The tragic death of a young boy, Umar, believed to have suffocated after aspirating vomit in his sleep, has sparked widespread concern and reflection on unsafe feeding practices for children in Pakistan.
Health experts warn that seemingly harmless routinessuch as feeding infants while lying flat, placing them on the bed immediately after nursing, or ignoring vomitingcan turn fatal. Paediatric specialist Dr Atiqur Rehman explained that aspiration occurs when vomit, milk, or other fluids enter the lungs instead of the stomach, blocking oxygen supply and leading to aspiration pneumonia. This condition is particularly dangerous for infants with delicate airways.
"The most common mistake is feeding babies while lying down or leaving them flat on the bed right after feeding," he told APP. "Infants should be fed in a semi-upright position, ideally at a 45-degree angle, and burped after every feed. Never leave a newborn flat on the bed right after nursing."
Child specialist Dr Sharaq Iqbal emphasised that persistent vomiting must be treated as a medical emergency. "Parents must see vomiting as a red flag, especially if it is accompanied by breathing difficulty, bluish lips, or dehydration. Suppressing or delaying response can cost lives," he said.
Umar's death has left families deeply shaken. "We mothers often feed the baby at night while lying down, then fall asleep ourselves," said Zainab, a grieving mother from Rawalpindi.
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