baby likes to sleep on her tummy! help?

Question

our daughter is 5 weeks old, when I brought her home she slept on her back just fine, but now she is starting to notice her world and of course is now a bit more lively, and we have started tummy times, and side times, etc, as a result, lately when I put her down for her sleeping times and at night, she fusses, and if while holding her you hold her in the crook of your arm on her back she fusses till you lay her on your shoulder, when she is in her stroller, she fusses, until we turn her onto her stomach, she then quiets down and goes right to sleep...what do we do? she will not fall asleep at night unless we lay her on her stomach, now, when she falls into a deep sleep we are then able to turn her onto her back and keep her sleeping, but my fear is we will end up falling asleep ourselves before turning her over, she also likes to sleep on her left side, what do I do?

Answer 1

Let her stomach sleep - you BOTH need the sleep. My daughter was the same way You know most of us born before 1985 slept on our tummies just fine. Just make sure the sheets are very tight, there are no blankets or pillows in there and let the girl sleep. If you're concerned go check on her every once in a while, but she'll be ok.

Answer 2

I went through this with my boy at about the same age. First of all try getting an additional burp out of her, if she has gas it is more comfortable to be on her tummy as the pressure takes away the pain. Or give her a bit of Gripe water to get the bubbles passed through easier. I also used to set the alarm for 15 minutes after I laid him down at night so if I did fall asleep I would get woken up to go flip him over. That got really annoying real quick though.

I wound up having to use the cry it out method a couple nights in a row until he realized I wasn't going to turn him onto his tummy. I would still go in and comfort him, even pick him up but when I put him down it was on his back. It took about 3 nights and he stopped fussing to be turned over because he knew it wasn't going to happen. Now (at 7 weeks) even when he naps during the day he will sleep on his back. I also use the swing and the car seat if he is really fussy because it keeps him more upright so if gas is an issue he's not as uncomfortable.

You can also use a baby positioner to keep her on her side. I still though personally feel better when my boy sleeps on his back. On their side, when they wake if they are hungry she will still be able to turn her head and root into the mattress. If she were to fall asleep again or not be able to move her head back she could suffocate.

Then again, some babies are just tummy sleepers. Once you can be sure she can move her head and hold it up on her own it won't be as worrisome, however you may want to continue to flip her once she is out.

Answer 3

Baby may feel more secured sleeping with tummy down. But also take special note to ensure nothing blocking her breathing. In Asia, we like to sew a simple flat pillow that can place on the tummy of baby. It is not heavy but the pillow can act as a tummy pillow so that the baby feel secure and also help baby to remove some air from their tummy.

At 5 weeks old, baby 's muscle is not strong enough to turn by itself. So I do suggest do not let the baby sleep on the side for long.

frm parentingblessings.com

Answer 4

Babies have been sleeping on their tummy's for thousands of years. Every decade or so for the past century the "powers that be" come up with something new that's better for baby. When I was a baby the doctors said a baby must be formula fed. Big Lie!

In the 90's babies we supposed to sleep on their sides, now it's their backs. All of my babies have slept on their tummy's. A baby's natural inclination is to turn it's head to the side. Babies that sleep on their tummy's don't startle, don't get flat heads and they sleep!

You do what you think is best, but as for us, all our babies will be on their tummy's

Answer 5

The reason we pediatricians recommend against tummy sleep position is that studies have confirmed an increased risk of SIDS with prone (tummy) sleep position. We don't have a definitive explanation for WHY, but we do know that this is the case.
The risk factors for SIDS include prematurity, underlying medical problems, African American ethnicity, inner city crowding, passive cigarette smoke exposure, and SIDE OR TUMMY SLEEPING...
Note that few of these are truly preventable risk factors. But you can prevent tummy sleeping.
Swaddling usually helps, and having the baby consoled in your arms til he/she falls asleep, and then allowing back sleeping may help.
If these things fail, ask your pediatrician for more suggestions.
Good luck!

Answer 6

All three of my children from infancy to today sleep on their tummy's. They are all grown now and have children of their own who also sleep on their tummy's. I've heard all the horror stories about babies smothering because they are sleeping on their tummies, but have never had a problem with it at all. If you are worried, try rolling a blanket and putting it just under your baby's face (like a little pillow) so that she can breathe. Otherwise, those of us from other generations did just fine sleeping on our tummies.

I do not recommend swaddling as so many seem to think is a good thing. It is rather cruel to bind a baby and then expect him or her to sleep.

Best of luck with your daughter!!

Answer 7

Let her sleep on her stomach.

Babies that die from SIDS have health problems to begin with. Something is wrong in their brains that cause them to not be able to actively search for air. This is the only reason for SIDS studies showing a decrease in death rates since the "back to sleep" program- babies that normally would have died because of health issues are living now. The back sleeping is good for these babies in that it gives them an extra chance.

Normal, healthy babies will not have a problem sleeping on their stomachs. Just make sure that there isn't anything that could get in her face.

Answer 8

Have you tried swaddling her and then lying her on her back? This may help... because like the last person said, it is probably a security issue.

There is nothing cruel about swaddling... a lot of babies prefer it!!! Is it cruel that they were snug in your womb? No, it isn't. Some babies just need it for an extra sense of security. Don't listen to people who tell you otherwise... Just because people let their children sleep on their stomachs in the past doesn't mean there isn't any harm in it. People used to give their children alcohol for teething for god sake!

Answer 9

My newborn would sleep on her side. She just prefered that to sleeping on her back. After a few weeks, she started sleeping on her back again. I would position her so she's on her side with wedges to make sure she doesnt fall on her tummy. Babies are individuals and like what they like...so if you find yourself trying too hard to flip her on her back, just let her sleep on her side. Hopefully that will help!
Goodluck

Answer 10

For all you those that are asserting that her toddler is going to die, it quite is merciless and heartless. She for sure suggested that she lays the toddler on her tummy whilst she is conscious. as quickly as I had my toddler a year in the past, the medical doctors particularly inspired "tummy time." a piece of writing in u . s . at present says that Tummy Time must be used whilst the toddler is conscious because of the fact it enables them strengthen muscle tissues and enables preclude flat spots on the back of their head. It additionally emphasises that toddlers ought to sleep on their back yet ought to get carry of a lot of time to play on their stomachs.