Putting Baby to Sleep on Tummy

I have put all of my babies to sleep on their stomachs. They seem to sleep better this way. All of them could move their heads from side to side and I lay them on a tight sheet- never bunching blankets. I am constantly worried about sids but I feel that the benefit out weighs the risk. I hope I'm right.
Mother of six chilren- one 2 week old

Hello T. -

I just want you to know that I do the same thing too. I know I fear about SIDs too, but my little ones loves laying on her belly. I only let her do it for naps and as long as I will be in the same room as her. You just have to remember, you will make the decisions that are best for you and your family. I hope that helps...

Hello T.,

For me it was a matter of how my Mom handled all four of us as new borns. We all slept on our tummies. My Mom was concerned that if we woke up and spit-up...where would it go, nose, ears. So my son slept on his tummy when I brought him home. He is 17 now. I hope this helps.

My kids were the same way. My mom, and I am sure anyone from her generation, will tell you that they all put their kids to sleep on their tummy and they lived.

Most SIDS deaths involved mothers who smoke (number one reason) and have too much blankets in the bed.

As a mother, I would trust your instincts, instead of the 'guilt' that is put on us by the 'experts'

I am adding a little bit here - just fyi. First, like one woman said, both doctors and nurses MUST tell you to make you child sleep on their back because of what rules they go by. At the same time, many will say that it is up to you if say that you do let the baby sleep on their tummy. Also, remember that doctors think they know everything (sorry to any doctors out there!) I am not trying to be derogatory, just that sometimes what is fact to the medical field might not be a fact for you.

Second, scientists, doctors, etc still DON'T KWOW for certain what exactly causes SIDS. Yes, SOME studies have shown that co-sleeping increases the risk, but MANY MORE show that co-sleeping actually prevents against SIDS. (one theory on SIDS is that new babies aren't good at regulating their sleep, and get into really deep sleep and stop breathing, co-sleeping helps with that problem because there are other people, movements, ect, to keep them from not going into that super deep sleep)

For me, when I was going through this same thing, I tried to remember my beliefs. We never know when it is our time. Some people smoke 2 packs a day and live till they are 90, and some don't smoke and die of lung cancer at 20. Some babies are born with health issues, others not. If a baby dies of something like SIDS, of course the reaction would be to blame ourselves, but the fact of the matter is, we never know when our time is up, and unfortunately, it could be sooner than later. Given that, I try to listen to my gut, take the advice of the professionals, but then somehow make it work together.

It used to be you were SUPPOSED to do that, because of choking on their spitup. So while the risk of SIDS may be slightly higher (anyone seen actual stats on that?) the other risks are more of a concern (soft bedding, second hand smoke etc)
ALSO, you can try swaddling her if you are still worried about it. They even sell swaddlers that are like a little pocket you tuck them into and velcro them in snug. My daughter flailed ALOT in her sleep and would wake herself up. The velcro swaddler was the only one that would stay on her, but it really improved her sleep. She outgrew it too soon though and became a side/tummy sleeper. Soon your daughter will be able to roll over and choose for herself.

I put all my children to sleep on their tummy's when they were little and they survived quite well. The youngest one is now 26 years old. I did make sure that nothing was close to their faces so that they had room to breathe and when they were babies they never used a pillow so...I see no problem with putting your baby to sleep in a position that she is comfortable in. I never did co sleep (they all wiggled around way to much for me even my youngest who is both physically and mentally challenged) with any of my kids so I can't say much about that.

I might add that all of my children had a firm mattress in their bassinets and/or cribs for quite awhile so there was no danger from to soft of a mattress.

Swaddle her tightly before laying her down. If you don't know how, call the doctor's office, or find a nurse and they will help you learn. I didn't swaddle my babies but while visiting my daughter after her son's birth in Hawaii I watched her very successfully manage this and her son fell asleep almost immediately every time. I loved watching his little face just relax once his arms could no longer flail around and he would peacefully close his eyes. This can be done up to 4-5 months old.

No baby seems to like sleeping on their back. What scares me is if they spit up or throw up while sleeping that they don't know to turn their head to the side and can choke on it. I put my baby to sleep on her side with a positioner or lie her on her side facing away from me.

I have co-slept with my son ever since he was born. He is now 7 mo. old and sleep on his back every night. But it has not always been this way. When he was small...up until about 2 months ago...he insisted on sleeping on his side or tummy every time I put him to sleep. Even when he was first born and still in the hospital he would roll to his side. The nurses would come in and tell me "You really need to leave him on his back." But it wasn't me or anyone else who moved him, he did it all on his own. He has always been very strong and rolled over from his back to his belly at 2 weeks. Ever since then he sleeps how he pleases. I was concerned at first but the pediatrician told me that if he can control his own movements he can sleep on he likes. As long as your child can lift and turn her head while on her tummy she can sleep how she pleases. The only reason that SIDS is a concern with tummy sleepers is if there is a possibility they might turn their face into the mattress and suffocate. It sounds liek your daughter is doing fine just like she is. No worries, but you can always check with your own pediatrician to make yourself feel better. :-)

I put all three of my children to sleep on their tummies for the same reason. They slept so much better.

