Letting Infant Sleep on Tummy

My children all way grown up now...or at least they think they are...

However we had problems with sleeping because of spit up and resolved to inclining the crib at one end by one notch. This did the trick for us.

There is another option for you. There is a way to prop her up on her side. There is a device that looks like triangle blocks. You put the baby in the middle and she sleeps on her side.

Also, if you want her to not spit up as much, place a regular sized pillow under her mattress on the end her head goes. This helped my son tremendously.

This is a tough one. I know all three of mine would have slept better on their tummies too. But I always came back to...what if something happened and it was due to my negligence... yes, I did not sleep much for the first 4-5 months and it WAS hard. I won't deny that. But again, I wanted to reduce as many risk factors as possible especially the ones I had control over.

We did use the positioning "bumpers" to lay them on their side and that does help.

Just a thought.. I was going through Babies R us once and I saw a little mat that babies could sleep on that would alert you if they stopped breathing or something like that, since you're little one is so young and you let her sleep on her tummy, I thought you might want to check it out, that way you might not have to run to her room every 10 minutes to make sure she's still breathing.

Yeah it doesn't cause SIDS but it can be a risk because sleeping on the tummy is so relaxing that they can't rouse themselves, or if they aren't strong enough to push up enough (I figure that's why they say no no to fluffy puff mattresses and sheets)

I wouldn't do it at night, at least not yet(i don't think I'd ever get to sleep for more than a half hour! but that's me) I suppose you could try something to get her used to sleeping on her back and tummy, like letting her sleep on her back once in a while, when she'll tolerate it, or when you get soothe her enough to go down for a nap on her back (insert your special Mommy nap method)

I have just recently let my baby sleep on his tummy, he likes it. I've been through so much with him that I was nervous, but he's 11 months old so I figured I could let it go, lol.

I also have experienced the worry of letting a child sleep on their stomach. My first son had severe reflux, the only way he would sleep was on his stomach. I worried all the time but the only way for any of us to get any sleep was to let him sleep on his stomach. My second son was born 2 months ago. He is also a stomach sleeper. He does not have reflux at all but just goes to sleep faster and more sound on his stomach. I think that if the other factors (risks) do not exist then you should let your instincts guide you. If your baby is more comfortable and better rested on the stomach then you should let her be.

I stressed over this, too. My first just would not sleep on his back no matter what, so after trying for some time, I gave in and just put him on his stomach. I didn't try near as much w/my second to get him to sleep on his back...I'm a big believer that when it's your "time to go" then it's just that time. I don't really understand a lot about SIDS, but I just have a hard time believing that there is anything you can do to prevent something like that. I just decided to put it in God's hands and prayed that all would be well. They are both good little sleepers now...Good Luck and God Bless...enjoy your little one!!

Hi B.,

I just wanted to let you know that when all my babies were younger they always told me to prop a blanket up behind their back and have them sleep on their sides .. That allows for any spit up not to get lodged in their throat and it also allows for the SIDS factor of being on your stomach not be as prudent.

Thanks,

~K.~

My decision was to buy a sleep positioning wedge, which helped prop our dd up and keep her from rolling over. She was a great sleeper and LOVED the wedge.

But my biggest piece of advice for peace of mind is...

ANGEL CARE MONITOR!!!!

The first time I got a decent night's sleep was the first night I used this.

Be sure to test it in her room. It is so sensitive, you will not be able to let a fan blow on her mattress. Be prepared to panick the first time you get a false alarm!! It happens on rare occasions and often means you need to re-adjust the sensitivity.

I plan on using mine under my dd's mattress until she MOVES OUT OF THE HOUSE!!! LOL!! I really do love it! But I did sleep her on her back, too. She now sleeps on her stomach because she can do it herself.

Best wishes!!

I was torn by this decision as well being a single mother and the father not being in the pic at the time my youngest son was born was hard enough. My son would only fall asleep for many months if i would rock him or hold him but once I would lay him on his back, he would wake up. He had severe colic and acid reflux at 7 wks and he the only way he would sleep all night was sleeping on his tummy. I was so scared of him choking on his projectile spit up. He started rolling over early on and he would have no stuffed animals/toys and nobody in the household smoked and he held his head up from day 1. He also had a paci he would suck on from day 1 as well so maybe that helps as well.

I prayed for his safety and think it would of happened it was up to god.

Good Luck on your decision.
God Bless you and your family!
M.

Until your daughter is strong enough to roll herself over from back to front, I would not risk having her sleep on her stomach.

