Does anyone's baby prefer to sleep on their stomache?

Question

My baby is just 12 weeks old and has always prefered her back. She can turn her head from side to side, but I know its against the new norm and the doctors advise against it, because of SIDS.

I meant she has always preferred her stomache.

Answer 1

Many, if not all babies, prefer to sleep on their stomachs. However, doctors recommend letting the baby sleep on their back (or when my daughter was an infant - propping the baby on their side for the first few months to avoid SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Apparently, sleeping on the stomach is one of the leading causes due to lack of oxygen and breathing difficulties. Take a look at the website posted below about SIDS. I used to roll a small receiving blanket up behind and in front of my daughter (one in front, one in back) and she was unable to roll onto her stomach or back - this allowed her to sleep comfortably on her side until she was old enough to move around a little better. Ask your doctor/pediatrician. You can also buy a swaddler to help the baby sleep better - kind of funny looking but they really work. I always used a blanket and tucked it in, and my daughter slept thru the night since she was 6 weeks old.

Answer 2

As a NICU nurse, we tell all of our parents that sleeping on back or side is best for the first year to decrease the risk of SIDS. "Tummy-time" is allowed when they are napping and they are supervised. Think about sleeping on your stomach and back...I breathe fine on my stomach, but I feel like I can take deeper breaths on my side and back. As a nurse, my suggestion is to try putting him on his sides with a roll in front and back to keep him from rolling onto his stomach or face. Also, to decrease the risk of SIDS always keep stuffed animals and bedding away from their reach so that they don't reach for it and pull it toward their face-that might cause trouble breathing. Good Luck!

Answer 3

Yes, almost all babies. That's the point. A baby on her/his stomach sleeps too long and too deeply and may be unable to wake up. That's what is called SIDS--sudden infant death syndrome. It kills about 1 baby in 1000. It's only a small risk, but if it happens to your baby, it's 100%.

Answer 4

My son loved to sleep on his stomach too, but my doctor told me to put him on the side or the back until he turns over by hisself and now he is 9 months and he does it, so i just let him be now, But with 12 weeks i would put the baby on the back or side, just to be on the safe side.

Answer 5

My son was a preemie and while he was in the hospital on the monitors he slept on his stomach sometimes because he didn't have as many apnea episodes, but it was only ok to do that because OF the monitors being on. When he came home he slept on his back. Now that he is almost 2 he tends to sleep mostly on his stomach.

Answer 6

Some babys prefer to sleep on there stomach for comfort, however it is best to not let them in the first few months of life because if they block there breathing they wont know, espeicaly if they were premature. (My son was 2 months early)

If you observe baby sleeping on stomach and breathing ok, then its proably fine, but its still not recomended by most pediatritions.
--and try giving them some gas relief medication, as sleeping on there stomach comforts gas.

Answer 7

No actually my little one Screamed if she was ever put on her stomach. She never scooted on her belly, she went from flat on her back to crawling on her hands and knees litlerally overnight. Some babies just like to see the world more than staring at carpet all the time.

Answer 8

all three of my kids liked to sleep on there stomache, at 3am I wasn't about to argue with them my youngest is now almost 2 and the others are 4 and 6 there fine although they still sleep on there stomaches

Answer 9

as soon as my son was able to roll on his own he always slept on his stomache he is 3 1/2 now and he still sleeps on his belly

Answer 10

My 2 month old daughter perfers her stomach. I tried to put her on her back and she won't sleep. I talked to her doctor about it and she told me to remove all blankets and when my husband get up a night we check on her ( she sleeps in our room in her own bed.)