Here's how I calmed my fears. I made sure that there were no toys around and I even removed the crib bumpers. When I covered them I only covered them half way up their backs so the blankets weren't close to their faces.

Since your daughter is 4 months old, she is probably turning and lifting her head quite frequently. If she does get the blanket close to her face, instincts would kick in and she'd move her head away from the blankets.

I think this is one of the hardest issues for moms. The best advice I got from mine, who had six children, all of whom slept on their tummies, was to trust your own instincts. you really do know your child better than anyone else.

Have you tried a really tight swaddle to keep her arms and legs from flailing? There are these great blankets which velcro shut in a swaddle (brilliant) so anyone (like my husband) can swaddle. The swaddle was what worked for my twin girls and my son. It is recommended not to put babies to sleep on their bellies until they can roll from back to belly themselves.

Frankly, all my childred insisted on sleeping on their stomach. There is at least two 'reasons' a baby would prefer this, though the medical community might scoff.

One, if you have ever suffered from gas pain try laying on your stomach with your rear in the air, just like a baby (knees tucked up under you). Within 15min or so the gas moves and eases.

Two, it may be a feeling of security. A child, any child, is curled into the fetal position while in the womb, the stomach is protected. A child might find it a familiar sensation to sleep on the stomach, or side, instead of being 'exposed' on their back.

Last thought-- about SIDS. When our children were little we removed all fluff from their crib, ie padded bumpers, pillows, stuff animals. And we made sure the sheets were taut and not loose. We hoped these steps would alieviate any circustance for SIDS.

I put my son on his tummy to sleep too. Once she can roll over she is going to move anyway so you can't stop that.
Studies have shown that if you put a baby to sleep with a pacifier the risk of SIDS is less. Maybe you could try that if you dont already. Good luck!

We have done the same thing with our girls. The first, now 3, did it on her own when sh learned to roll over and i wish we would have done it earlier. She was very fussy before but slept great after. For out second, now 1, we started earlier, before she could on her own, I think it was around 2-3 months. I think a lot of it is if you baby is healthy and no one smokes in the house. If she has a good startle reflex and can lift her head I would think she would be fine. I am not a doctor but when I asked my doctor she basically told me the same thing.

I am competely against tummy sleeping, because I am a paranoid mom...but if she is rolling I would not worry about it at this point. Just keep an eye on her like you are and I am sure she will be fine. Oh and don't put anything around her that would not let her roll if she needs to.

D.

I don't have a strong opinion on SIDS and what causes/reduces risk, I just know it SCARED the bejeezees out of me! For your peace of mind they sell sleep positioners so you can keep her on her side if she will stay asleep that way rather than her tummy. At about 2 months my son was turning side to side not fully over and by 4 months rolling all the way over. And he preferred his tummy. My pediatrician told me if he can roll over any risk SIDS presents sleeping on the tummy is greatly minimized. Because if he is face down and can't breathe he turn himself over. Good Luck!

You can comfort yourself with the fact that in the old days people thought only putting kids on their tummies was the right way to do things. Well, the human race was still alive and kicking after that. Also, SIDS is actually quite rare. You have to decide how much risk you want to take. I personally think if that's the only way the child wants to sleep, why not.

Hi T.,

My daughter, now 7 1/2 months is the same way! She can be sound asleep and when I put her on her back to sleep she either wakes right up or she would startle awake and then cry alot! I know its not the best thing but I do let her sleep on her tummy for naps. At night I put her in her crib on her tummy and then go back in a few minutes and carefully flip her over to her back and then she does well. She still wakes at night and I bring her to bed with us and nurse her back to sleep where she either is on her side or tummy.
Maybe you could try and turn her over after she has been asleep for a little bit? It helps to hold my hand on her for a minute too. I talked to my pediatrician who said I shouldnt have her on her tummy even for naps though so I wish you luck! Maybe your daughter is young enough to just keep putting her on her back and stay with her a minute, put a hand on her until she feels comfortable? I do know too that when my daughter finally stopped having the startle reflex that she slept better on her back. Good Luck!

