LOWER-BODY TEMPERATURE IN SLEEPING SUPINE INFANTS

Night time rectal temperature recordings were made from 103 infants sl eeping in their own home in different sleeping positions, In most case s sleeping position was verified by video monitoring throughout the ni ght. In the period before an adult-like night time body temperature pa ttern appeared there was no significant effect of sleeping position up on night time body temperature, in line with previous reports. Once an adult-like night time temperature pattern appeared, infants sleeping supine reached significantly lower rectal temperatures than those slee ping prone or lateral. Babies sleeping supine moved significantly more during the night and were more likely to uncover their hands and arms . These findings suggest that supine sleepers are in a different physi ological condition from those sleeping prone or lateral, which may be associated with their lower vulnerability to sudden unexpected infant death.