西方的很多科学研究也间接地证明了,婴儿趴着睡的负面影响。例如,现代医学中,有名为“婴儿猝死综合征”(Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)的疾病,其被描述为:“这类死亡大部分发生在出生后的最初六个月里,经常在冬天发病,并频繁发生在那些趴着睡或侧睡的婴儿身上。死亡时无任何症状,也没有挣扎的迹象。”(A majority of these deaths occur in the first six months of life, often during the winter months, and frequently while the baby sleeps on its stomach or on its side. There are no symptoms or signs of struggle.)