T., I put both my daughters on their tummys to sleep because both would only sleep that way. Let's face it most adults sleep on their sides or stomach and wouldn't be able to sleep on their backs if forced to either. As mentioned by others, there are many cases of SIDS where the child was sleeping on their backs. So, as in so many things these days, "facts" seem to change every few years. I used to just keep the monitor nice and close to my girls while they slept and have the volume on my end cranked up and it's amazing how at night I would instantly wake up if their breathing pattern changed at all. Also, it is easy for other people to say "it's just a few months" etc when they aren't the ones going through days, weeks of sleepless nights. The best advice I can give is go with your natural mother's instinct. Also, if the baby sleeps with you at night or during a nap THAT'S FINE! Yes it might take awhile to train them to sleep alone when they are older but if you want your mommy baby time have it, they grow up so fast. Actually when both my girls got a little older I did that thing where you lay them down and let them cry for 5min then comfort them and lay them back down and then go back after 7 mins.etc. and it worked with both girls within a week. So I got my baby holding time and now they go down for naps and to bed at night with no problem at all. Bottom line is every baby is different and you need to do what you think is best!
Good luck to you!!!! :):)

T., I have four children. Every child of mine had that same problem. They HATED sleeping on thier backs (still do)my daughter is almost 9 now and we had no problem with just letting her sleep. We were very cautious about her though, we checked in on her during naps and slept with her at night. As i started having more kids same problem. however i was able to be less "scared" They have now grown up out of the baby stage to be healthy and great kids. Just make sure when you put baby girl down that there is not a lot of blankets or pillows around her so she wont smother herself. Good luck, and love baby always. Dont always beleive every parenting method, make your own. something that works for you and baby. No one else has to deal with the irritation that your baby is going through when she has to lay on her back. Laying on the tummy helps with the gas, and its soothing.

I would not worry to much about having a tummy sleeper. Three out of four of my kids slept on their stomachs. They would be sound asleep and as soon as I tried to put them on their back or side, they would wake up. The biggest concern with babies sleeping on their tummy is that they fall into a deeper sleep. As one of the posts suggest, keep the monitors on! Just make sure pillows, blankets, and what not are not to close to her face, as I am sure you already do! Personally, I hate sleeping on my back. I hope this helps. I know how we worry about EVERYTHING when it comes to our little one!!!!!

My daughter was the same way. She would not sleep unless she was on her tummy. I have friends that said the same. My daughter is perfectly healthy, 22 months old. She still sleeps on her tummy. It was a hard decision to make, but sometimes you have to do what is right for you and not what all the experts say. There is no law against using your own judgement. I was also put at ease when I learned there are other high risk factors for SIDS, and that a pacifier is recommended to prevent it. We totally use the pacifier. The other risk factors are not applicable to us. So, that made me feel better.

Another thing is that they still do not know what causes SIDS. They know that the cases reduced when the Back to Sleep campaign started, but still don't know the cause. So, it is not a totally scientific answer. I think people who can't see your problem are people whose babies never had problems sleeping on their backs!

My mother is a RN and she said all of her children slept on their stomachs. And you said that you check on her often. We have let our son take a few naps on his stomach, and he is fine. There is also people that have said that sids is not only related to sleeping on stomachs...it could also happen while they are on their back. I hope this helps you. -

Hi T.! Thought I would comment on this since I had a related case! My daughter would not sleep on her back, nor will she now and she's 10 1/2 months old... But I sit back and think, well heck no, you couldn't getme to sleep on my back either! Paige has slept on her belly since she was 2 weeks old because she slept 12 hours that way and was very happy and so was I! In her bassinet under the pad we made it like a wedge with blankets so she was going going up hill just a lil lil bit and I never had a problem one!
Now with her now in her crib she always slept on her belly and would fall right asleep when she was about 7 months old she got a real bad sinus infection and we had to keep her on a uphill grade so she could sleep if not we were up all hours of the night with her so we took some thick blankets of hers rolled them up (kinda liek a tube) and put them nut far up from teh middle and put her head on them and I tried to take them out afterwards and she would NOT let me, so maybe that could help to!
Good luck!

SIDS has changed their stance too many times for me to think they really have the answers. I don't think it's as much sleeping on tummy or back, as it is what's put in the bed with them. I would just make sure the blankets are tucked in well on the sides of the mattress. When I had my five children, it was "oh, don't let them sleep on their back because if they spit up they can choke on it", so that made more sense to me, and I stuck with the tummy sleeping for them. Hope this helps, and try not to worry too much on this one, since I expect you'll get many different opinions.

I have two children one 4 year old and one 15 month old. They both slept on their tummy's. They would not sleep on their backs.
You know how sometimes you dream you are falling and it startles you? Well that is how my first child would act on her back. My second was up all night her first night home from the hospital crying her head off, finally out ot exhaustion I got up and turned her to her tummy, she went right to sleep and has slept that way since. I also felt huge guilt and to this day check on them both every night before I go to bed.
Their Dr. told me I do not want to hear this. But I figure my mom had 5 kids and we all slept this way and were fine. I think whatever works. Good Luck!!

As soon as I had confidence that my babies could turn over on their own, I let them sleep on their tummies. They were very much both like your children. They are now 8 and 12. I would watch it if she gets a cold or is congested but my vote is let her sleep as she is comfortable.
M.

