Do you (or would you) put your baby on her belly to sleep?

Question

Has anyone else heard that the "back to sleep" campaign is a bunch of bull? There was a report on the news that I saw where they said that a baby's sleep position might not have anything to do with SIDS. Interesting. Because from what I've read, since the "back to sleep" campaign was implemented, SIDS has dropped 50%. So I've been putting her on her back to sleep...

Anyway..I tried to put her on her belly twice...and she sleeps so soundly when I do that...I'm wondering if I should do it more often. She would probably finally sleep through the night.

Does anyone else put their babies on their bellies at night?

Answer 1

I had three babies and yes, I put them on their bellies. It only makes sense. I've known several parents who put their babies on their backs to sleep and end up having to have their precious babies wear helmets because the backs of their heads end up flat. Also, if a baby spits up during sleep they could choke. I've known parents who have had this happen to their little ones. If they are on their bellies then the spit up simply comes out. It's more comforting for babies to sleep on their bellies because I feel it is the way it was intended. In a few years we'll be hearing that sleeping on their backs causes SIDS and then years after that they'll be saying sleeping on their bellies causes SIDS again. Do what your instincts tell you. I can tell you're a wonderful mama. Good luck and God bless you and your family... especially that little one.

Answer 2

(1) this is NOT science. Science requires to be able to REPEAT an experiment, with IDENTICAL initial conditions, and be able to compare outcomes.
Clearly if / when there is SIDS you cannot do this (unless you had a clone of the baby, and had it experience exactly the same things for the past, say, 7 to 14 days before the accident).
And if there is no SIDS you cannot tell, either

So whatever any researchers can say about this, can only be based on gut feel. Which is why this seems to come and go like a fashion, belly, back, side, etc.


(2) for adults, it is clearly recognized that sleeping on one's back / putting an unconscious person on the back can be (very) dangerous if there is a risk of, say, vomiting. Which is why we are taught to put wounded, unconscious persons on their side in a special position.
Many animals, wounded or not, also quite naturally adopt that position.
The only trick as far as a baby is concerned, is that a baby has short limbs and won't stay in that position, so you need one of those double pillows to maintain him / her.


Personally I've done a lot of on the side / on the belly, w/o any problems. Actually I've found that my babies (I have 4 children) tended to sleep more easily, and for longer, if left on their bellies or sides.

Coming back to vomiting: a baby on her belly will have her head into it, but because of the shape of the nose, and if she moves just a little, there will be no suffocation risk. Whereas if she's on her back, she can choke (to death) if she vomits.


finally, and again as this is NOT science, it should be reminded that there are cases of (soft) parental violence which may be the cause of death but is undetectable, and eve if there was a slight suspicion on the part of the doctor he/she would not want to submit the parents to a detailed police inquiry.


Bottom-line: no one knows for sure, but in nature sleeping on the back seems dangerous / exceptional so why should it be good for babies?

Answer 3

I am a Infant/Toddler Specialist and I have never heard of that new report about sleep positions not making any difference. Now, it is true that we don't know all the reasons that children die of SIDS. But we do think that sleeping too soundly, and not having enough "new" oxygen to breath might be contributing factors. When you sleep on your tummy, there is more of a chance that you are breathing in carbon dioxide (that you just breathed out) instead of fresh oxygen.
Since the Back or Side to Sleep campaign begain, SIDS rates have descreased in every state in the US. In California, where the campaign was always Back to Sleep, the rates decreased even further.
Now, after saying all that, my own baby boy was put to sleep on his tummy because that was what the doctor said to do them (35 years ago :-) My point is - child health and development information continues to change and evolve as we know more. If I had a baby today, I would definitely put her or him back to sleep. But if the baby rolled over on his or her own to the tummy, I wouldn't worry excessively about it. By the way, the back to sleep campaign is most concerned about the first few months when babies can't roll over on their own.

Answer 4

I have two children 2 year old boy and 5 month old girl. Both slept and sleep on their bellies. The infant sleeps longer through the night on her belly. I've heard the thing about SIDS as well but think sometimes you can burp a baby and they may still spit up,lying on the back can cause them to choke rather than on their belly it will flow out and make a sour mess of everything. ( I know from experience). So I honestly see nothing wrong with it. Do keep baby from any harmful small objects,blankets,pillows or anything that could cause them to suffocate or choke on. Hope this helps

Answer 5

I'm on my fourth child and he's presently sleeping very soundly on his belly. My other three (pre anti-belly campaign) survived infancy sleeping on their bellies. SIDS is feared to be caused by the chemicals babies inhale as they sleep. Just don't let them sleep on plastic. Recently there was a chemist guy from the UK who "solved" the SIDS problem by suggesting that parents put all-cotton bedding between the mattress and the sheet. If your child is healthy and not exposed to pollutants such as second hand smoke then I wouldn't worry a bit. Western doctors have this marvelous way of making us feel afraid. It's important to note that none of my children are vaccinated and have never received antibiotics either. So far they've never contracted diptheria or an ear infection.

