My mother-in-law put her to sleep on her stomach and now thats the only way she wants to sleep. I've been up for two nights now because every time i put her down on her back while she's sleeping she wakes up and cries, sometimes she sleeps for ten minutes and then wakes up.
Should i just leave her to cry herself to sleep? - i'd feel really bad doing that!
2006-06-18 21:14:26 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
leaving a baby to sleep on it's stomach can result in cotdeath, so yes it does matter!
2006-06-18 21:29:23 · update #1
First, make it absolutely clear to your MIL that you want your daughter to sleep on her back. If she gives you any grief about doctors not understanding things, or that she put all her kids to sleep on their stomachs and they turned out fine etc, tell her that cot death in the UK dropped by a massive amount when mothers started putting their babies to sleep on their back.
Next, alas babies prefer sleeping on their stomach, and if you give them a chance they will. Some scientists think the reason stomach sleeping contributes to cot death is that babies sleep so deeply they can forget to breathe.
You are incredibly tired, you have a two month old to look after, all you want is some sleep, and some sleep from your daughter.
Let her cry herself to sleep. If she goes too long crying, go to her, give her a hug, and put her back to sleep on her back. She will go to sleep out of sheer exhastion eventually. It will be a rough few nights, but hang in there.
When she is sleeping during the day, take a nap. Catch up on sleep, don't worry too much about setting routines at this point, maintaining sanity is more important. If the house is a mess, leave it. If dinner needs to be cooked, let someone else do it.
Good Luck.
2006-06-18 21:30:29 · answer #1 · answered by ? 5 · 5⤊ 2⤋
No, you shouldn't let your daughter just cry. It might not work, and it's not good for her anyway. And you shouldn't let her sleep on her stomach, either. She *probably* will be okay (most babies are), but it's not worth the risk.
Expect it to take her a while to get the hang of naps again. Babies *do* sleep deeper and longer on their stomachs--that's the precise reason that it is not recommended. Long and deep sleep is a risk factor for SIDS (cot death). *Good* sleep is one the baby wakes up from again!!
Is she waking frequently at night, naps, or both? If it's only naps, try holding her for nap time. If you have a sling or other baby carrier, you can walk her to sleep. Otherwise, just hold her in your arms.
The same is true at night. Try putting her in bed with you. Most babies will sleep better if they are cuddled up with someone they love. (Most adults are the same!!)
She will outgrow this. Give her a lot of love while she unlearns a habit that could kill her and be patient...
2006-06-19 02:22:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aren't mothers-in-law (and a good deal of the time, mothers!) great for doing stuff like that??!! I always got the same response from my MIL when I told her not to do this or that..."Well, your mom did it with you and I did it with my kids, and you all lived to tell about it!" However, as sorry as I am to have to admit this, both my mom and my husband's mom have made some very good points, and ARE correct most of the time.
The only thing I can tell you is to put her on her back and let her cry it out. If she's incredibly sleepy, she won't cry long. And don't worry...you're not being cruel. If she's been fed, has a clean diaper, isn't sick, she'll be FINE. Keep in mind though...she'll probably start rolling over on her own in a few months (I think the average age for babies to roll is about 4 months. It was wtih my two.) and when she starts doing this, NOTHING you can do will keep her on her back. I asked my boys' pediatricin about this. We were playing the rolling game...I'd put them on their backs in their crib, and immediately they'd roll over to their tummies. I'd flip them back over, they'd roll back over. The doctor said that once this happens, you're fighting a lost cause, so just surrender. :) Just make sure to keep any loose toys, heavy blankets, pillows, crib bumper, etc. (basically anything they could choke or smother on) OUT of her crib.
2006-06-19 03:38:31 · answer #3 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
theres a technique i like called the control crying method it worked a treat on both of mine, its hard at first but sets them up for life! The first time they cry go in and tuck them back in, don't pick her up and don't talk! then you leave the room. Then wait 5 mins before going back, then 10. Its hard but be strong! Add 5 mins each time until you get to 30 mins they soon get fed up of crying and go to sleep!
Obviously don't do this if shes hungry or dirty, but you'll be able to tell cos the cry will change. This is for the nights when they are being little monsters and have you up and down!
2006-06-18 22:35:32 · answer #4 · answered by angel louie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every few years the "correct" way for a baby to sleep changes.
When my cousin was born the right way was on the stomach (1975). When my son was born it was on the side (1982). When my nephew was born it was the back (2000).
2006-06-19 10:53:01 · answer #5 · answered by monkeyface 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep putting her on her back and she will eventually get used to it. It will do her no harm to let her cry for just a little while, but keep going to her and reassuring her that she is OK. Have you tried rolling up a blanket and putting it slightly under her back, that way she is slightly on her side. Give it a try and see, it can do no harm. If not, just persist with laying her on her back. Good luck!!
2006-06-19 00:39:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every few years professionals change their views on whether babies should sleep on their front or on their back. I personally think its better if they are on their tummy incase they are sick then they are less likely to chock. My son who is 14 months has always slept on his tummy from the day he came home from hospital. I used to put him on his back but he could never sleep so I tried him on his tummy and it was obviously more comfy for him as he always sleeps like that now.
2006-06-19 01:56:16 · answer #7 · answered by Ju 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dont feel bad about letting her cry, tell your mother-in-law that she was wrong to do that and tell her she needs to start putting her on her back.
I got told that I had to put my daughter on her back because what if she turns and faces the matress while on her back? Any thing could happen.
Anyway, dont worry abpout letting her cry, as long as its not all of the time.
2006-06-18 21:21:47 · answer #8 · answered by Supertwirly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
best thing to do is put her on her side,they seen to like that as well..your mother-in-law should never of done that to her yes it is really bad for them because they can suffocate,but as she gets older she will properly turn herself over in her sleep and there is not a lot you can do about it,my son is five now and he has always done the same he falls asleep on his side,but as soon as he is fast asleep he automatically turns on his front it is very worrying thing but it is all part of being a parent and there is not alot we can do to change it.....
2006-06-18 21:41:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the recommendations as to how to put a baby to sleep keep changing
one of mine would only sleep on her stomache i let her get on with it
another of mine would not sleep at the bottom of the cot (feet to foot) i let her get on with it
only way i could any sleep myself
sleeping on the stomache is only one of a number of poosible causes
do what you feel most comfortable doing
2006-06-18 22:49:05 · answer #10 · answered by mumoftheyear 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