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Q: How do I protect my two-month-old tummy-sleeper from SIDS?

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A: While your baby may prefer to sleep on his tummy, you really should put him on his back to sleep, because that’s the safest position for him. He may not sleep as deeply or as long as when he’s on his tummy, but that might be a good thing, and here’s why: Normally, if a sleeping baby is not getting enough oxygen (because he’s snuggling too close to the bedding, for example), his brain will automatically cause him to wake up and shift position. However, some babies’ brains have not yet developed this trigger, making them vulnerable to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), says Rachel Moon, M.D., pediatric medical director at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Because there’s no way to tell which infants have this brain glitch, experts advise that all babies under one year of age should be positioned on their backs for sleep.

Other ways to protect against SIDS include keeping your baby away from cigarette smoke; putting him in a sleeper or wearable blanket that won’t come loose; removing blankets, quilts and stuffed animals from the crib, and placing your baby’s crib in your bedroom so that he sleeps in the same room as you do. Finally, give your baby a pacifier when it’s time for bed. “Pacifiers give more than 50 to 57 percent protection against SIDS,” says Dr. Moon, though researchers are not sure why, especially since they tend to fall out when the baby sleeps.

While more than 90 percent of SIDS cases happen within the first six months of a child’s life, “every baby is different, so we recommend that parents follow [all] these precautions until the baby is one,” says Dr. Moon. By that time, your child’s brain will have developed enough to wake him when needed.

Q: Is it terrible to exercise on a full stomach?

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A: Although exercising on a full stomach may be uncomfortable, it will not harm you or negate the many health benefits associated with working out, says Jim Barnard, Ph.D., professor of physiological science at the University of California, Los Angeles, and leading researcher on the benefits of exercise and diet. Regular exercise offers protection against many diseases, including some cancers. It can also help you manage your weight, improve your mood and strengthen your heart and lungs. So if you have a hectic schedule and your only chance to squeeze in a workout is, say, after dinner, it’s still better to work out on a full stomach than not to work out at all. “My advice is to eat a small [meal], and be sure to exercise,” says Dr. Barnard. Then make another meal the larger of the day.

Q: Do you really need to drink eight glasses of water a day?

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A: No, according to Dan Negoianu, M.D., and Stanley Goldfarb, M.D., of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, who recently looked at all the research on water intake and found no basis for the claim that drinking eight glasses of water a day has health benefits. “There is this intuitive sense that drinking a lot of water flushes out your system,” says Dr. Goldfarb, “but it’s not true.” It’s the job of the kidneys to remove toxins from the body, he explains, and drinking more water does not improve that function. The researchers also found no evidence that drinking water relieves headaches or makes your skin look better.

But there’s no harm in drinking eight glasses of water, either. “Nothing terrible is going to happen if you drink a lot of water,” Dr. Goldfarb says. Daily fluid intake -- from water, other beverages and foods -- is necessary for survival, though research offers no guidelines on how much you should drink, and individual needs vary, depending on your activity level, body size, age and the temperature of the environment. (Also, contrary to popular belief, the diuretic effects of coffee and tea are negligible, Dr. Goldfarb adds, so they actually will help you stay hydrated.) So how much fluid should you drink? Dr. Goldfarb recommends using your thirst as a guide.

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