Babies sleeping on there stomach?

Question

Our 6 week old daughter refuses to sleep on her back, (She did fine at first but then my mother visited us and wouldn't put her in her crib when she was sleeping and screwed everything up).
Now the only time I can actually get her to sleep on her is when she sleeps with us (king size bed, we live in FL so no blankets, she sleeps on her back. I know she shouldn't be sleeping with us but it's either 4 hours of sleep or no sleep).

Now my fiance thinks we should try having her sleep on her stomach but I am scared that something will happen if she does sleep on her stomach. I am asking on his behalf if there is a safe way for our 5 week old to sleep on her stomach, or if anyone has any ideas on getting her to sleep on her back or side.

I've tried holding her and then laying her down on her back but she wakes up inches away from the bassenet like she knows. I try talking to her and rubbing her tummy and her head and I give her a pacifire but as soon as I go to lay in bed (cont.)

(which is only 3 feet away) she wakes up and this goes on for about 3 to 4 hours until I cave and put her in our bed.

So does anyone have any ideas what so ever to get her to sleep?! (I'd rather she not sleep on her stomach but again I am asking on my fiances behalf so don't feel bad if you want to say it's a bad idea because I wont mind a bit.)

Answer 1

With SIDS, everyone screams NOT ON THEIR STOMACH. Well, I raised two back when sleeping on their stomach was fine. Actually both of mine would not sleep in any other position.

Now my daughter is a NOT ON HER BACK person. We did a test on her daughter. We put her on her back tired......she cried and cried. We flipped her to her stomach and she was asleep in less than 2 minutes. Conclusion: the child preferred her stomach.

As a compromise, we put my granddaughter to bed on her stomach. When she is sound asleep we roll her to her back.

When I am watching her I leave a monitor on, check on her when she is moving around and I leave her on her stomach. I'd rather keep a close watch on her and at least let her get some decent sleep!

If a child can control their head enough to turn it, they can get their face in a way to breathe freely.

Doctor's fads are sometimes taken to extremes. "The doctor said" does not always precede practical advice.

Found this interesting statistic.....kind of low for what doctors tells parents about the chances of SIDS and sleep positions..

""Research shows that a baby's risk of SIDS is 1.7 to 12.9 percent higher (depending on the study) if he sleeps on his tummy instead of his back.""
Source: http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babyills/sids/419.html

Answer 2

You NEED to watch the DVD The Happiest Baby on the Block. The doctor on there has 5 keys to a happy and sleeping baby. Seriously, it will change your life.

With that said, here is what I learned from that DVD. I have a 3 month old, and have done all of these things together. My results have been blissful!!! First, swaddle your baby tight for bedtime, and rock her to sleep by laying her on your lap and shaking your legs to sort of "vibrate" her to sleep. Sound machines work really well to keep any outside noises from alarming her. If none of that works, then a swing is a great way to get her to sleep. Use one with a sound machine in it.

Remember, you cannot spoil a baby until after 3 months, so do not worry about ruining bedtime for good. However, get a routine down and stick with it. Babies are creatures of habit, and they respond tremendously to familiar routines. I would strongly discourage putting her on her back, especially if your instinct says no.

I wish you the best!

Answer 3

I know that this is a hard decision for any mom who is put in the position of weather to let their baby sleep on its stomach and risk SIDS and all that. I know because my five week old son is the same way he wont sleep on his back. You can call me a bad mom if you want but I put my son on his tummy to sleep. He can hold his head up enough to not suffocate and I make sure that the surface I lay him on is firm without any loose blankets that he could get in his mouth or anything. Oh and one more thing that you have to consider......if you ask people who are 20 and older to ask their parents whether the slept on their stomach or backs 90% figuratively speaking will probably say that they slept on their stomach and they seem to be doing just fine.

Answer 4

Some babies just naturally find there way onto their stomachs. Alot of babies don't like sleeping on their backs, i found putting my 2 on their sides and using tightly rolled up receiving blankets against their backs. You can also buy these at any department store. Babies don't really form habits until 4-6 months of age so don't worry about the co sleeping for now. Instead of stressing i would let her sleep on her tummy and check her a little more often or get a monitor. Good luck!

Answer 5

Speak to your baby's doctor. Stomach sleeping has been shown to be related to SIDS deaths, that's why back sleeping is recommended. You may want to invest in a co-sleeper for your bed, so the baby is near you, but has her own space. Your doctor can provide the best suggestions for solving your problem.
What about moving her bassinet next to the bed? Or holding her in your lap, on her back, and rocking her to sleep, then moving her to the crib? Good luck!

Answer 6

My son is 12 weeks old. I started putting him to sleep on his tummy when he was 3 weeks old. It was the only way he would sleep unless he slept with me. Honestly, I prefer him that way because if he throws up at least he won't choke on it. (He could hold his head up pretty well at 3 weeks). If she can move her head up and off of the bassinet she should be okay. Just check on her more often until you're comfortable with it. Good luck!

Answer 7

We had the same issues with our middle son, and bought whats called a Safe T Sleep. It is a strip of cotton sheet that you put on the cot or bassinet, and it has a velcro belt that goes around babys waist. This enables baby to lie on their backs or side, but not roll onto their tummy. I think they feel safe and comfy in these, as my son went straight to sleep once his was on. When our 3rd child was born we used it with him too, and still do and he is 9 months old. The only problem is weaning them out of it!
I woudn't encourage tummy sleeping, especially at that age. I know you get desperate with no sleep with babies at that age, but it is so dangerous!!!! (I know a 5 month old baby who died of sids and was a tummy sleeper. Good luck to you!

Answer 8

My daughter slept with us and in her bassinet then i moved her to her crib. Keep trying. She will get used to her bassinet. Make sure your baby is swaddled. She may be waking up b/c she's twitching and it wakes her up. She loves sleeping with you b/c it's warm and she smells you and it comforts her. Try every night, swaddle her and put her in after she's fallen asleep. There were many nights my daughter would wake the minute I put her in her bassinet but i kept trying throughout the night or until she's sleeping by herself. Good luck.

Answer 9

Do not put your daughter to sleep on her stomach it is a bad idea because she could sufferocate a baby that young cannot hold up her neck muscles. I recently had a baby on Nov. 2nd and I would but him to bed on his side and I would switch to the other side after he had a feeding. I do not put him on his back to much because I do not want him to have a flat head.

However, now that he is 4mth's he refuses to sleep in his crib. I would put him down then he would start to cry, so I did the mistake to sleep with him and now he loves it. I have to admit I love it too because he sleeps alot longer and I also feel safe because he is near me. My mother tells me that it is dangerous because I might sufferocate him but I tell her that I have one of those pillows that you put a baby in. The prevents me and my husband to roll on him.

Answer 10

if the baby sleeps well on her back in your bed you may want to check into buying a cosleeper..its a small basinet type thing with no legs that is made to go in the parents bed......one of my children was born premature and had apnea so i bought one for my own peace of mind so i would be beside him if he stopped breathing......it worked great and no risk of rolling on baby or suffocating her.....also there are basinets and cribs that are made with drop down sides that are made to actually be sort of an extension to the parents bed so the baby will still be beside you.