My infant has slept on her tummy since 1 wk old. She sleeps so much better that way. I read somewhere that SIDS is caused by a reflex in the brain. If the child is born without it then yes they are pron to SIDS. If the child, which most infants are, born with the reflex they will turn their head and be fine. Don't worry about SIDS, esp if your child has excellent head control.

I had this exact same problem with my daughter. She has reflux and would only sleep in her swing. When we finally tried to get her to sleep in her crib, she would only want to sleep on her tummy and would instantly wake up and cry if we tried to put her to sleep on her back. What worked for us was laying her on her side, and most of the time she would stay there instead of rolling to her tummy. There is also a monitor that you can buy that tracks their breathing, it has a sensor that you put under the crib mattress. If they stop breathing, an alarm goes off. We have the monitor and love it. It's called the angelcare baby monitor. Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/Angelcare-Movement-Sensor-Nursery-M...

I hope this helps! :-)

I know just how you feel! My baby is about to turn 6 months and I've tried OVER and OVER to put him to sleep on his back but he fusses. The only way I can get him to sleep on his back is if I swaddle him up really tight and rock him to sleep prior to putting him down. But even then, he'll wake up every hour or so b/c that "im falling" feeling will startle him awake. So, I've succumbed to putting him to sleep on his side. I always leave a paci in his mouth too. It seems to create a barrier so should he turn himself onto his tummy, the paci will keep his nose from squishing against the mattress. He's most comfortable on his tummy, but I'M most comfortable when he's sleeping on his side and since he sleeps on his side better than he sleeps on his back, that is what we do. So try swaddling your baby, then positioning her on her side in an inclined to sleep pillow, and see if that doesn't do the trick.

Both of my boys were belly sleepers. Thats the only way they would sleep. Of course, I would check on them as much as I could. They have those mattresses that have detection systems on them, it detects and makes sound if your baby doesnt move for 20 sec. I get scared when they were on their belly but now since my baby is bigger he moves on his back and side, just about everywhere. Maybe you should try laying her on her side.

I struggled and struggled with that same issue, but I eventually after consulting with my doctor I started putting my son to sleep on his tummy. He is now almost 3 years old and as healthy as ever. He spit up a lot when he was an infant which is why his doctor said to try putting him on his tummy and if it worked then let him sleep that way. Once I started letting him sleep on his tummy he started sleeping all night long and I was able to catch up on some much needed rest. I would occassionally catch myself waking up several times a night just to go and check on him but that's perfectly normal. In the past it has been said that letting the child sleep on their back can cause SIDS so I don't think anyone has come up with a definite diagnosis for SIDS yet. Use your motherly intuition and do what you think is best for your child.

I heard on news a while back it wasn't that they were suffocating it was something in the fabric or material in the mattress or something. That is what I heard. I have always let my little ones sleep on their tummies, especially like u said if they can turn their heads. Now if they can't, yes, you would have to worry about suffocation. But it sounds like things are going ok so far so you shouldn't have to worry. Good luck to you.

My daughter just turned 1 year old. She had reflux when she was born and I was afraid of her choking on her spit up. She got RSV when she was two months old. Since then it wasn't hard for me to make the decision to switch to her tummy. One afternoon she projectile vomitted and if I hadn't been right there to help her, I don't know what could have happened. I was so afraid of her choking. She actually slept in her carseat for the first few weeks. Once she started sleeping in her crib I put her on her stomach. I didn't cover her or have any stuffed animals or anything in the crib. I think she felt more secure on her belly, too. Good luck with this tough decision.

I let my second son (who is now 9 months old) sleep on his tummy when he was only a few weeks old. What I would do is start him out on his side where I would prop his back against a strong pillow or the side of his crib. In the middle of the night he would end up rolling on his tummy and I just let him be. I think that tummy sleeping is okay after they are several weeks old. Especially if they are at a good healthy weight. That is just my opinion of course. I am not a doctor. Hope this help.

R.

