Tummy Time (Back to Sleep, Tummy to Play)

He's fine. I used to take naps on the couch with my baby sleeping on my chest (on his tummy).

I know I'm going to get blasted for this, but even if he slept on his tummy ALL the time, it's very unlikely anything would happen. SIDS is very rare. It was rare even when most babies were put to sleep on their tummies.

SIDS isn't CAUSED by babies sleeping on their tummies. Even though the back-to-sleep campaign has reduced SIDS mortality rates over the last 30 years by about half, babies still die of SIDS each year. Which means that tummy sleeping isn't the primary cause. There's still another reason thousands of babies die from SIDS each year. Many researchers believe that those babies' brains simply weren't developed fully to be able to maintain breathing during sleep (sleep apnea), but that's just another theory.

Soooooo...I say none of that to scare you. I say it because I want you to know that it's okay to allow your baby to tummy sleep in your presence, and when he's 6 months (or rolling back and forth reliably), he can sleep however he likes. He'll be just fine.

Our daughter also slept best on her tummy. She could lift and turn her head at a very early age, so her pediatrician told us it was fine..

My kids slept on thier tummys. you have to do what you are comfortable with. With knowthing kids die of SIDs laying on all directions, stomach, back, side .. I felt that if it was meant to be it would be.. so I put them on thier tummys.

I felt safer with my son on his tummy because when he would spit up, on his back it was like he would choke on it.. on his tummy it would come out on to the bed.

Best of Luck.

I had 8 children and it was in the pre SIDS days when nobody knew about it and talked about it and scared people to death. One of the eight kids refused to sleep on his stomach and he slept with arms spread out, which is unusual for an infant. The others all slept all night on the stomach. By the way, you would have much faster and easier sleeping all night that way too as they feel secure like that. Anyhow, now they scared people about SIDS and other things but I would say if you are there and feel comfortable with it do it. Do you see all the flat heads on babies these days, all the helmets, all the issues? Those are from this new idea of no stomach time. It also has caused this neck issue that is common more and more too and I read they aren't even sure if SIDS is from that at all now. Did they broadcast that all over? No. Your doctor is right and you can put him down in the day on his stomach and if it makes you feel better check on him often. It's not bad do stomach sleeping it's very good for the baby. When you lay him down one time turn his head to the right and next time turn it to the left so he gets equal time on his head. That keeps the shape good.

Talk to your doctor. in some cases, they will recommend or approve tummy sleeping, but I would make sure your baby is ready (can move/lift/turn his head, etc).

Please don't feel you have to follow the 'rules' so rigidly that you become miserable. Just do what comes naturally as a momma. I know pre-kids I thought that my baby would sleep on his/her back in their own cribs all night long. I ended up letting my babies sleep in my bed (gasp!) and LOVED it. I'm not dimishing the back-to-sleep campaign, just saying that I'm sure your baby sleeping on your chest is fine, no need to consult pediatrician, it is YOUR child. I don't think I know of a parent that HASN'T had a newborn sleeping on their chest at one point or another. Another option to help your newborn sleep upright, is let them sleep in a swing or bouncer. At 6 weeks old, don't bother worring about creating bad habits, just help your baby sleep, whatever works best for THEM and you. Good luck!