when can infants start sleeping on thier bellies and for how long? what if they lay on your chest for a nap?

Answer 1

For starters a lot has changed in the research of SIDS. My daughter died in 2003 thank to SIDS and she was on her back. After doing years and years of research (not on the net either) I have learned a lot. Suffocation and SIDS are not the same thing, which then means the back to sleep thing needs to be revised to pertain to suffocation not SIDS. SIDS is when an otherwise healthy baby dies of no known cause after the completion of an autopsy. suffocation is when a baby stops breathing because of some kind of obstruction (face down, blankets, stuffed animals, etc.) Therefore, putting a baby down on it's tummy and that baby ends up dying it will not be classified as SIDS it will be suffocation. Back to sleep should be identified with suffocation not SIDS. I joined a SIDS group and sadly there are only a few that were on the tummy so that tells me that somebody needs to re-evaluate the percentage of deaths again because it doesn't seem to me that putting babies on their backs has changed anything. I know too many babies that have died on their backs, in swings, car seats, strollers, even being held. I, however, do not know that many that have actually died on their tummy. People need to make sure the facts they are pulling off the internet are recent facts and not old one. The internet is not the best place to research an ever changing subject like this. Try talking to people that have actually been through it, and see just how fishy these statistics really are.

Answer 2

I was told that an infant can start sleeping on his stomach when he's old enough and strong enough to roll over on his own.

However, both my husband & I napped with our baby laying on his tummy on our chest as you described, as we napped in a recliner. I want to say that this is NOT recommended...but we did it, with no problems.

Answer 3

I cannot speak for everybaby but with my daughter the only way she would sleep was on her stomach. And that is from day one. I however believe that untill a baby is capable of lifting thier head off the matress and moving it that you are suposed to lay them on thier back. However you dont always get what you think you will.

Answer 4

To answer this question, you need to understand SIDS and what is known about it to-date.

SIDS is caused from a small defect in the part of the brain that regulates serotonin. This hormone regulates many things, how deeply we sleep for one. A baby with the defect can sleep so hard that their brain will not wake them up or prompt them to roll over if they are not able to get enough oxygen. There is no way to tell if a baby is born with this or not right now, so everyone is advised to take precautions against SIDS.

Sometimes an infant can end up rebreathing air that gets caught in a pocket or corner of a crib or bassennett. This is why it is advised to keep an infant on his or her back to sleep, so that there is no risk of suffocation. Some babies will succumb to SIDS no matter what precautions are take.

Knowing this information, you are no equipped to make the decision of whether or not to put your baby on his or her tummy to sleep. It is advised to put baby on its back until the child is old enough to crawl, or flips himself over on his own. Many parents have their babies sleep on their chest and have little problem with it.

Answer 5

This was one of my biggest fears. I was super paranoid about SIDS and didn't want my babies sleeping on their tummies ever for fear they would suffocate, even when I was holding them. Since then, I realize that when they are sleeping on you, and you are there to superivse, then they will be totally fine. As for bedtime, always put them to sleep on their backs. If they roll over, they roll over. Doctors say when babies can roll over, you can't worry about it. You obviously can't sit in their room all night and make sure they don't roll onto their stomachs. Just make sure there aren't any blankets in their cribs until they are a year old, and always put them down on their back. That is all you can do.

Answer 6

i read in all the baby mags and how to raise a baby books and they all say that tummy is for play time and back is for sleep time. the reason being is sleeping on belly can cause ear infections and has a higher chances of sids. but personally, my four month old prefers sleeping on his belly. he won't sleep on his back (which sadly to say makes it harder for him to sleep in carseats when we go out). my son started sleeping on his belly after a month or two (i went back to work and my mom has this thing where she thinks a baby sleeping on his back will cause a cone head...it's an asian thing).

anywhos, i say belly sleeping is perfectly fine as long as you're supervising.

Answer 7

YOU ARE ALWAYS SUPPOSE TO LAY A BABY ON THEIR BACK WHEN YOU LAY DOWN FOR BED. AT 6 MONTHS IS WHEN THEY REALLY START MOVING AROUND IN THEIR SLEEP AND IF THEY ROLL OVER ON THEIR STOMACH ITS OK MY DR. SAID THAT DO NOT DISTURB THEM WHILE THEY ARE SLEEPING. THEY WILL MORE THAN LIKELY TURN BACK ON THEIR BACK. AND ALSO BY 6 MONTHS THE RISK OF SIDS DECLINES DRAMATICALLY. BUT THERE IS STILL A RISK UNTIL THEY ARE 1 YEAR OLD. BUT IT IS OK TO LET THEM SLEEP ON THEIR STOMACH ONLY IF THEY TURN ON IT WHEN THEY ARE 6 MONTHS AND UP.

Answer 8

When my sister's daughter was ten months old, she just started rolling over on her stomach and sleeping with her knees under her belly. But it really scared me. I tried moving her around to her back, but she just cried and rolled back over. So when they can move freely back and forth, I'd say it'd be fine, just put them on their back when you put them to sleep. A baby will be fine on your chest for a nap.

Answer 9

Probably perfectly okay to lay on your chest for naps. I always put my baby to sleep on his back. If he is big enough to roll over on his tummy, he is old enough to sleep on his tummy....

Answer 10

When they can pull themselves up to stand. Or a year if you want to be REALLY safe. If they lay on your chest for a nap and YOU'RE awake, then it's fine.