Does anyone disagree with the "Back to Sleep Program" for infants? And can you explain why?

Question

This information is particularly for a poll purpose. And btw, all information from the Academy of Pediatrics and the SIDS foundation has not proved that this is a good practice. It is proving to cause such a condition as Flat Head syndrome (which, incrediably enough, evident by looking at infants who were primarily kept on their backs.) Thanks for you help.

Answer 1

I don't disagree with it. I placed my daughter on her back the first week of her life and now she's 3 weeks old and every time she's placed in her bassinet, she automatically rolls on her left side with no help or being coerced. The shape of her head is fine though. I was told in my discharge class from the hospital that Back to Sleep prevents SIDS. I'd rather her have a possible flathead than die in her sleep from suffocation though. There is treatment for flathead syndrome and special helmets the babies can wear to correct it, nothing can be done to bring them back from death though.

Answer 2

I disagree for some infants' well being, actually. As if the flat head and the temptation for obsessive compulsive parenting were not enough, there are actually some babies born needing to sleep on their sides and tummies for comfort issues. I was one of those. My parents could never get me to sleep on my back.

A heavily pregnant woman could tell you, since an infant cannot, that it is much harder to breathe while lying on your back with all the organs pressed into the bed. Many children have intolerances or allergies to the milk/formula they drink, and have upset tummies or what amounts to acid reflux. If they're on their backs, they could choke on their vomit, not to mention, feel what is to them confusing and excruciating pain. Since they cannot roll over yet, they will cry and cry and could develop trust issues, among other things such as a lack of self confidence. Think about it: if baby is constantly being put onto his back when he's hurting inside at night, what will he start connecting the pain with? Caretaking/parents. Could go on there...but the possibility for choking on vomit is enough for me.

It isn't proved probably, but certain babies benefit from being held with their tummy pressed against the parent in the first few months, and then as they can move and roll, they can learn how to sleep in that position on their own. I see why some would be afraid to do that though, and those might be people who aren't very careful normally, who aren't willing to fall asleep in a recliner.

This worked on me when I was born with eating issues and terrible pains and screaming, and this worked on all four of my children who have food sensitivities. Their heads aren't flat, they know how to comfort themselves or seek comfort, and they sleep more comfortably with less complaints or crying.

SIDS was happening in smoker homes or homes where there were other parental risks, I thought. I'd like to see the link to the article talking about how they proved Back to Sleep isn't reducing SIDS, but will probably hear about it in college soon.

This was an interesting poll. Good luck!

Answer 3

Hi there!

That depends on how old the child is. Newborns can't move really, so I wouldn't agree with it in that case. Babies spit up, even in their sleep. I don't suggest laying them on their stomachs either. If your baby can toss and turn (4 1/2 - 5 months) then yes I guess I would agree with placing babies on my back. I have 2 kids, and neither one had cribs. I was so pumped that they usually had a pillow propped behind them (positioned in a that makes it IMPOSSIBLE to fall over their face. And I slept next to them. There was no way I would roll on my baby, nor have I ever, because my intincits wouldn't let me. Again it depends on the age of the baby. Or I would lay the baby on it's side. That's what the pillow propped behind the entire body is for, so any spit that the baby spits up will not chock the baby. An d new born really can't move or move very little, so their is no way for the baby to roll on it;s face. Push come to show, I (mom) will sleep on the hard floor. At least you know that you won't sleep hardly, giving you the chance to keep constant watch on your baby. This is what worked for both my kids, and nothing every happened..not even close.

Answer 4

I don't necessarily disagree with it, but I didn't follow it strictly when my sons were infants. With my first son, I was strictly by-the-book, no blankets in his bassinet, always on his back, etc. etc. My mother-in-law helped me "see the light." She babysat one night when we had had an especially stressful day. When my husband and I arrived home, the house was quiet (when my son should have been up screaming his little head off because of colic). I went into the nursery and wanted to strangle her. He was lying on his stomach with a blanket tucked around him in a dead sleep. I about hit the roof. These were the TWO things I specifically asked her not to do...no tummy sleeping and no loose bedding in the bassinet. You know what though...he was sound asleep, warm and comfy. From then on out, I realized that he would fall asleep faster and longer if he was on his stomach and had a light weight blanket. So, I kept putting him to bed that way, and as a result, he started sleeping through the night at about 3 - 4 months. He's now 2 1/2 years old and is still alive to tell about it...

My younger son was the same. I'd start to put him to bed on his back, but found that he, too, was more comfortable on his stomach. I think it was the pressure of his knees on his abdomen that helped with his colic. Although he didn't start sleeping through the night until he was about 11 months old, he did wake up only once or twice a night as opposed to every 2 - 3 hours. He's now 14 months old and still sleeps on his stomach.

