How do you let your baby sleep?

Question

I'm curious, with all the research and information about SIDS floating around, is there anyone who still puts their child on their stomach to sleep? What was the result?

Answer 1

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 dies, but they need to get some facts and proof before they start preaching it to people

Answer 2

Both my children slept with me from birth. So they were on their backs or side as I was always cradling them in my sleep. IT was easier to feed if they were already in that position.
During naps they were layed however they were comfortable.

I've never really believed the whole SIDS because of tummy sleeping. No-one actually knows the cause of SIDS, it just a name they give to babies that hves died and they cant explain why. So if they cant explain why then how do they know the cause? Or what prevents it or contributes to it. It's all rather silly to me.

My generation were tummy sleepers and seeing we are still here breeding says something. And I'm sure those generations before us were tummy sleepers as well.
I used to babysit alot when I was younger and all those babies slept on their tummies, they are all still here.

It just never made sense to me, I was so scared (with my kids)that they would choke on their spit up if they slept on their backs. It just made sense that if they were face down it would all come out. But if a babies neck control isnt good enough to lay them on their stomach then how are they going to turn their head in their sleep to vomit?

Answer 3

The MYTH that tummy sleeping causes SIDS is just that ANOTHER MYTH. I was put to sleep on my tummy, in fact ALL of the kids in my family (cousins etc) were put to sleep on their tummies, my ex husbands family the same. My daughter was put to sleep on her tummy and still after 21 years she sleeps on her tummy. Every so often someone comes up with a new "study" and a new "cause" for SIDS. Some of the "causes" have been:
having a dog in the home
having a cat in the home
having central heating and air conditioning
NOT having central heatin and air conditioning
Fans/no fans
flannel crib sheets
cotton crib sheets
plastic covered crib mattresses
home is too warm
home is too cold
The studies that are done are based SOLELY on the group that is studied and in my opinion proves nothing. I have a friend who was a fanatic about making sure her newborn was placed on his back to sleep...She was literally ANAL about it and would get up three or four times a night just to make sure he was on his back and to put him on his back if he rolled over. He died at 5 months old because he threw up while he was on his back and aspirated on his own vomit.
How YOU put YOUR baby to sleep is up to you, I say put your baby to sleep the way THEY are most comfortable. The TRUTH is that no one KNOWS for certain WHAT causes SIDS. Everyone I've known who has had a baby in the past seven years has allowed their babies to sleep how they are comfortable...and damned each and everyone of them are either in day care/preschool or elementary school now. Only one that didn't make it was the ONE put to sleep on his back. So wouldn't that make putting a baby to sleep on it's back causes SIDS?

Answer 4

I always put my first to sleep on his back, but with my second, I let her sleep on her stomach once her neck was strong and she could move her head around easily. She slept so much better that way, and I just needed some sleep since I already had one to take care of. She's now 17 months old and healthy as can be.

Answer 5

My daughter slept on her back until she was old enough to push herself up and/or roll over. Once she was about 4 months, we let her sleep on her side and stomach. She sleeps a lot better on her side/stomach. When she was on her back, every little move would make her whole body jump and wake her up. She is a healthy 10 month old and sleeps in every position possible.

I believe it is best to just follow what the doctors say. That way you are safe, just in case something were to happen. I do have many friends who put their children to sleep on their stomach from day one and their children are very healthy.

Answer 6

With my first child, I followed the doctor's advice and made him sleep on his back. He always woke himself up flinging his arms around, and couldn't keep his pacifier in his mouth. Now I have a 5 month old. In his 2nd week I put him on his tummy for a nap, after he fell asleep on my chest. He slept so well! He still sleeps on his tummy now... he goes to sleep easier for me than my first one did, and he doesn't fuss with his pacifier as much.
Of course, I don't use fluffy blankets or pillows that could potentially smother him. And in the first couple weeks, I checked on him constantly to make sure his breathing wasn't impaired. He's fine:) He still wakes up every 2-3 hours to feed, but that's a whole other story!

Make the decision that works best for you and your baby. The doctors give us guidelines to follow, but ultimately everyone is different, and as long as you are well informed and follow your gut, you'll be fine :)

Answer 7

My son slept on his stomach from the day he was born. He is 2 yrs old and still sleeps on his stomach just like his dad.

I think placing a child to sleep on their stomach or back is a personal decision. Do whatever you feel most comfortable with. However, just remember not to leave anything in the crib with your child (ie toys, stuffed animals, blankets).

Answer 8

Please understand this, a baby needs its mother and a crib is not the best place for a baby less than 6 months old...Let your baby sleep with u in the same bed...your warmth is needed, plus if u breast feed, it is uncomfortable to wake up every 2 hrs and go to a crib. When the baby sleeps, always on its stomach and its head to the side ( not face down) in case it spits up milk, it doesn't drown and avoids also drafts which can cause respiratory problems. Set an alarm around each feeding time, just to check on the baby to see if it's breathing. How many animals have u seen that put their babies in cribs??? Think about it!

Answer 9

When babies can not turn around they will sleep on their back. Once they can turn around, they might do this to sleep on their tummy (as mine with 7 month). She feels better on her tummy or on the side, and as she does this alone in her sleep I can not avoid it. I believe SIDS is dangerous specially for babies in the first 3 month.

Answer 10

I don't, largely because I couldn't live with myself if my baby did die of SIDS and I knew how to prevent it and deliberately didn't. This statistic drove it home for me:

Between 1988 and 2003, "the percentage of infants placed on their backs to sleep has increased dramatically, and the rates of SIDS have declined by more than 50 percent."

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids/upload/SIDS_rate_backsleep_03.pdf