LAYING A BABY IN THE "C-POSITION"

When you lay an infant down, maintain the C-curl with the infant on her side. Do not lay the baby face down, and make sure there are no loose blankets, pillows or toys in the crib that could obstruct breathing. Then wrap a blanket into a firm ring and encircle the baby's body to maintain the C-position. It is very important to have either a blanket roll surrounding the infant or a wedge up against the body so that the baby remains on her side at all times and does not roll onto her stomach.

The side position is useful because in the early days of withdrawal, babies have difficulty sleeping. The sideline C-position helps them feel more secure and relieves cramping and gastrointestinal distress they may be feeling. As withdrawal symptoms diminish, you can introduce the back sleeping position recommended by the Academy of Pediatrics to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. (SIDS)