Advice from “The Professor” on helping your baby sleep at night has been making the rounds on Facebook.
“YOUR CHILD HAS COLD AND HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING @ NIGHT?” the post asks. “Place a fresh onion close to his head not far from the nose. The child will sleep better ... The onions decongest the nose. Very much effective strong and powerful.”
It then gives a phone number for “The Professor”, with the Nigeria country code.
Will a baby sleep better with an onion near their head?
Africa Check asked the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) about the claim.
“We are not aware of any scientific studies that support this claim that placing an onion near a child’s head will help them sleep,” the organisation told us.
And they warned that “placing loose objects in an infant’s crib can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, so it is not recommended”.
The syndrome, known as Sids, is the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy child of less than one year old, usually while they are sleeping.
The AASM referred us to an article on HealthyChildren.org, a site run by the American Academy of Paediatrics. It’s titled “Healthy Sleep Habits: How Many Hours Does Your Child Need?”
The article’s tips include making adequate sleep a family priority, having a daily routine for your child, keeping your child active throughout the day, preventing sleep disruption by monitoring screen time, avoiding overscheduling and learning to recognise sleep problems.
It adds that “creating a sleep supportive environment would also allow your child to sleep better”. For example, you could “dim the lights prior to bedtime, control temperature in the home and allow your child to go to bed with their favourite doll or blanket – this can help with the separation anxiety”. – Grace Gichuhi
“YOUR CHILD HAS COLD AND HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING @ NIGHT?” the post asks. “Place a fresh onion close to his head not far from the nose. The child will sleep better ... The onions decongest the nose. Very much effective strong and powerful.”
It then gives a phone number for “The Professor”, with the Nigeria country code.
Will a baby sleep better with an onion near their head?
No scientific evidence – and could be dangerous
Africa Check asked the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) about the claim.
“We are not aware of any scientific studies that support this claim that placing an onion near a child’s head will help them sleep,” the organisation told us.
And they warned that “placing loose objects in an infant’s crib can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, so it is not recommended”.
The syndrome, known as Sids, is the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy child of less than one year old, usually while they are sleeping.
How can you help your baby sleep better?
The AASM referred us to an article on HealthyChildren.org, a site run by the American Academy of Paediatrics. It’s titled “Healthy Sleep Habits: How Many Hours Does Your Child Need?”
The article’s tips include making adequate sleep a family priority, having a daily routine for your child, keeping your child active throughout the day, preventing sleep disruption by monitoring screen time, avoiding overscheduling and learning to recognise sleep problems.
It adds that “creating a sleep supportive environment would also allow your child to sleep better”. For example, you could “dim the lights prior to bedtime, control temperature in the home and allow your child to go to bed with their favourite doll or blanket – this can help with the separation anxiety”. – Grace Gichuhi
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