Is it that bad if my daughter-in-law puts her 4 week old to sleep on his stomach?

Question

Talked to my daughter-in-law today. She put the baby to bed on his stomach last night and he slept much better. He doesn't like his back or side at all. All 7 of my kids slept on their stomachs. The theory back then was if they vomited they would be less likely to choke on it.

Answer 1

First off positioning has nothing to do with why a baby suddenly stops breathing. Suffocation is not SIDS so a baby that dies on its tummy because it was face down in the crib or because of a blanket is not SIDS it is suffocation, not the same thing. They have changed the way they rule a SIDS death and suffocation is suffocation it is no longer considered SIDS. My daughter was on her back and still died of SIDS. I joined a SIDS group shortly after she died and guess what....most of the mothers in my group have also stated that their babies were on their backs, sides, in strollers, swings, etc. There were only a couple on their tummy. If a baby dies on its tummy and it was not suffocation then yeah it was probably SIDS but that baby would have died in any position just like my daughter did. A sudden cesation of breathing has nothing to do with positioning or there would be no babies at all dying other than in just one position. People are so hell bent on this back to sleep stuff that they follow it so cautiously along with everything else they have come up with and then like me their baby dies and they are left saying but I did everything I was supposed to. It doesn't matter what you do. Whatever is causing these babies to stop breathing is beyond our control as parents. It is something you have no control over and if it's going to happen it's going to happen. Your daughter should just enjoy her baby, as should you, and not let this overwhelm you. I've had two more and both of them slept in whatever position they wanted, usually on their stomach, and they are both fine. As far as the vomitting thing, I am in the medical field, along with having 3 children with GERD, and I can tell you that you should never put a baby with reflux to sleep on their back for that very purpose. If a baby with reflux is on their back when they have an episode little particles of food can come back up the eosphagus and spill over into the trachea causing apnea or cesation of breathing and the baby could die. We thought this was a possibility with our first because she had eaten just 2 hours before she died and was put her on her back, normally she slept on her tummy. The medical examiner told us that my doctor informed him that she had GERD before the autopsy and he assured us that was not the case. She did not have a reflux episode prior to her passing, but he also said that we were right in putting her on her tummy to sleep with the reflux because of what I just told you could happen.

Answer 2

My daughter has a four week old as well, and I will tell you I was a bit surprised by the change in baby position since my kids were babies. However, there are several studies that show there is less chance of the baby dieing of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) should you have them sleep on their backs instead of their tummy. There is such a thing as 'Tummy Time' for the baby which, I'm told, should be done at least two hours a day.
I had four children and they all survived the tummy years and there seems to be a lot of indecisiveness between the specialists about this.
Placing a baby to bed on his back is a "Suggestion" by medical professionals. So placing a child on his tummy to sleep, as long as Mommy and Daddy are near by is only a decision you can make.
Also, doctors say that a healthy, strong, baby is able to turn his or her head should they vomit while sleeping on their back. I must admit that my grand daughter has tossed her formula while sleeping and thank goodness we were listening because it backed up into her nose and eyes and couldn't breath. She is, according to the doctors, the picture of health and looks wonderful, so we were a bit concerned when this happened. Needless to say, my daughter gets very little sleep during the time the baby is asleep and usually has to wait until visiting Grandma on the weekends to get some rest.
So, as you see, there are a difference of opinion when it comes to the baby back or stomach idea. I realize this wasn't much help but, it really is just a matter of opinion and study by two different sides of the medical profession.

Answer 3

The professional's recommend putting babies on their backs or sides. They say it decreases the likelihood of SIDS. Personally, my first son would be sound asleep in my arms and I would put him down on this back and he would wake up and start screaming. SO, I got a side positioner. I tried that for a while, didn't work either. He would only sleep in my arms. I finally broke down (didn't tell my pediatrician) and put him on his stomach and he slept great and I finally got some sleep. Now he's a healthy 11 year old. Of my other two boys, one slept anywhere and way - still does at 4 years old, and the other boy preferred to sleep on his side. He woke and cried if he rolled off his side.

Answer 4

Doctors recommend putting young babies to sleep on their backs because it has been proven to significantly reduce the risk of SIDS. It is not just the blankets that are the problem. They don't have the strenght and control to reliably turn their heads if they end up face down in the sheets or mattress. When we were young few people used seatbelts either and most of us survived, but now that you know they save lives most people use them. The baby will get used to sleeping on his back. A few difficult nights are worth reducing the risk of death.

Answer 5

My advise butt out. It is her kid you had your shot 7 times. Just be a grandma and enjoy the grand kid. you might ruin a perfectly good relation ship. My mother in law butted in so much:
1. My child was vomitting -> give hem cola was her advise she got mad when we did not.
2. My child's pediatrician is a well respected physician-> she did not like his answers on certain things so she told us to change doctors. We did not -> she is pissed
3. We did time outs on our child when he was younger than 3-> she who used to have her husband belt her children says that children under 3 do not need discipline.
4. We let our child cry it out-> she claims htis is cruel
5. We do not let our child have certain foods-> she wants to feed it to them anyway and then says we are just hiding behind our pediatrician.
Oh the best one yet first time parents do not know what they are doing....as if she did

basically my inlaws and I were very close. But she really really wrecked it by butting in. Grand children are not your kids. They are the parents kids. If you raised your son well then he should be fine. Trust me even if you were right about something then you daughter in law will still do what she thinks is the right thing. All you do is create stress when you interfere.

Only give advise when asked!!!

Answer 6

Baby will be just fine. My boys only slept on their stomachs. They would not got to sleep on their backs/sides.

The most recent study says that SIDS is caused by a brain stem issue. http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/oct2006/nichd-31.htm

Answer 7

Most of us slept on our stomachs and were fine. Just make sure that she checks on the baby in the night to make sure he's OK.

Answer 8

Sleeping on the back is supposed to reduce the risk of SIDS. But, as long as you make sure that the baby's head stays to the side, it prevents suffocation. just make sure there are no pillows or other clutter in the crib.

Answer 9

Its been linked to SID's, where as back sleeping has not.

Its been found that babies, in their sleep, roll their heads and dont finish the roll and end up face down in the mattress.

It has happened the babies have choked on theri vomit, but its rare, and using sleep positioners to keep the baby on its side avoids both issues.

Infants have preferences, but everyone prefers life.

He should be on his back, or atleast on his side.

Answer 10

both my sons slept on their stomachs too. the younges slept through the whole night at 4 weeks. he was comfortable on his stomach