I just saw your first request, and I wanted to let you know that I learned switching them actually increases the risk of SIDS. So...you've probably decreased her risk now by keeping the sleeping position consistent. And I agree with you...I would not put a pillow in the crib. Just let her sleep in a firm mattress. Good luck...and sweet dreams. :-)

Hi B.! I saw where a couple of other mother's mentioned the Angelcare Monitor and I just wanted to agree that this device is worth it's weight in gold as far as I'm concerned. I didn't have it when I had my first child and I was constantly getting up throughout the night to check on her because she had reflux and rolled over at a very early age. We couldn't keep her on her back no matter what we tried (the triangle block positioner, swaddling, etc.), so it was a lot of sleep interrupted nights for me. For my second child however, I headed that problem off at the pass and bought the Angelcare monitor. Best $100 I ever spent on a baby item! My second did not have reflux, but he does like sleeping on his tummy. Having the monitor has taken most of the worry I've had about SIDS out of the sleeping equation for me. If he stops moving (breathing included) for more than 20 seconds, the alarm goes off. I've had to adjust the sensitivity on the monitor occasionally, but the peace of mind that came with that purchase is practically priceless in my opinion. Now both baby and mommy get a better night's sleep in our house. Good luck! :-)

I understand, but you have to do what you think is right for "YOUR" child. My son has reflux so when we would put him to sleep on his back (when he first came home from the hospital)he would choke because he spits up when he is on his back. So once we started putting him to sleep on his stomach he sleep through the night. We were very concerned about him sleeping on his stomach so we pretty much keep him in our bed so that we could keep an eye on him while he sleeps. He is almost 4months old now and he is still sleeping on his stomach and he is just Fine. Talk to your Pedi and let them know your concerns and do what is best for you!

SIDS is a very complex diagnoses that is caused by a number of things. One possible cause for tummy sleepers isn't nessecarily suffocation. It is believed that an infant is more prone to carbon dioxide poisoning between their exhaled oxygen and the closeness of the mattress. One theory, is if your baby is a tummy sleeper, the best thing you can do for him.her is to give them a pacifier. It seems that the sheer bulk of the object can help with the air and suffication factors. For a complete listing on all SIDS info and FAQS, visit my website.
http://www.bumblebeebabyboutique.com/sids.htm
Another thing you can do is purchase a sleep adjuster, that allows the baby to sleep in a side position, it seems to help, even the doctors at the hospital suggested it. If you don't purchase one, you can make one out of 2 tightly rolled/secures baby blankets, one propping the baby on the back, and the other on the tummy.

Until she is about 5 to 6 months I suggest placing either a baby pillow or a rolled up recieving blanket under both of her sides to prevent her from rolling over completly. This will ensure that she will be comfortable but in no danger. If you choose to allow her to sleep onm her stomach when you can check on her I say do it. You will sleep better at night if you feel she is safe. Good Luck, N.

I have so lived this! With two exceptions, our DD could roll over to tummy and she didn't spit up, but we were in a very similar situation and chose to let our DD sleep on our tummy. Of course you can't know if you child is genetically prone to SIDS, but I figured that she shouldn't have to be miserable and sleep deprived, so we went for the tummy. We went for 6 months not knowing why she wouldn't and eventually we found out she had bad acid reflux, which is better when they sleep on their tummies. Especially since your DD spits up a lot, you might investigate the symptoms and see if they match your daughter and, if so, talk to your doctor. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Doctors always say to put babies on their backs, but I firmly disagree. Ask yourself...What seems more natural? When you put a baby on their back they encounter the startle reflex which makes them feel ensecure. Putting them on their tummies is very comforting for them because they are able to curl up in the fetal position and feel more secure. Put yourself in that position. Baby beds are firm and they have no pillows...now lay down flat on your back unable to roll or comfort yourself...now lay on your tummy curled up. How would you feel? For centuries mothers have put their babies on their tummies. Sids really doesn't have a real explaination, so if they don't know what really causes it, then where do they get off saying not to put babies on theit bellies??? Besides, there have been recent studies that prove that putting baby on their back too much causes the backs of their heads to be flat and causes brain damage. What does that tell you?

My first was on her tummy by about 8 weeks. My second was on his tummy all the time by 6 weeks. Like you, we started him during the day and eventually did it at night. It was the only way he'd sleep without being held or laying on me. He had good head control and honestly, it was a great alternative to crying/waking every couple hours. I stripped the bassinet of everything but the sheet, prayed fervently that God would protect him, and slept for 6 hours straight.

Hi B.,
My little boy was the same way. We tried several things like you have done and he just preferred his tummy. After 3 sleepless nights, I decided I was done. I knew he would sleep on his tummy and I just had to do it. Once I did, he was in his bassinet right next to me in my bed and I probably awoke every 30 minutes to check, but it's better than no sleep. I also felt a little better since I had him take a pacifier. I read somewhere and had people tell me that if they have a pacy in their mouth they are less likely to stop breathing. Aside from all the news articles and advice, you just have to decide what is best for you and your family. I had to sit down with the Lord and say this is it. Every night I prayed when I put him down! He's made it to 17 months and counting.
Good Luck to you.