My first baby also would fall asleep on her tummy, but not on her back, and our pediatrician gave us the OK to let her fall asleep that way and then roll her onto her back. This sort of worked for us, but not very consistently; she usually just woke back up. Our best bet was a tight swaddle (the Kidopotomus brand worked great for us) and a lawn mower CD we found online! I know it sounds ridiculous, but I was so desperate for some sleep, and she was so colicky, I started looking online and found this strange CD. I think I paid about $11, and it changed my life. She slept! I used it for my second child, and now I'm using for my third. Also, when my first was 8months old we finally moved her out of our room. We let her cry it out and then she slept all night, and it's been great since then. Good luck!

Personally that is a ridiculous claim that SIDS is caused by putting babies on my back. SIDS has been linked to vaccinations actually.
My boys like to lay on their backs when they sleep. I think if your baby is happy, don't worry. YOU know best, not them.

T.,
From a mom who has lost a child from SIDS, I want you to know that even though the doctors and nurses say it is best to lay them on their tummy, it doesnt matter, for some reason SIDS just happens. Stop worring and relax.
The doctors are going by what they "think" causes it and what they "think" will make it to where it won't happen. This is a scarey thing for any parent to have to worry about. When I lost my baby I never had even heard of SIDS. Today is it well know, and people are trying to find the cause of it still. It is UNKNOWN.. they have ideas but really do not know what the cause is.
If your baby will not sleep on her back and she is more comfortable in her tummy, what are you going to do? Make it to the point where she can't sleep and both of you will have a lack of sleep, be cranky and that is not good for anybody. Bad things happen to baby's when parents don't get their rest also. Think about it the mother or father that shake their baby to get him or her to be quiet.
I am rambling on, sorry. Just relax and enjoy her. Don't worry about it, just keep an eye on her like you have been, I am sure things will work out just fine.
Good luck and I hope I didn't scare you. Enjoy that baby.

If you don't vaccinate you are fine. The majority of babies who die of "SIDS" had a vaccination within the last week before they died. There is a lot of data out there from good sources that link SIDS with vaccines. Drs turn a blind eye to it and call it SIDS even though there is a huge correlation. Do you and your baby a favor and read "Vaccines are They Really Safe and Effective?" By Neil Z Miller

I asked a nurse about that and she said that until a baby can roll from back to tummy or vice versa on their own, that putting them to sleep on their back is really the safest way for a baby to sleep.

T.,

I put my second daughter to sleep on her tummy. She wouldn't sleep for longer than 30-60 minutes on her back. It came down to me getting enough sleep to take care of both of my daughters and myself without going bonkers or putting her on her back and going crazy. She is 7.5 months old now and doing fine.

I have talked to my pediatricians about tummy sleeping and they have indicated that they basically have to say back sleeping due to SIDS because of the advice from American Pediatrics Association. I have not been able to find any studies that conclusively prove that SIDS is more likely from tummy sleep than from back sleep. The studies that the doctors mentioned were not set up to follow children that were born from birth to possible death, the studies that the docs mentioned were done long after the babies death and don't take into account other possibilities.

Well there are ups and downs to that. I have a down syndrome son who is now 5 years old. He had to be put to sleep on his tummy because he had major reflux. It was tummy or he could have died if he could not roll over to spit out any thing in his mouth. Since he could not roll over till he was almost one this was what we had to do. I have also worked for many years in a day care and I know of many people who have done and still do put baby's to sleep on their tummy's. This is your call and of course talk with a Dr. most will understand what you are worried about and will advise you on info of any kind that you want.
H.

I have three kids (7, 5, and 2) and I slept all three of them on their tummies for the same reasons you mentioned, and none of them had any problems. It is actually more natural for a baby to sleep on her tummy than her back because she feels more secure. I just made sure that there were no pillows or blankets around that they might get tangled up in, and I let them sleep how ever they were most comfortable.

Our first from day one would only sleep on her belly. She did fine but there is always that chance. We found that she had no problems with breathing but she slept all night with a pacifier and I think that helped because it forced her mouth to stay open. Now our second our son would not do his tummy at all absolutely hated it...so I think each child is different and each child likes different positions. best of luck!

I disagree with Babywise (as recommended), and would suggest checking out Dr. Sears website on cosleeping (askdrsears.com). You end up with less risk of SIDS, and a family that sleeps at night, and a healthy secure baby. Babies prefer their tummy, and if you are close by, your risk of SIDS is very low. (considering you keep the other risk factors out which are: keep them cool, keep pillows away, don't smoke or use alcohol or drugs, breastfeed, limit vaccinations, etc) Some advice given to me is: do whatever gets the most family members the most sleep!!

I'm obviously no expert but I know that my sister had her kids sleep on their stomach about 15 yrs. ago, that my mom had my sister and I sleep on our stomach and so on, that was how you did it back then. I think they still don't know what causes SIDS and maybe you just need to do what you need to do. In my last pediatrician class a parent asked about side sleeping and he told us that there really aren't the studies out there that say it is bad or good, so maybe try the side sleeping. Good luck.

