my 3 month old baby will only sleep soundly on his belly!!?

Question

what should i do? they say to put a baby on his back but he WILL NOT sleep that way... i have tried and he wakes up after about 20 minutes and will not go to sleep until he is put on his belly. anybody else have this problem?

Answer 1

My first baby died at 5 months of SIDS and she was on her back. I now belong to a SIDS group and 90% of the mothers in my group say their babies died on their backs, in car seats, strollers, swing, all but on their tummies. My daughter also had a pacifier in her mouth when she was put to sleep and guess what....it didn't make a difference we found it beside her head it fell out when she stopped breathing. The pads you use under the baby to alert you when they stop breathing are fine except for the fact that if a baby stops breathing because it is SIDS then there is nothing you can do. A baby that stops breathing because of SIDS can not be resuscitated. They can only be resuscitated if it is apnea not SIDS. An alarm will let you know your baby stopped breathing but there is nothing you will be able to do. I had an apnea monitor with my next baby and gave it up after a few months when I realized even if it went off there was nothing I could do. You do what makes your baby comfortable. I have two other children now and they both slept on their stomaches. They also had reflux so they had to anyway. It is anatomically possible for a baby to stop breathing due to choking because of lying on it's back. That's why GERD has been linked to SIDS babies. I've been in the medical field for 4 years and I can tell you that babies can choke when placed on their backs if they have reflux.

Answer 2

Many of us were put on our bellies by our parents and did fine. I think back sleeping is great IF baby will sleep that way. My daughter did, my son's did and do not. My middle child (first son) would not sleep more than a few minutes at a time on his back. At a couple of months old I rolled him over. He slept great. He is now 4 1/2 yrs old. My baby is a tummy sleeper too. He is 16 months old and just fine. Get a good baby monitor, turn it up LOUD so you can hear him breathe and let him sleep. For that matter don't feel bad if you go check on him every 5 minutes for several nights. I am sure you will both be fine.

Answer 3

My daughter (now in college) spent the first four or so months of her life sleeping in an infant seat (with careful padding) because she was a projectile vomiter. I used to hope it was ok for her back, but I reasoned that if I held her she would be in a similiar position (essentially curled up).

Her two brothers slept on their bellies because it was quite some time ago, and people believed that babies who slept on their backs may aspirate left-over "spit off". It was also said that babies who slept on their backs could have their heads flattened some.

I listen to the advice these days about putting babies on their backs, and I've wondered what I would do if I had an infant. I've decided that I'd put it to sleep in some kind of infant seat as my daughter had slept.

On the one hand, they've recently learned that there is some brain stem problem in SIDS babies. On the other hand, they're still saying have babies sleep on their backs. I suppose if there's no way to test for the brain stem problem they want everyone to be safe. I'm not sure I've known too many babies who would sleep well flat on their backs, but maybe that's just the babies I've known.

I have no idea if there could be any consequences when it comes to the development of the spine or hips if a baby spends a few months sleeping in an comfortable infant seat, but my daughter has a nice, straight back and perfect legs; so I guess it didn't harm her.

I know more is now known that has ever been understood before, so I don't doubt the advice about putting babies on their backs. I just have also wondered about how well that always works; because I know how my own kids slept. It seems to me the only answer may be a comfortable infant seat for a few months at least.

Answer 4

Mine too! He's been sleeping that way since he was 8 weeks old. We deiscovered that he has Acid Reflux. When on his back he would wake MANY times during the night, now on his belly he sleeps through the night (9-10 hours). It's YOUR desicion, no one else. Keep an eye on him and check on him often. When he starts to roll over, he'll just do what ever makes him comfortable.

Answer 5

My son is the exact same way, he started at about 2 months and now he is 6 months and still refuses to sleep any other way. I had to give in and let him sleep on his back, I just checked on him constantly, but he is OK, now he rolls around and I can't get him to stay in any position. If he rolls himself onto his back and can't get back onto his belly he cries until I come and help him. Im not sure what there is you can really do, he and you both need sleep.

Answer 6

Don't worry about this. He is allowed to sleep on his belly if that is the only way he will sleep.
Thousands of parents over the whole world are going through this same dilemma, and it is safe for him to sleep in this position- just be sure to keep a check on him, which I know you didn't need to be told, and as soon as he is able to move onto his tummy himself, it is perfectly fine.
Don't worry about this.

Answer 7

I love babies who know waht they want lol. My Son was the same way. I wouldnt sleep all night and I would have the baby monitor next to my ear turned full blast so I could hear him breathing. He survived.

I would put my son on his back walk out of the room and 5 minutes later he was back on his belly. For a week I did this and
he lost so much sleep we both had bags under our eyes.

He did sleep with a pacifier, I have heard that pacifiers reduce SIDS, it has to do with them sucking on it and it helps them remember to breath. Also they have a crib mat that you place your baby on while their sleeping that will alert you if they stop breathing. I actually put my son in a fold out crib next to my bed because I was so worried. He eventually grew out of it and started to sleep on his back. Good Luck and as always you can talk to your pediatrician maybe they can give you more sound advice.

Also like the post above, I rememberd at the hospital when my son was first born they would roll up blankets and put one on each side of him and layed him on his side. I ended up folding a small crib blanket into a small rectangle and put it under his back, so he was lyeing on his back but almost on his side he would sleep like that a lot of times too.( I hope this makes sence)

Answer 8

I have 3 kids and they were the same way. I read in a book that about SIDS that my doctor gave me that SIDS happens most to little boys and during the winter months, But with resent studies they seem to think that a pacifier helps prevents it from happening. Something about the pacifier helps keeps the baby's breathing the way it should be.Now that does not mine it wont happen to you, But it my help you sleep better at night. I know that gave me some peace of mind. So I hope I could help you.

Answer 9

My daughter would only sleep on her stomach starting at 3 weeks. Like someone else I also found out she had acid reflux so maybe that's a concern you should have checked out. She was totally fine I just made sure nothing else was in the crib not even the cover and checked on her often.

Answer 10

Millions of babies have survived sleeping on their stomach. My aunt is a pediatric nurse with the really sick kids in a Boston hospital and she still puts kids to sleep on their stomach if they won't sleep on their backs. I used to freak out when she did it with my son, but as soon as he was able to turn himself over he chose to sleep on his stomach all the time. Now he alternates, but usually ends up on his belly.

Just make sure the surface on which he is sleeping is free of any obstructions and is not overly soft. Think of it this way--a child sleeping on his back is more likely to aspirate and choke on his puke than a child sleeping on his belly.

Your mom probably put you to sleep on your belly and you're still alive, as are 5 billion-plus other adults who slept on their bellies as kids.

Nota bene: I am NOT a doctor (yet) but have discussed this with several doctors who are of the same opinion.