How does your baby sleep at night?

Question

I put my 4 month old baby boy in his crib for the first time last night. (Thanks to all who answered my question yesterday. It helped alot.) Previously, he had been sleeping in my room in a bassinet. He slept fine until about one in the morning and he woke up crying. When I went to get him I saw that he was trying to roll onto his belly and got frustrated because he hasn't quite mastered that skill yet. He can roll from belly to back though. I brought him back to my room and laid him in his bassinet and he went back to sleep, but still was waking me up because he was trying to roll over and couldn't. I have been letting him sleep on his belly during the day when he naps. But it seems like he is getting to where he wants to sleep on his belly all the time. (Thats the only way his dad can sleep.) I asked my mother's opinion and she told me that I always slept on my belly as a baby. So I was wondering everyone elses opinion. How do you let your child sleep?

He is also good with holding his head up already. From the day he was born he was able to roll over onto his side and even scooted down to the bottom of the bassinet they put him in. Though he can't crawl yet, he can lift himself up on all fours. He just can't figure out how to get going, lol. He can army crawl like a pro though. He is very active. His Pa says the only time he is still is when he is asleep. Which isn't true, lol. He rolls from side to side then too.

Answer 1

I prefer to have my baby sleeping on her back, as they say its safer, but I know so many people who have their child sleeping on their stomach as they feel its best for the baby especially if they spit up. I don't think there is any problem in him sleeping on his stomach. If hes strong enough to hold his head up and he enjoys that way of sleeping during the day, then why not. As long as you don't have anything in the crib that he can get caught up on or he can suffocate from, then put him on his stomach. I was put on my stomach to sleep as a child, back then it was the only way to put them to sleep. How things have changed over the years. Its your call but we sleep in the position we are comfortable in, and your baby wants to as well.

Answer 2

I know all the "experts" say never lay a baby on his stomach. But as a mom of 2 and both were sleeping through the night by 2 months old (thank you very much); my girls liked to sleep on their bellies. I put them to bed that way and we had nice peaceful nights. My youngest one though went through phases with sleeping through the night.

In a couple of weeks he will be rolling around with the best of them and you won't be able to keep him on his back. Looks to me like you have 2 choices; lay him on his belly or get up in the middle of the night to flip him over. Either way he will remedy the situation himself in a week or two.

Answer 3

It is better for a child to sleep on it's back, but it is better for the child to sleep at all even if it is on it's tummy. My child was the most active sleeper ever, back, belly, back belly, side. Fun to watch. Anyways, let him sleep on his belly, just check on him often, untill he can really move his head on his own.... good sign that SIDS is less of a risk.

Answer 4

I have three children, born over the course of eight years. When my oldest was a baby, the doctors insisted that children sleep on their bellies. By the time my second son was born, doctors were recommending that babies sleep on their sides. (We even bought that triangular wedge thing-a-ma-jig to try to prop him on his side each night.) By the time my little girl was born, we were told to put her to bed on her back.

The thing I learned over the course of the years is that sometimes, despite our best efforts and the most current medical advice, our children will not sleep through the night on our time tables. They need us during the day ~ they need us during the night. Waking to care for them at night was never a big deal for me. I decided early on to view it as a sweet and private time to bond with my children. I had a son who slept through the night within the first 6 months ~ another who took a little longer ~ and I have a seven year old girl who still crawls into our bed most nights.

Answer 5

Personally I would let him sleep on his belly. Follow all the other safey precautions against SIDS, but if he really wants to I think it's ok. I have had 7 babies. One in particular wanted to be a tummy sleeper before she could really roll over. I would start her out on her back but in the middle of the night she would fuss and I would go and "flip" her, and she'd go right back to sleep!

Answer 6

I have heard recently that babies who roll like that should be ok on there bellies because they have more control of themselves. Both of my sons have slept just fine on thier tummies. Our 6 month old came home from the hospital already rolling, so he has never stayed on his back anyways. Good luck.

Answer 7

I had the same problem with my baby.

I called my doctor to verify that my son was old enough to sleep on his belly and he confirmed that he was. What I would recommend is to call your doctor and see what he or she says.

As soon as my baby figured out how to roll over on his own it made bed time much better. I still always lay him down on his back, but he always flips over before going to sleep. It's really cute because he insists on sleeping with his tushie up in the air. :)

Good luck!

Answer 8

with my first little boy he used to sleep with me and his father lol so i cant give u advice there however when no two came around i wasnt making the same mistake twice id put him on his belly all the time whatever he was comfortable with. It makes me laugh though because now his one and when he goes to sleep in his cot he can be in any sort of position when i go to put the covers on him

Answer 9

As logn as he can move his head, letting him sleep on his belly should be fine. At this age, he can feel when he's uncomfortable. My son is 4 months also and sleeps on his belly. Babies tend to sleep better that way.

Answer 10

First of all they really dont know what causes SIDS, all three of my kids were ones that wouldnt sleep on their backs, thank goodness the first one wouldnt it saved her life, anyways, if your baby has good head control let him sleep on his belly he will move around enough to be safe