If you baby can move her head then most likely she is fine:) I have a 25 weeker premature baby andin the first days of his life the neonatle unti ALWAYS put him on his stomach so he got accustomed to that! So we had to go to many classes before he could come hom and they always say put babies "back to sleep" So we tried that when he came home and he did the same as yours so one night after having zero to no sleep at all i decided well if the NICU put him to sleep on his stomach with no problems then it's worth the try... well he's been home for 3 1/2 months and still sleeping on his stomachand we have had no problems.. soi think your baby will be fine let me know how things go!

Always J.

The experts don't recomend that an infant sleeps on their back just to scare you. They do it because the cases of sids dropped dramatically once they started the back to sleep campaign. I don't think that is worth loosing a baby over to let them sleep the way that is most comfortable to them.

Hi T.,
I bought the best monitor that will possibly put your mind at ease, at least a little. It's called Angelcare by Bebe sounds. It is a great monitor with a sensor that detects your baby's movement, if your little one stops moving for more than 20 seconds an alarm goes off. I am in no way saying that this should replace you checking on her, but maybe coupled with this monitor, you will feel better about having her on her tummy.
Good luck!
L.

Try wrapping her in a receiving blanket really tight. She might be too old for this but sometimes if you wrap them tight with their little arms inside so they can't move them and scare themselves then they feel more secure. Tummy sleeping is bad because of sudden infant death syndrome. Very scary stuff. I would do what ever I could to change her sleeping habits.

hey,
i slept my second baby on her tummy, and my sister did with both of her kids. tiny babies just prefer it! one theory for SIDS is that a reused mattress has been exposed to previous spit-up which starts to disolve the materials inside, which let off toxic fumes. if you're comfortable with the mattress she's sleeping on, i think it's fine.

also, i felt guilty doing it with my first daughter, even though she prefered it...so i didn't feel confident enough till my second.

Swaddle. It worked great for our two. It really helped get past the free falling feeling newborns have once out of the womb, and I think you can still use it. I would dress our babies lightly (summer-type night gowns), swaddle very tightly in a thin flannel blanket, and once in the bassinet, in a warmer blanket. I fully bought into the "Back to bed" campaign, and was fearful of the tummy sleeping. I would do the final nursing after the swaddle, and place them in a warmed bed with side bumpers so they felt cuddled. We tried co-sleeping with second, but had a scare, so stopped and used bassinet next to bed. I co-slept with our first til 18 months, and we had and have (3.5yo) sleep issues. I love the idea, but in practice, co-sleeping is tough on everyone, at least that is what I have found. Hope this is helpful. Unfortunately, no one has the perfect answer, since we are all unique human beings, with unique wonderful little ones to watch over! Best of luck!

I really thought I was the only one who felt guilty about the tummy thing. I used to put my older son(who is now 6) on his tummy, and I also put my 8 month old on his tummy. He was a preemie. But they slept better. My mom put me on my tummy, and her mom put her on her tummy, and so on.... I just make sure there arent alot of blankets and toys. Don't feel guilty. Our jobs as parents are hard enough without guilt.

Hey T.. Oh the tummy dilema!First, I'm not a dr. or nurse, that being said I am a mother of 4 who truly believes that some kids are tummy sleepers and some are back sleepers. I started down the mom road with preemie twin boys, then two girls. My boys were in the hospital for about a month before we could bring them home. They were hooked up to heart & breathing monitors 24/7 while at the hospital so nurses put them on their stomach to sleep because they knew they would feel more comfortable and sleep better and they would know if there was a problem because of the monitors. Try breaking them of the habit when you go home? RIGHT! They also woke easily when transitioning them from us to their crib, so they slept with us a lot the first few months. I tried EVERYTHING to get them to sleep on their side or back. They hated it! My next child, loved to sleep on her back. It wasn't an issue at all. I just had my last girl 8 months ago. As soon as she could roll herself over, she would roll to her tummy to fall asleep. I agonized and dealt with the guilt with my twins when I eventually let them sleep on their tummy so I could sleep too. Now, i know better. Trust yourself. I think if your daughter can hold her head up and use her arms to push her upper body up and she's on a firmer surface (like her crib mattress) you're fine. Congrats on your fairly new "mom" status & happy sleeping!!

Solid statistics show that the incidence of SIDS has dropped sharply now that more babies are put to sleep on their backs -- even with all sorts of different studies and opinions, these statistics are pretty black and white. If you can lower your risk by even 1%, is it worth the risk? Yes, many babies successfully sleep on their tummies at 3-4 months, but the risk is higher until your baby can roll over on her own. The latest SIDS research suggests that SIDS may be caused by "re-breathing" CO2 and other environmental factors, not suffocating. This ties directly into other factors such as parents who smoke (because the air gets sullied with contaminants) and using blankets and mattress pads (traps CO2). My advice is to swaddle (Kiddopatumus swaddlers with velcro work great) until your baby can roll from tummy to back -- hang in there, it will only be another month or so!!!

