my daughter is 3 months old and i try to put her on her sleep on her back but she doesn't sleep well that way. she wakes up and cries every couple hours for no reason. but when i put her on her tummy she will sleep through the night. now i know about all the SIDS stuff, im just wondering if any other mothers have had this problem and what they did. And am i really putting my child in danger.
2007-02-14 05:29:04 · 25 answers · asked by baileysmommy06 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
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. You should just enjoy your baby 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. SIDS has been known to happen up until 1 year but the risk decreases after 6 months. I know three people in my SIDS group that lost their babies at 10 month and two at 12 months. There are also 2 that lost their baby to SIDS while their baby was awake so it doesn't even have to happen while they are sleeping. They say it is more likely to happen to males, in the winter months, and african american babies but my baby was a girl, it happened in June, and she was white. I don't buy any of the garbage they try to tell people anymore because more than likely if you do your research and ask people that it has actually happened to you can discredit everything they are saying. Just like the pacifier supposedly reducing the risk, yeah right, my daughter had a pacifier in her mouth and it fell out when she stopped breathing. That is another one that got asked of the mothers in my group and as it turns out the pacifier did not do their babies any good either. Good theory but it is not true, but people will believe anything because it is easier to beleive that something, no matter what it is, is a solution for why babies just suddenly die but they need to get some facts and proof before they start preaching it to people.
2007-02-14 11:01:32 · answer #1 · answered by shannonmangan 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your baby is female, white, with no birth complications or anything, she is low risk for SIDS. If I were you (actually I have been in your position), I would put her down on her back, and make sure there's NOTHING extra in the crib, even bumpers to be on the safe side, but then when she wakes and cries, flip her on her tummy. We too felt guilty about doing this but we thought, well, she needs to sleep, she's low risk for SIDS, we will do everything to follow the sids rules that we can but we are going to let her sleep on her tummy once she starts to cry. She was our 5th baby so we were slightly less anal about all the baby "rules" than new parents :)
2007-02-14 14:21:41 · answer #2 · answered by toomanycommercials 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son was the exact same way. He was constantly waking up while sleeping on his back, wouldn't sleep for more than 30-45 mins on his back. I know all about SIDS and the dangers of letting them sleep on the tummies. I talked to my dr and he advsd that as long as there wasn't any stuffed animals or pillows or crib bumpers in the crib that my son should be fine sleeping on his tummy. He is now 6 months old and he still sleeps on his tummy
2007-02-14 13:37:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think almost all moms have that problem!! I did and so did all my friends. I will tell you it is up to you on how you let them sleep. As long as all the pillows and stuffed animals and things like that are out of the bed( also the thick blankets) then it will be fine just make sure they are in there bed and the sheets are pulled tight. This is something many moms will either say you will put your child in danger or they will agree with me and say it is your choice!! I will tell you when I was a baby and my middle brother was( I am 21 and my brother is 14) that is what they said you need to put your baby on there tummy so they do not choke in there sleep. Then they changed it and said put them on there sides..now on the back... It is all up to you on how you let them sleep..personally if she does better on the tummy then do what works..a healthy child will not suffocate them selves just like a healthy child will not choke in there sleep.. they will know to turn there heads to the side in both instances!!
Good Luck
2007-02-14 13:36:06 · answer #4 · answered by mommy of 2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm just like you. My son is 2 1/2 months old and he only sleeps on his tummy. I check on him all the time and am really nervous about SIDS. I'm so glad that people's opinion on this forum show that it isn't all bad - b/c all the reading material i've been looking out make me scared to put him on his tummy.
2007-02-14 13:45:57 · answer #5 · answered by SB 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know everyone is going to him and haw and say that you're endagering your child...but frankly...when we were growing up...that's the way it was done...
So yes and no...studies have proven that putting children to sleep on their backs greatly lessens the risk of sids (by almost 50%)...so yes you could choose a "safer" sleeping position...
However...we all survived and our moms were sippling martinis, puffing on cigarettes and popping us in our cribs on our bellies (that were probably painted with lead based paint) and we survived...
Personally...my son slept on his back for his first three or so months....and now he sleeps on his side and occasionally rolls on to his back...he doesn't sleep on his belly because he just doesn't seem comfortable...
If you feel confident doing it, and the baby seems comfortable and you have the baby monitor turned way up...it's your call.
I would recommend however getting a baby monitor matress pad...it actually has an alarm that goes off if your baby stops breathing...may be worth looking into if you are really concerned about the danger.
If your'e scared or worried about it ...try side sleeping first...and see how it goes...
2007-02-14 13:42:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The risks are higher, but still small.
Have you tried side sleeping using positioners? Also maybe she would be more comfortable on her back if she was on an angle? You can buy special pillows or just put books under the crib legs. DO NOT place anything on or under the matress that was not specifically designed for infant sleeping.
However ultimately you need sleep!
BTW once she can roll over tummy to back and back to tummy reliably she can pick her sleep position. That should be soon.
2007-02-14 13:33:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
My son has done the exact same thing since he was born. He is now 5 months old. Since leaving the hospital he wouldn't sleep on his back - ever!What I ended up doing was letting him sleep on his stomach, but I got a heart monitor pad for his crib. They sell the following at Babies R Us, Target, Walmart, etc. and its available online all over the place. Search around - it is usually $100, but I remember seeing it online somewhere for $75...
Angelcare Movement Sensor with Sound Monitor
It goes under the crib pad and goes off if they stop breathing for 15 seconds it makes a sound and after 5 more it goes crazy. It is the only way I feel safe! Incidentally, he has been fine on his stomach - and he even has acid reflux.
2007-02-14 16:34:22 · answer #8 · answered by JadeAMurray 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think most babies would prefer thier stomachs. Just because of SIDS I would be weary. I just read this horrible article about the reality of SIDS. I wouldn't let your baby sleep on the stomach. Try to see if the baby will accept her side. I bought a sleep positioner early on so that my baby wouldn't roll over. She preferred to be on her stomach and sde as a new born and it really made me nervous. 1000 babies die of SIDS every year and it is the number one cause of death of babies under 6 months. Your baby has a higher chance of dieing of SIDS than in a car crash or of the flu.
2007-02-14 15:19:15 · answer #9 · answered by jc2006 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also put my baby on her tummy, shes 2 months old. She sleeps more soundly and is much more comfortable. When on her back she wakes herself when she moves...She has a firm mattress and I only cover her to the middle of her back, making sure the blanket (light weight) isn't near her head at all or near her hands... I have slept with her twice in my bed, and WONT lay her on her tummy then, too many blankets, sheets, etc...
Hope this helps.
Its sorta silly cause my mom says "we all lived and slept on our tummys" back in the day things were so different.
2007-02-14 13:35:30 · answer #10 · answered by Christine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