Answer 6

My daughter slept on her tummy, I slept on my tummy, my sister and step sisters slept on their tummies, my nieces and nephews slept on their tummies (let's see mp that is about 50 of us who were tummy sleepers) I have friends who's children were tummy sleepers. There is NO PROOF that tummy sleeping is the cause of sids. In my 53 years on this earth I have heard of numerous "causes". One was, having pets in the home causes sids. Putting a baby to bed with a bottle causes sids, putting a baby to bed with a pacifer causes sids. Having an older sibling sleeping in the same room as the baby causes sids. Here's one for all of you breast feeders, breastfeeding past the 2nd month causes sids. If you dreamed of a realtive that had passed before you got pregnant sids would make a visit. Get the picture? Yes it is true that in the cases that were studided a certain amount of babies did pass...that doesn't mean that EVERY CHILD ON THIS PLANET who is put to sleep on their tummies will. It just means that THOSE that did in the study did. I say put the baby to sleep the way the baby is most comfortable. Then you ALL will get a restfull sleep.
The only case of "sids" that I personally have ever known of was a friend's baby, my friend was one of those "back sleeping only" people. Well turns out the baby got sick in the night and vomited...choked to death on her own vomit because she was too young to roll over onto her tummy....

Answer 7

I DO, eventhough I've heard and read a lot of things about SIDS and belly sleeping, but nothing is for sure. The only problem is that my son refused to sleep on his back, or his side eversince he was 2 days old. If ever i tried to put him on his side, or his back he would keep on crying, and wouldn't go to sleep until i put him on his belly. Then when he could turn, he would just turn himself on his belly. All i can do is pray that nothing happens.

Good luck

Answer 8

I always put my two on their backs to sleep. It has been a while since I had a little baby so I haven't heard the new news about SIDS.

Answer 9

I've been in medicine for over 15 years and I'm very aware of the "Back to Sleep" campaign encouraged by the American Association of Pediatrics. It's been in effect for approximaltey ten years and they claim to have lowered the rate of SIDS with this technique. Personally, I have a couple of arguments with their theories...

1.) Even with all the research that's been done on SIDS, we're still not really sure what causes it.

2.) If a baby is lying on their back and throws up, the vomit/liquid has no where to go but back down their throat causing the baby to aspirate on it; a possible choking hazard or entering the lungs and causing pneumonia.

3.) In the last 10 years, baby monitors have become more widely available and are of a better quality making it easier for us to "be in the room" with baby no matter where we are.

And last 4.) Better, safer sleepwear and cribbing. We're not swaddling our babies in heavy blankets to help keep them warm. Sheets and crib accessories are better fitted so as to not come loose.

I have a 4 1/2 month old son. We initially put him on his back, as recommended, but after he choked on his own vomit three times, I started to lay him on his side with a receiving blanket rolled up behind his back. He slept very well in that position and on the few occasions he did vomit, it ran out of his mouth. I can clean bedding, clothing and baby easy enough! Now that he's rolling over on his own, he puts himself to sleep on his stomach and does well.

The medical profession has been flip flopping on what position is best for baby for generations! Before this, it was put the baby on their side. When I was a baby (34 years ago) my mom was told to put me on my stomach. So the theory of what's best will change again! I'll step off my soapbox now!

Answer 10

My 5 month old died of SIDS and she was on her back. There are just as many babies that die on their backs, while being held, in car seats, in strollers that do on their tummies. They have no idea what causes it and just keep throwing ideas out there but that's just what they are is "ideas." Just like the whole pacifier thing that is supposed help reduce the risk. My daughter had a pacifier in her mouth and it was laying beside her head because it fell out when she stopped breathing and her mouth was open. Nobody knows so they just keep coming up with random crap and people say OKAY, and start doing then their baby dies like mine did and they are left standing wondering how it could have happened because they did everything they were supposed to. My husband was sitting on the floor watching tv and my daughter was laying on her back right beside him when she stopped breathing. We did everything right we were supposed to do and it still happened.