We have a 9month old and struggled when she was little with sleeping. Our of desperation, she would only sleep in her car seat, as she hated being on her back I was too nervous to put her on her tummy. The car seat was fine (I just put it in her crib) until she started to wiggle around (about 5 months). I have friends that purchased an angelmat (I think that's the name) at Babies R Us. It's about $100, but you put it under the crib sheet and if the baby stops breathing for 20 seconds or more an alarm wil go off to alert you. I wish that I would have known about this product when she was a newborn and won't hesitate to grab one for our next one. Cecelia is now a tummy sleeper all the time and we are finally sleeping ourselves! Hang in there, best of luck!

my 5 month old twins do the same thing. So instead of ignoring it I listened to it and nap times are easy. I wouldn't worry about it. Your daughter obviously is happy that way and can take care of her breathing space. Good job listening to her and following what she needs!

S.

Hi T.,

Have you thought of buying one of those swaddling type of blankets that wrap the baby quite tightly? My daughter used those with her 4 little ones and it makes the infants feel secure, like in the womb, and they tend to sleep much better. Then they can be placed on either their back or side with the help of one of those triangular infant props. I was amazed how well this worked! I think what infants dislike most about being on their backs is that their arms and legs can flail around and they feel unsupported. On their tummy they can't do that so they prefer it. But with the swaddling blanket they are securely held even on their backs, which is best for them.

Hi Tonya, my daughter slept on her tummy since the day we got home from the hospital. I know all about the SIDS warnings but that is how she slept best. I think as long as you keep an eye on her she will be fine. Good Luck!!

My baby did just fine on her stomach, too, until she died on Christmas Eve, 1961, at the age of 2 months 19 days, before we knew of SIDS. Is it really worth the risk? I would wrap her snugly and lie her on her side. There is no second chance with SIDS.

Hi T.!

My son is almost 9 months old, and has been a tummy sleeper most of his life. We had him on his back, we bundled him, we co-slept, we put him in his bassinet, we put him in a sleep positioner on his back, then his side... nothing worked. Nothing. He was sleeping no longer than 45 minutes at a time, which meant I wasn't sleeping at all. He now sleeps on his stomach (in his crib - he slept better in his bassinet than with us - he fell asleep wonderfully co-sleeping, but wouldn't stay asleep, and his movements constantly woke me up), and has since he could efficiently lift his head. We all sleep now.

SIDS 'rules' have changed from back to front and back again, so I just don't worry too much about it (though I still check on him periodically). Some studies contradict each other... there's still no definite evidence of anything.

If you and your baby are happier while she sleeps on her stomach, by all means let her.

Hi T.,
I have a 8 week old daughter that has been sleeping on her tummy for 2 weeks now. Once she stopped wanted to be swaddled she was a very restless sleeper on the back, waking up all the time at the slightless movement and noise. We put her on her tummy a couple times for naps when we were around and she slept SOOOOO soundly we finally started doing it at night. She can move her head from side to side well on her own and lift her head and keep it up for a good amount of time which helps me rest easier. The whole SIDS issue is relavent, but its more in the case of people that would have their babys in lots of clothing, blankets around the face, stuffed animals in the bed, fluffy beds and such. I was nervous about putting her on her tummy and read up about it. It was interested to find one major cause of SIDS related deaths are babies being over heated, parents have them in very warm outfits, a blanket and a hat!, their little bodies will over heat very easily and can cause a sids death. If your baby is comfortable on her tummy and sleeps soundly, which in turn can give you some sleep time, do what your gut says is ok. I followed my heart and my little one has been sleeping 2-3 hours longer and much more sound ever since. I still get gasps and looks of shock when I tell some people, but you gotta do whats best for you and your family.
Hope it all goes well!!!

i guess you have to weight the out comes, you know that there is a good chance that your baby could die of sids so i would just think to myself how would I feel if my child died and it was something I could have prevented and did not. Only you can answer that question for yourself. Also try wrapping her up.

HI T.,
I also had both of my babies sleep on their tummys. I know it goes against everything we have been told right now. I also was constantly checking on them to make sure they were okay. They would not sleep on their backs either. It is hard. Back when I was a baby sleeping on the tummys was what they suggested and I turned out fine. Hope all goes well. I am not a dr, but I did what I had to do to make it thru.. Good luck.

T.,

My little boy used to do the same thing. I would try to put him to sleep on his back and his arms would start flailing and he would wake up and cry. I know that they teach us to put the babies to bed on their backs to prevent SIDS but I think that most babies actually sleep better on their tummies because they feel more secure that way. I eventually gave up and just started putting him to bed on his tummy for the first year until he became comfortable sleeping on his back or tummy. I have heard that other countries (I believe Japan is one of them) have done studies about SIDS and have found that putting a baby to sleep on their back increases the risk of SIDS. There is evidence pulling both directions. Since we really don't know what causes SIDS and the research is a little confusing I decided to just trust my motherly instincts and know that he will be okay.

