The position your baby sleeps in (or moves to) may have a strong correlation to the baby's blood pressure. Babies ages 2-3 months may have a decrease in blood pressure when in the prone position. SIDS is associated with prone sleep position, so researchers are hypothesizing that circulatory failure due to this position may have a connection to this lowering BP status.
Researchers used certain modes of measurement (polysomnography) on babies at three age stages: 2 to 4 weeks, 2 to 3 months and 5 to 6 months and assessed heart rate, systolic, diastolic blood pressure numbers during quiet sleep and active sleep in the supine and prone positions. In all 3 age groups blood pressure was lower in both positions during "quiet sleep." But at 2 to 3 months, babies showed a bigger drop in prone position during quiet sleep and an increase in heart rate.
The 2-3 month age group is at the highest risk for SIDS so this study further reinforces keeping babies in the supine position during sleep to help lower the risk that is implicated in the prone sleeping position.