When I was an infant (1970s) my mom was told to put me to sleep on my stomach. Now they're saying on the back. What's it going to be 20 years from now--put your baby to sleep in traction so he can't move at all? Or better yet, don't let them sleep at all...that way they can't die!

I think until they actually determine WHAT causes SIDS, they shouldn't make parents feel badly for putting their kids to sleep on their stomachs. Some people are just more comfortable that way. I'm fairly certain that not every baby who has died of SIDS was sleeping on his or her stomach at the time of death.

Answer 5

I lost a my oldest daughter to SIDS 15 years ago, he only being 6 weeks old, I have always put my kids on their backs to sleep, they don't know what causes SIDS, My daughter autopsy report came back that she was a healthy baby, I now have 3 other childern and they have all slept on thier backs untill they started to roll over and all have been breastfed, if I walk in to my 7 month old daughters room and she is laying on her tummy, all i do is check on her and let her sleep. I hope you find the answers you are looking for.

Answer 6

i've got no longer heard of this gadget, so i will save checking back in this question because of the fact now i'm curious too. For CIO, you should attend till infant is a minimum of 5 months old. Even then, i do no longer in my opinion have faith its for each infant (or mommy). it won't artwork now, besides the fact that it would artwork later. i think of that with something, persistance is the respond. on the different hand, besides the fact that, the child is its own individual together with his own recommendations. I many times rock my 9 month old to sleep, yet whilst he basically won't have the ability to get snug, or won't pass, i will lay him down and enable him pass to sleep on his own. he's many times out on his own in approximately 5 minutes. At 4 months although, you won't have lots luck with dozing. i be attentive to how complicated this is, besides the fact that this is till around 6 months which you get him right into a dozing habit he continues to be in...

Answer 7

The number of SID deaths has dropped significantly since advising parents to have infants sleep on their backs. That's enough evidence for me. As far as the flat head, my daughter did develop a flat spot on the side of her head because she always turned her head to the side when she slept (I believe mainly because she was breech and in the same position for the last few months of my pregnancy - I had several ultrasounds to prove that). Anyway, I bought the side pads that keep infants from rolling over in their sleep. I was able to lay her on her opposite side, which helped to reshape her head. I would rather my daughter have a flat head and still be alive.

Answer 8

My first 3 children did the "back to sleep" thing just fine, they didn't mind it at all.

My fourth child was very different from day one. He HATED being swaddled, and would kick and fight his way out of even tightly wrapped blankets within miutes. He hated lying on his back, and would never stay asleep on his back for more than one minute. After weighing my options, I chose to let him sleep the way that was comfortable for him. No one in our home smokes, and I breastfeed my babies exclusively. This already cuts their risk of SIDS way down. Well, he's a happy healthy 4yo now, obviously sleeping on his tummy didn't harm him.

I am not one to just blindly accept something as fact just because it comes out of a doctor's mouth. Doctors are human too. Do you know what they call a medical student who graduates at the bottom of his class? Doctor.

I also agree that positional flat head happens more due to a baby being left in a crib or swing or seat all day, and not related as much to sleeping position. Mothers I know who use a sling to carry their baby don't seem to have the whole "flat head" thing happening to their babies.

For those of you who said you would never put your baby on their tummy to sleep because it increases the SIDS risk, did you try to breastfeed? From what I understand breastfeeding decreases the SIDS risk even more than sleeping position, and personally I would move heaven and earth to breastfeed my child, while sleeping position is not something I place as high a priority on.

Answer 9

Back to sleep is a way to get parents to remember to put their kids on their back when they sleep. The purpose of this is because as a newborn, they don't have much neck strength. If they were to be put on the stomachs and somehow they ended up face down in the mattress they could suffocate.

I think those children who get flathead in the back, it's because they are on their back ALL the time...during the day and at night.
A lot of parents just leave their baby to lay on the floor or in the crib or in the play pen while their watching tv or doing whatever. Some even prop a bottle so they don't have to take the time to hold them so they can do whatever it is they need to do.

My babies didn't get flatheads because they were held all the time. I nursed them so they were always in my arms or in the sling. The only time they were in the crib was at night or when I absolutely had to put them down (usually to do housecleaning, bathroom, or shower).

I would put them on their back for the first few monthsat night, but once they started getting better at moving around, I would often find them on their tummies in the morning, but that was when they had better neck control and could hold their heads up better. At that point, I really didn't push the issue because I knew they would be ok. At that point they are going to sleep which ever way is comfortable.

Answer 10

They say it is best to keep babies on there backs because it is easier for them to move there heads back and forth and there is no way to get there face stuck in the mattress. Babies with flat heads need tummy time. They tell you babies should be layed on there bellies during the day to play or just relax. This will help to protect them from flat head syndrome.