I now have a new baby (2 mo.) and she too seems to sleep better on her tummy.

D. J.

I spoke to my pediatrician about this because my daughter had the same problem. She told me that medically, it puts her at a higher SIDS risk, however, as a mom, you have to look at what is best for the family. If you aren't sleeping because she won't sleep any other way, then tummy it is so that you will be an alert, friendly and effective mom.

I would also suggest reading the book "On Becoming Babywise." We read it and have implemented it in our parenting and love it!

And I highly caution against co-sleeping. They actually say the risk of SIDS is higher with co-sleeping, then the troubles of getting them out of your bed into their own as well as the effects on your intimate relationship with your hubby.

I agree with many... tummy worked for me too. My first, had lots of sleep issues( flailing arms, waking self up, etc) as I was terrified to put him to sleep on his tummy. He has a flat spot on the back of his head and is 6 now. My next 2, right to sleep on their tummies, with NO pillows or blankets close by to get caught up in. Call it seasoned mom? :) Whatever you chose to do is right for you and your baby.

Both of my sons wanted to lie on their tummys and there was never any problem. They went to sleep a whole lot faster and easier and if they had gas they often worked it out and got rid of it lieing on their tummies and moving I care for babies and grand babies and I do watch carefully each child but have no problem with letting them go to sleep that way...
L.

My second baby hated sleeping on his back, and cosleeping with me. We finally put him in a carseat one night and stuck him in our master bathroom so I could finally get some sleep, and he went right to sleep. The next night we put the carseat in the cosleeper and he slept well for a few months, until he was able to get out of it and by then he didn't mind sleeping in the cosleeper.

That whole back to sleep thing is a crock. I tried everything to try to force my daughter to sleep on her back when she was an infant. Nothing worked, she loved sleeping on her tummy and I was never concerned about her breathing as she would instinctively turn her head to the side to sleep. I even tried one of those foam forms made for positioning them on their backs. She would use it durring the night without a problem, but naps were a different story. She prefered to sleep on her tummy for naps and actually was much happier when allowed to. So don't feel bad about letting her sleep on her tummy, I did it for my daughter and she is a healthy 9y/o now. Although now she will only sleep on her back.

I had the same experience with my two older children (ages 12 and 5). They'd wake up the minute I put them down on their backs and I found that laying them on their tummies was much better since their little arms didn't flail. My youngest is 12 weeks old and she's sleeping on her tummy as I type this. Yes, I have concerns about SIDS as well, so I do check on her during her naps. At night we co-sleep and she stays on her side. Your pediatrician may also warn you against co-sleeping because of SIDS--but stick to your guns on co-sleeping, it's the best way to get some sleep, especially if you're nursing.

Another bit of advice that I will give you is NOT to hold her to nap. I did that with my oldest quite a bit and it was a BIG mistake. We battled sleep problems for years. I think a lot moms do this with their first baby; who doesn't love to hold a sleeping baby??? It will help the both of you if you put your baby down while she's drowsy so that she can learn to go to sleep on her own. It make a take a while for her to learn to do it, but it's worth it! Good luck.

When my third child was born he had to spend a couple days on moniters in the nursery. When I would go to in to nurse and hold him he would be on his stomach. I asked the nurse about this and she said he was on so many moniters that nothing would happen without their knowledge. What they didn't tell me is after three days of sleeping on his stomach I would not be able to break this habit when I brought him home. I was so worried that something bad would happen. My mother reassurred me that is how all 5 of my siblings and I slept. So when my fourth child came and would only sleep on his stomach I just let him. He slept longer and was happier on waking when I let him.

my daughter is 7 months and when she learned to roll over, every time i put her to bed on her back she would just roll over on her back with her butt in the air.

I honestly think that if ur daughter prefers being laid on her tummy then i'd do it but continur to keep a close eye on her. it's been a few mos and i still watch mine so i know the feeling u are having is just a mom thing.

if concerned with SIDS dint put her in the crib with nothing but what she's wearing. get one of those sleepers that are like sleeping bags.i love those. or put her to nap with warm clothes .

Honestly, don't sweat it. As you mentioned about your daughter, mine would cry if she was on her back. I talked to the doctor about this and he rebuked me saying, "An unhappy baby is better then a dead one." But when I'd put her on her side, with all the crying and wiggling, she'd end up on her tummy anyway and then fall asleep. At two weeks she could lift her head up and arch her back enough to lift her chest up so suffocating was not an issue.

Child #2 slept with us until he was over a year old. I let him sleep in any position he/we fell asleep.

Child #3 died from SIDS at 2 months. He was on his back.

I did everything right. He was nursed exclusively, the room was cool, no toys in his crib, not too many blankets, his face was not covered when he died, the head of the bed was propped up slightly (books under the feet of the crib), I don't drink or smoke, there were no chemicals nearby, etc. My biggest regret is that he was not sleeping with me, although his crib was right next to our bed.