With both of my children, I propped them and turned them when done feeding or changing diaper so they slept on varied sides including back and stomach. I had no problems. My second did better propped on a side.

We went through the same thing. I even tried the wedges to keep her on her side and even that didn't work. My hubby is a tummy sleeper and I am a back so I guess we all have our preferences and hers was her tummy. I think it was cause on her back she got those "Im falling" feelings. She has ALWAYS to thins day been a HORRIBLE sleeper and on her tummy was the only way that helped. She had good head control finally so I went ahead and laid her on her tummy and things got better. Good luck!

I had the same situation with my son when he was a newborn. It is a very difficult decision to make, and I actually didn't sleep much for a while because I was always waking up to check on him. But HE slept much better. We also had the same problem with him spitting up a lot when he was on his back. We were just very cautious, like it sounds like you are being, and let him sleep in the most comfortable position for him. I know most moms and doctors really frown on this, but I know that I would never do anything that I thought was harming my child, and from what I went through, making him sleep on his back was more harmful to him than very cautiously letting him sleep on his stomach. Hope this is somewhat helpful to you!!

B.,

You little girl sounds exactly like mine! My husband and I are first time parents of a (now) 3 month old and I was SO scared to sleep her on her tummy. We swaddled her for probably the first 6 weeks, but she got to a point where she was really fighting it and didn't like not being able to stretch out. However, her startle reflexes weren't gone yet, so she didn't sleep well at all on her back. We went through about 2 weeks where she was not taking naps hardly at all and wouldn't sleep through the night, so she was completely exhausted and fussy unless I was holding her. Of course, even though everyone said I could just let her cry, as a first time mom, I literally held her almost all day long everyday for 2 weeks straight. I was visiting with a friend whose little girl is only 11 weeks older than Emma, and I was in tears explaining my frustration and complete loss at what to do. They had well informed us in our childbirth classes, but also left us completely terrified about everything. My friend asked me if I was sleeping her on her back and when I said yes, she said, "Oh S., you HAVE to sleep her on her stomach! It will help everything, I promise!" I was so scared to, but my husband and I had to just rely on God that He was going to protect our family either way.

Emma has always had really good head control, as well. She was lifting it up before we even brought her home from the hospital! :) And I felt like she was able to keep herself from being face-down in the mattress or anything like that. Of course, I checked on her so much for a while. It drove my husband crazy at night! :) But Emma started sleeping through the night by 8 weeks old. And she's been sleeping 8-12 hours a night since then.

One thing we did learn with Emma is that as she has gotten older, we're trying to put her down for bed before she's asleep and let her self-soothe and fall asleep on her own. It's been working really great, but if she's too awake when we put her down, we usually lay her on her back at first. If she's on her belly, she pushes up on her arms and just gets frustrated because she can't go anywhere!! :) So if we have her on her back, pop the paci in and start her mobile, and she quiets down and falls asleep. Then sometimes, if she cries out at all and she more sleepy next time we go in, we'll flip her over on her tummy, and usually she's out in no time.

Anyway, I hope that you are at peace with your decision. I know every baby's different, and maybe with our next child, we won't do the tummy-sleeping thing. I have definitely learned, in my first 3 months of motherhood, that there are so many things I have to let go of and totally give to God. He has our family in His hands, and has had us there since before we even knew we WERE a family. I am still working on it, definitely, but I'm working on it.

I wish you the best of luck with your new tummy-sleeper. Have fun with your girls!

-S. & Baby Emma Kate

All three of mine were tummy sleepers from very early. I know others will be very adamant that you shouldn't but I felt I had to do what got them and me the sleep we all needed. My belief about the SIDS issue was if God meant for my little ones to have only a short time on this earth then whatever postion they were sleeping in wouldn't matter. Again, not everyone will see it that way and I respect that, these are just my feelings and experiences with the matter. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

B.,

My son is now five months old, and from the beginning he always slept better on his tummy, too. He started sleeping thru the night at six weeks and I think part of it was because we did decide to go ahead and let him sleep on his tummy, how he was most comfortable. I struggled with the decision, too, because God knows if something happened I would never be able to forgive myself. :) So I guess you and your husband will have to make the decision that's best for you. But ours turned out to be for the best, I hope this helps!

E. :)