Sleeping in Crib - Hazelwood,MO

I gave up getting my youngest to sleep on her back a few weeks after she was born, because she just wouldn't.

I know they tell you not to let them sleep on their tummies, but mothers did if for probably a few thousand years before they came up with SIDS. And if you want reassurance, look at the actual statistics...used to be 2 out of 100 babies died of SIDS on their tummies, while now only 1 out of 100 babies die of SIDS on their tummies. Only what they tell you is "twice as many die" and they don't tell you about the babies who ALSO sleep on their back and die of SIDS, or that there are usually other factors involved (smoke exposure, illness, low birthweight, blankets in crib, etc.)

So, I put baby to sleep on her tummy and she slept better IMMEDIATELY. She was startling herself awake every 10-15 minutes on her back, and you couldn't swaddle her because she was too strong and active. She could hold her head up from birth, so I just figured, hey, I'm going to try this. It worked.

She's ten months old now and still HATES laying on her back, even for a diaper change. She does have silent reflux (reflux with no spit up) and that may contribute to the why, but anyhow.

Hope this helps...and I hope no one gets mad because I suggested letting him sleep on his tummy. I really think sometimes it's best.

Is it just because he's uncomfortable flat? My daughter had this thing where she'd sleep on top of me, I HATED sleeping flat on my back. They make these foam type moldings (maybe it's the baby positioners Rachel is talking about) for babies that he will be (I believe) a bit more angled and it'll be cushioney so it won't be uncomfortable. For me it was the bed, it's a LOT harder to get comfortable on your back.. beds that would feel so soft on my side would feel like a rock on my back. Maybe you should see if he'll sleep on his side. My daughter seriously would NOT sleep on her back and slept on her belly, which I know is so bad but she was turning over then too... when she was cosleeping with me and my ex (her dad) she would sleep on her back.

Try to remember that your little one spent about 9 months in your tummy. And with every move you made your little one was being rocked to sleep.
So when you put your son down to sleep on a flat hard surface he doesn't like it because he feels alone and maybe even a little scared.
The movement makes him feel like he did when he was
in your tummy ( happy and safe ).

Personally, me and my family are co-sleepers and we LOVE IT. = )

I wish you and your little one the best with this. Take care and God Bless.

My daughter spent the first month sleeping on my chest! My son spent his first two months in his car seat. My sister spent the first 6 months or so in her car seat. If he will sleep 2-3 hours in his car seat, I would let him do that at night, feeding him when he wakes, and try to get him to back sleep during naps... Or start him on his back at night and if he wakes before you go to bed, feed, change and try the car seat... Once he can roll over back to front and front to back, it won't matter so much about him sleeping on his tummy. Also, you should have a fan on in his room always, as the SIDS researchers have found that helps to keep them from rebreathing the same air.
Good luck!
R.

Do you have a mobile for him or try a wind up clock he might miss the sound of you heart ,my daughter was in the crib from the time she got home until she was 2 years old even when I nursed at night I'd sit up so I didn't fall asleep and roll on her. My oldest step son and his wife sleep with their child until the next one comes and I have always worried about them rolling over on him plus they have no intimacy because of it. Also do you wrap him in a blanket he might not like the feeling of being alone in the crib

Are you swaddling him when he is laying in his crib? He is so young, he might just like the comfort of being snuggled in a swaddle. He might also like a swing. I would try those before the carrier. He was so comfy and cozy all curled up for 9 months, so being all stretched out and/or flat to sleep might take some getting used to. Your overall goal is to get him to sleep in his crib, so if he sleeps there for 30 minutes once or twice a day, that's great. He'll learn to sleep in his crib longer as he gets older... you wont "ruin" him by letting him be snuggled while he is so little.

My favorite book is Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. I like to read lots of different books and use only what I like, but it seems like this book reminds us that babies are supposed to be nurtured, and it gives us permission to let our babies be little.

I bed shared with all my girls, but with this last one, I was scared, i might roll on her etc She was a very sensitive & fussy girl, and we swaddled her until 10 months. (you can buy a real swaddle thing with velcro flaps that make wriggling out impossible. We also bought this wedge thing that was adjustable, and kept her on her back, and then allowed to into our bed. When she was in a deep sleep, I transferred her to her bassinet beside me, and sometimes kept my hand on her tummy for comfort. She now sleeps in the crib no problem, unless shes teething, and then I bring her in with me for a short time-(2 hours maybe) until she settles and put her back in the crib. cosleeping is nervewracking sometimes & the sleep isnt really sound, but it beats not sleeping at all & really helps, even if just a little.

You could try a swing or they make this thing like a baby hammock (the baby can rock or swing it with their movements). I think it was called Amby Baby. It depends how much money you want spend trying to solve this problem. You could also try baby positioners to keep him on his side while he sleeps. Both my babies liked to sleep on their tummies once they could turn over (and I figured why worry once they could turn over either way). So it is not likely to be a long lasting problem.

BTW, I was never cut out to be a co sleeper either and my babies did fine in a crib next to my bed.

Both of mine were 3 months before they slept in their crib. They slept in the bassinet in room until that time. Neither one of my kids would sleep on their backs so I let them sleep on their stomachs. There was nothing in the bassinet except for the crib sheet and no other hazards. They slept fine. I know that there is a lot of info/hype in regards to sleeping on their back but the way that I look at it is that my generation (now 40s) all slept on our stomachs and we survived. Of course it's up to you and your comfort level - do what feels best for you. In regards to moving them to their crib it did take some time for them to get used to it but it did happen and they are great sleepers now. Whatever you decide - just stick to it and it will work out.