Q: My 3-year-old daughter tends to sleep in the ‘sujud’ position. Will this affect her posture or health?

Answered by Dr Anthony James Mansul, Consultant Paediatrician & Clinical Head of Paediatric Service at Prince Court Medical Centre

The ‘sujud’ position is not recommended in infants less than 6 months old due to the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). As your child passes the 1-year-old mark, the risk is no longer there. 

Sleeping on their tummy does not affect a child’s posture, but it may affect their health – depending on the child. There have been studies that have shown that a child’s airway can collapse when they are sleeping in this position. 

In addition, in some older children, this position may not have any impact on their breathing, but to others who snore or have large tonsils (confirmed by their doctor) – there is the risk of obstructive sleep apnea, which is a condition whereby a person can stop breathing due to a blockage of their airway. Therefore, these children will need a sleep study to assess their breathing during sleep.