletal muscles.

Normally, you would not need to worry as a parent. However, it is not very healthy for your baby to do this over a long period. As a parent, you need to put the baby back on their back. At first, it is harmless, but as your baby grows and gets accustomed to this position, the baby is predisposed to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Aside from that, continuously sleeping with their butts in the air and their chest to the ground exposes a baby to chest and breathing complications.

Baby sticking bum in air myth

There are a lot of untrue pieces of information flying around about babies that sleep with their butts in the air. Some are a result of traditions; some are a result of misinformation. In the subsequent paragraphs, we will debunk these myths and expose you to the truth.

Babies that stick their butts in the air need siblings – Some parts of the world have a cultural belief that when babies stick their butts in the air, they want siblings. This may sound cute and all, but it cannot be proven in any way.

Overfed babies stick their butts in the air – Another popular myth about why toddlers stick their butts in the air is that they have been overfed. Some believe that when a baby feeds too much, they become uncomfortable and assume that position to ease the pain. This also cannot be proven. A baby would most likely cry when they feel uncomfortable from overfeeding that sticks their butt in the air.

A baby would develop complications from sticking their butts in the air – Some are of the school of thought that whenever a baby sleeps with their butts stuck in the air, they are endangering their chest. This is only half true. Babies naturally revert to sleeping on their backs after a while of sticking their butts in the air.

A baby gets weak knees for sticking their butts in the air – This is quite contrary to what happens when babies crouch on their knees and stick their butts in the air. When a baby sticks their butts in the air, it signifies developed motor skills and skeletal strength.

Baby sleeping with bum in the air facts

After years of expert observation, here are the facts gathered about when babies sleep with their bums in the air;

• It is a sign that your baby is ready to crawl or has started crawling.
• Sleeping with bums in the air is not an abnormal thing. Most babies do it
• It is a sign that your baby has developed skeletal strength since they can kneel, unlike before.
• It is very comfortable for your baby, and this comfort is due to muscle memory. It is a baby’s way of re-enacting the comforting scene they experienced in the womb.
• Most babies revert to sleeping on their backs after a while of sleeping with their bums in the air. For these babies, it poses no threat whatsoever.
• Due to one complication or the other, some babies never revert to sleeping on their backs. Sleeping with their bums in the air may pose a significant threat to these babies. They stand a risk of respiratory complications and sudden infant death syndrome.
• Parents do not need to worry about babies putting their butts in the air. It is best to let them be when the time comes for it, except if your baby has some difficulty that makes it dangerous for them.

Why do babies sleep with their legs up

Another thing that may amuse you is when you see a baby that sleeps with their legs up (though not for long). Funny right? That does not seem remotely comfortable, no matter how you look at it. There is no specific expert reason behind babies sleeping with their legs up. The only plausible explanation for this behavior is the temporary comfort that the sleeping position offers these babies.

Similar to this are kids who jerk their legs between intervals when sleeping. This is more explicable. It shows growth when babies jerk their feet up while sleeping and slam them against the bed. It is called Moro-reflex, and it is a sign of developing motor skills in babies. It is quite common in babies that are 3 months and older.

Finally, as a parent, if you discover that your baby sleeps with their legs up, you should check the baby for any sign of discomfort. Try swaddling the baby a little and adjusting its sleeping position until you think it would be comfortable.

Baby sleeping in Frog position

Don’t get confused; this is no different from what you have read till now. When a baby sleeps in a frog position, it means that the baby is cuddled up, legs spread apart, and with their chest facing the cot while sleeping. This sleeping position is very similar to when a baby sleeps with their butts in the air.

Why do babies sleep in a frog position?

Babies sleep like frogs for the same reason why they sleep with their butts in the air. Whatever sleeping posture the baby assumes is a matter of comfort and how much that posture looks like what they want to recreate.

Essentially, it could be due to comfort, muscle memory, and skeletal muscle development in babies older than 4 months. Whether your baby sleeps like a frog or shoots their butts in the air, take it that it is the most comfortable position for them.

It is the position that reminds their muscles of the womb or their hands the most.
It could also have something to do with the baby’s muscle tone on the same tone. When a baby has a lesser muscle tone than the average baby, they sleep in a frog-like position more often than normal.

In babies less than 3 months of age, the only logical reason is that the baby’s muscles and bones are not yet grown and stretched out. As your baby grows, their sleeping position is bound to loosen up.

Should you be worried about this? Not! Sooner or later, your baby would finally revert to sleeping on its back. However, if you notice difficulty over time, you could help your baby by swaddling them or rocking them to sleep. After all, the bottom line is comfort.

Why do toddlers sleep on their knees?

Sleeping on the knees is almost different from when a baby sleeps with their butts in the air. It is also important to know that babies do this for the sole purpose of getting comfortable. There are some curious ones, however; some toddlers may doze off when kneeling without lying on their chests.

This sleeping stance is only temporary, and it is common to babies that just started crawling or are about to start.
Like all the other similar sleeping positions, you need not be worried about this sleeping position, except if your baby has difficulty reverting to sleeping on their back.

Why do babies sleep with their legs open?

Have you read these yet?

Are weighted sleep sacks safe for babies

How Do I know If The Formula Is Right For My Baby

When a baby sleeps with their legs open, it could be due to either of the following reasons;

• The baby is tired. In this case, that sleeping position is only temporary, and the baby is bound to shift as they go deeper into sleep.
• The baby feels more comfortable. Just like in the case of sleeping like a frog, some babies find it more comfortable sleeping with their legs open.
• The baby has a lesser muscle tone. These babies have lesser muscle resistance when their bodies are at rest. Therefore, they are more comfortable sleeping with their legs spread by default.

Finally, depending on how long you observe this in your baby, you may have to step in for corrections. However, it is usually nothing to bother you about in most cases.