After studying the autopsy and investigation reports, talking with the doctor and coroner and doing my own research, I discovered that SIDS by definition means doctors have absolutely no idea how the child died or what causes these deaths. The sleeping position is all speculation based on statistics, not proven fact. If it could be proven, they'd know the cause and the cure. And obviously sleeping on their backs is not the cure.

My advice is, let your child sleep however she is comfortable and leave the results up to God.

Hi T.. Two of my babies were tummy sleepers early on. It was the only way they would settle and sleep. I always made sure they were laid flat on the crib matress (with a sheet but no blankets or pillows) and had the freedom to turn their faces or heads if they needed to. One thing I considered when it came to SIDS is that we didn't have any other risk factors. I did worry about it too, for a while, because the push for babies on their backs by the medical community is so hard core. If it is making you very anxious to keep sleeping her on her tummy, you could try swaddling your daughter snugly and laying her on her back to see if that helps with the flailing. By the time any of my three girls could roll and move on their own, they always ended up on their tummies to sleep no matter how I put them down.

Consider wrapping your mattress. This is a practice common in New Zealand and Australia that has virtually eliminated SIDS as a cause of death in infants. Once you do the research and wrap your mattress you won't need to worry quite as much about putting your baby to sleep on his/her tummy. This website will help: http://www.babysake.com/

It seems like a strange practice, but read the research. We wrapped our crib mattess before starting to put our son down there and I haven't worried about SIDS at all.

T., I have three children and everyone of them slept on their tummy. My pediatrician recommended it for our 3 year old when she was first born. She had AR and wouldn't sleep on her back or side. It was the difference between night and day. I was very concerned at first. But she slept so well. And she needed that sleep as much as I did. Our twin 2 year olds just got put that way too. When they had colds, they slept in their carseats for breathing reasons. But other than that, they slept on their tummies. SIDS was always a concern for us, we just had to leave them in God's wonderful hands. I think on their backs, they can move too quickly, scaring themselves. On their tummy, they are snug on the bed. I've read that SIDS is usually in smokefilled, dirty environments. But other than that, there wasn't a specific cause. She should be rolling over soon and then it won't make a difference what way she's put to bed. And that will give you a better night sleep too. Hope you have sweet dreams soon.

co-sleeping does make the risk of SIDS higher, my friend just lost her baby to SIDS and they co-slept.

Updated March 28th... guess being close tot his as my best friend lost her baby.... I should have said could make the risk of SIDS higher... there is lots of thinks that it lowers it also.. sorry

I would try wraping her up, so she can't scare herself awake... and readung the baby wishperer by Tracy Hogg, she has one for Toddles too.. it will help you get the baby to be sleeping on her own in her own safe crib in a matter of days.
the back is really the safest place for your baby...

My 9month old also sleeps on her tummy. I tried for 7 weeks to put her to sleep on her back. She would always wake up about 15-20 minutes after I laid her down. After NO SLEEP for me, I finally laid her down on her tummy and she stayed asleep! I was super paranoid, but then I fell asleep. ;)

My first was a bundled sleeper -- we did the baby-burrito with her. That just didn't work with the second one.

For the record, here is this excerpt from Wikipedia: "Sleeping on the back has been recommended by (among others) the American Academy of Pediatrics (starting in 1992) to avoid SIDS, with the catchphrase "Back To Bed" and "Back to Sleep." The incidence of SIDS has fallen sharply in a number of countries in which the back to bed recommendation has been widely adopted, such as the US and New Zealand.[5] However, the absolute incidence of SIDS prior to the Back to Sleep Campaign was already low in the US."

Sweet dreams!

I have a friend who did this. Actually, I think SIDS is mostly for families who smoke...also I have heard that SIDS can be caused from the bacteria that can linger on used or old crib mattresses. I think that actually most adults today can say that their mothers did this when they were infants. So, if you smoke that is a huge risk, otherwise I wouldn't be too worried about it. Actually, it is great to get kids ready to crawl and hooray that she likes to do this. My 6 m. baby girl hates being on her tummy. So, goes to show each baby is different. :)

You could try one of the many SID alert products on the market. Some are better than others, so it'll take some research. One brand that got pretty good reviews on Amazon is the Bebe Sounds Angelcare Movement Sensor. If your daughter is on her tummy but has the alarm system, it might help you with some of the guilt/worry (although it seems to be standard issue with parenthood).

Best,

AMD

Hi T.,
I say don't worry about what the doctors say about putting your baby on his or her tummy, it wasn't till not long ago that they started saying it was a danger, and look at how well the population boomed because of the baby boomers, and they most likely put their kids on their tummies. I put all 3 of my kids on their sides at first and after they were lifting their head easily I put them on their tummy, after that they all slept through the night. There is also a danger to putting your baby on her back, she can choke on her spit-up or even her saliva if not set up just right. So if your daughter can lift her head up and flip it from side to side, don't worry, in my opinion it can be a good thing, makes her neck nice and strong.