Anticipatory Guidance Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive Test Prep

Prone sleeping, which refers to a child sleeping on their stomach, is indeed particularly associated with increased risks for infants, especially those who are not accustomed to this position. The primary concern with prone sleeping is the heightened risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Infants who usually sleep on their backs may not have developed the necessary motor control to adjust their position if they become obstructed or face down, increasing the risk of suffocation or re-breathing of exhaled gases.

For infants, those less than one year old are especially vulnerable, as their respiratory and neurological systems are still developing. Guidelines recommend that babies be placed on their backs to sleep as the safest sleep position. Children who are not familiar with sleeping on their stomachs lack the ability to right themselves effectively, further elevating the danger associated with this sleep position. Therefore, stating that prone sleeping is particularly dangerous for a child not accustomed to it is accurate.