about babys sleeping on tummy.(for people who are open minded)?

Question

I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter, when she was newborn i did everything from the book,and breastfed her for 2 months.She was colic and didnt sleep good at all, and i always put her on her back.I dont smoke,drink,have any pets or anything or do drugs. From the start i never wanted to put her on stomach. But than i saw my sister put her newborn on stomach after 3 months old.
I want another baby,and if he doesnt sleep good at all,i would like to put him on hes stomach if hes healthy after 2-3 months old. Can anyone tell me what the ywent through with putting their baby on stomach,and what your oponion is??
please no grumpy people, i was against doign the baby on tummy thing from the start.

Answer 1

from what i've read about SIDS it's not that a baby sleeping on their tummy is so bad in itself. it's just that a baby likes sleeping on their tummy, usually more than their backs and therefore tend to sleep more soundly and that's when sleep apnea can occur.
sleep apnea is when someone stopes breathing for periods of time during sleep. adults can have it too, but with babies they are so small and in such a deep sleep that it doesn't register that they need to wake up and start breathing again.
the theory is that a baby on it's back that stops breathing isn't as comfortable and is more likely to stir due to lack of oxygen.

i never truly understood until i recently heard my 4 month old make little gasps during the night. then, i realized that he is just dealing with his sleep apnea and will most likely grow out of it.

i am lucky, i put him to sleep on his back and he doesn't mind at all. also, i've known moms who put their baby to sleep on their tummy and they are still alive and my mom put my brother, sister and myself to sleep on our tummies and we're still here.

the point is this....why risk it?? if it can considerably decrease the chances of your baby dying, then do it. let baby sleep on tummy only when you are around to watch them.

take care:)

i also know parents that let the baby fall asleep on their tummy and then do a quick smooth roll onto the back. the baby doesn't even know it happened.

Answer 2

I put my baby to sleep on his side and tummy because he would not sleep on his back.. I was very scared and didn't sleep well at first, although he did fine.. :) He is now a healthy 2 1/2 year old, and I am due in June, and if this one has the same problems, I will do it again... However keep in mind that I only did it until I moved him out of the bedside sleeper.. When I put him in his crib.. The back is the only thing I let him sleep on because I couldn't be there next to him to keep an eye on him.....

Answer 3

I had problems with a colicky baby too (or so I thought) and I found it to be really helpful to use a sleep postioner so I could position her on her side. She slept a lot better than she did on her back and the positioner kept her in place. Turns out my daughter had reflux disease which was originally diagnosed as colic. If your 2nd child has colic, make sure your doc checks him/her for reflux because that can make a child have a lot of the same symptoms as colic. I wouldn't recommend putting a baby on their tummy though unless you are nearby to keep an eye on them.

p.s. Dr's say that once a child can roll over on their own they can sleep in whatever position is most comfortable to them. So I would wait until then to put your baby on his tummy.

Answer 4

Years ago, when my oldest son was an infant. It was put a baby on their stomach to sleep. Then by my third child it was put them on their backs.
At 3 months a child can pick up their heads. So its fine. All 4 of my children have lived and 3 out of 4 slept on their tummies from day 1.

Answer 5

I was told by a nurse that they go thru phases. No tummy, sides only, back only, some tummy etc. What happens is that if they say Sides only, then the amount of SID percents on the side goes up. If they say back only, then the amount of SID percents on the back goes up. While all the advice in the world is well intended. You are the best judge about what you are comfortable doing. My older son slept on his daddy's chest (on his tummy) and then slept on his tummy on his own. Just be aware if you are going to let them sleep on their tummy, have no pillows, stuffed animals or really fluffy blankets under them, and a firm mattress or the floor =). That way you'll feel more comfortable. But only do what YOU are comfortable with.

Answer 6

you know, docs go back and forth with this. I don't have a baby of my own, but I am the full time care giver of my godson. SIDS has dropped dramatically since the 'all babies on backs', but when my godson was starting to crawl and move around, I would just let him go to sleep wherever (he had an elephant pillow he would go lay on) and he laid on his tummy. He was pretty young, and he preferred his stomach. He still does (even though when I take him upstairs to the crib I lay him on his back). Personally, I say go for what your heart tells you. Nobody can parent your child except you, and nobody has the instincts about your child that you do. I personally would wait until 3-4 months to start laying them on their tummy. Good Luck! And a pre-congrats for the baby you don't have yet!!!

Answer 7

I did the same thing as you at first when i brought my baby home and she actually slept pretty good on her back. But then she got colic too and she was waking up every 30 mins. on her back. tossing and turning. I knew she was having tummy problems so I started keeping and eye on her and putting her on her belly to sleep and boy oh boy, what a difference. She slept soooooo good! Now a days, she only takes her naps and ni-night on her belly. I do check on her all the time. She is also capable of holding her head up by herself, I would not do it this way if she couldn't at least do that otherwise she could smother herself when she tries to turn her head, she could end up facing down in the mattress and cannot move. She will be 3 months on 1/15/07. I would not suggest putting baby on belly if you don't have to, but if your baby just doesn't sleep good on her/his back, it's worth a try putting but on his/her belly under close supervision. That's just the thing, I am up like every hour checking on her to make sure she isn't smothering her face while she is sleeping on her belly. I also hear her passing a lot of gas (which is good!) when she sleeps on her belly. It works for her, but pediatricians don't recommend it. It's the only thing that works for my baby. Since I have been putting her on her tummy, she sleeps through the night now. I put her down at 8p.m., she does not get up again until 5a.m. for a feeding/changing and goes right back to sleep (on belly) until 8a.m. I am lucky. All of my friends said their babies slept way better on their bellies too. Again, use your discretion and keep a close eye on bub if you decide to do it this way. I do w/mine. She is awesome!

Answer 8

My newborn seemed happier to sleep on his belly. I was against that because of what the doctors say.
There have been several sids deaths in my area.

My wife then started letting him sleep on his side. I was not pleased with this either because his is supposed to be on his back.

Well he is one years old now and doing just fine.
I wonder if the doctors are right or the baby is right for wanting to be on his belly?

Good Luck. Its a trying time I am sure.

Answer 9

I let my 5 week old sleep on her tummy if shes upset but only during the day when i can keep an eye on her. At night i use a swaddling blanket, i swear its the best thing for settling a baby on their backs , maybe tilt them to the side slightly by rolling up some towells and putting them on one side of her. Your not going to be able to settle and sleep yourself if you're not sure about this. AS FOR GRUMPY PEOPLE WHO SIT ON THIS SITE AND DO NOTHING BUT CRITICISE OTHERS.....YOUR COMMENTS ARE NOT NEEDED...EVER

Answer 10

Honestly, I was too afraid of SIDS to put my son on his tummy. Once he was strong and old enough to roll over on his own, I left him in that position, but he never started there. Also, I didn't want to put him on his tummy after a feeding because the pressure might make him vomit and no one should wake up to a face full of that.