Tummy sleepers

[e&m'sirishmum]

I was just wondering if any of our other babies like to sleep on their tummy? I don't let my 5 month sleep on his tummy through the night, but at nap time or if he is in my bed, I will since I am right there and able to check on him! It seems like he almost sleeps better when he is laying on his stomach. When is it safe to start to let them sleep on their stomach at night?

[breezykc]

my little boy always napped better on his tummy due to gassiness and the pressure on his tummy helped relieve the pressure and pain....I think our doctor said that once they can roll over well it's okay, since they can roll on you in the middle of the night anyway and switch postions without you knowing it.

[jwright]

My youngest ds was a tummy sleeper from the very beginning. He wouldn't sleep long at all if he was on his back. So we let him sleep on his tummy - he had good neck muscles so was able to move his head and we had nothing in the crib that would have posed a problem for him either (no stuffed animals, pillows, etc.) Yes, I know they say babies should sleep on their back but try telling that to a 2 month old! (and a mom that needed sleep) :)

Janell

[justmeNmine]

Both my babies slept on their tummies all the time; I am aware of the "risks" but I think the studies that led to those conclusions were incomplete... Interesting enough, the only baby I know personally who died of SIDS was asleep on her back (at 4 mos. old)

[luvmy4sons]

All four slept on their tummies from day one. I think that more babies were found on their tummies with sids because more babies sleep better on their tummies, not because it was a cause and effect relationship. But I am not a scientist. Ultimately God is in charge of when He takes any of us home. And He will whether they sleep on their tummies or not. We are to be prudent, but...well anyway. They are all alive today. " What does your hubby think?"

[mommyb]

Haha..you won't believe it but I just made this comment to you on your other post! I let Isaac sleep on his stomach from the beginning. I was scared, of course, but I would just pray (a LOT! :lol: ). Let us know how it goes!

[emilyrosejewel]

Justice has been on his tummy his week 3, he is now 11 mos. old. As the past post stated, studies are incomplete and I just trusted God. He always had good neck muscles too. He just slept much better on his stomach. We were all tummy sleepers and we turned out just fine.

[cjropher]

I'm so glad to see this post. It might put me on a [soapbox] though! Both my boys have been tummy sleepers and I really hate how the doctors and experts say that they have to sleep on their backs. It made me feel really guilty. I sit back and ask how civilization came to this point when only now do we learn that babies should sleep on their backs! It looks way more natural to me for a baby to sleep on his tummy, and I love sleeping on my tummy. I wish that these experts would give some empowerment to parents and say, hey, civilization made it this far, do what your common sense says. My fil was raised on evaporated milk and sugar, that's what they used to use for formula. He's alive. We would never do that now. But he lived. How many of us were tummy sleepers, we are alive. I'll get off my [soapbox] now! [sorry]

As an aside, I read about a study that was done in NZ (I think) where they now think that the mattresses in cribs are made of a foam that breaks down over time and releases toxic fumes. Yikes! Studies have shown that subsequent babies are more suseptible to crib death, we hand down mattresses. They found that using a mattress cover with a good barrier reduced the incidence of SIDS 100% in their study (not that this is a complete study, and all the babies were sleeping on their backs).

Also, friends who have religiously followed the back to sleep campaign found that if they swaddled their babies within an inch of their lives, the babies would sleep on their backs quite happily. However, these babies were almost tied down (imo), they were swaddled so tightly. They liked it though, and that's what matters.

I'll see if I can find the site about the crib mattress covers.

[e&m'sirishmum]

Thanks to all of you for your replies, I just wanted to let you know that since I last posted this thread, little Micah is now actually rolling onto his tummy at night! He is doing great and I feel ok about it! I just pray every night that God will wake me if he or his brother needs me!

[stephwhiz]

My babies wouldn't sleep unless I put them on their stomachs. Hearing the experts going off on doing that gets to me. I was always afraid to put them to sleep on their back because they might burp and get choked on their spit-up. You put them on their side and they will roll over. I tried those wedgy things and they hated those. Stephanie

Some of the information they give out to parents these days is boarderline paranoia.

I did sleep my babies on their backs because they never had a problem with it, they were happy either way. I used to use a sleeping bag with sleeves on it instead of quilts or blankets which worked much better and I never had to worry the rugs would ever cover their heads.

Fear of SID's is probably one of the worst things to suffer with a baby and I understand the medical profession have to make people aware but then I tend to look at the older generation who used to give their babies cows milk, used cots painted with lead based paint, did everything under the sun that they say is a no no now and their babies lived on to become our parents.

I think it's the usual all things in moderation when it comes to safety, I mean - not to be paranoid, but to act wisely - if bub sleeps fine on the tum, then by all means :wink:

[JoyLynn]

I agree, Aussie Mum! :D With Scotty (13 yrs ago) we were told to lay him on his tummy with nothing around his face. We did and he liked it. With Carissa (11 years ago) they told us to put her on her back. She hated it. We gave in and put her on her tummy. With Courtney (9 years ago) they said that babies were asparating and drowning on their backs, put her on her side, propped from behind and swaddled tightly. She like that. Dh and I were [whatsmack] [whatheadagainstthewall] at how often the hospital changed it's mind. With Chloe (six years ago) we decided we knew better than all of them put together and did whatever we felt was best and ignored what everyone else was saying we should do. :lol: I give up! This IS NOT supposed to be the hard stuff. :roll: [rotfl]


Joy [welcomewave]

Sometimes I think they have no idea LOL

[love2bmom]

My daughter has slept on her belly since the first week we brought her home. You as a mom were given the natural instinct to know what your children need. My son slept on his back, and my daughter prefers her belly. Actually if she rolls onto her back, she flips out! I have a friend that in child development that said children that sleep on their bellies often develop the skill of writing quicker. They have more wrist strength and can hold a writing instrument better. They are also better crawlers. Don't go putting your baby on his/her belly just so they write better. Like I said it is personal preference of the child... we are all different.

But as mentioned in earlier posts, we all slept on our bellies & we seem oK!

AS FOR ME & MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD. JOSHUA 24:15

http://lilypie.com/pic/060629/SrrV.jpghttp://b3.lilypie.com/kCxBm4/.png (http://lilypie.com)

http://lilypie.com/pic/060629/CmaS.jpghttp://b1.lilypie.com/iQDxm4/.png (http://lilypie.com)

NICI

[Rach]

I always put them on their backs but let them sleep however they are comfy! That happened to be tummy for #1 and 3, back for #2. I'm a side sleeper myself, perfect for nursing at night. (another thing some docs tell you not to do :lol: ) We all need our sleep and so we did what worked for our family.

[chozengirl]

I put my first baby to sleep on her back because that's what the hospital said to do but at a year she was still not sleeping through the night. With child #2, I put him on his tummy and he slept through the night at 6 wks. I did the same with babies #3 & 4. Is is just me, or does anyone else get tired of the doctors blaming SIDs on everything they council against. I mean, it seems like EVERYTHING can cause sids. They obviously have no idea what causes it. I believe we just have to put our babies in Gods hands and trust that HE will take care of them.

And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee; for thou Lord hast not forsake them that seek thee. Ps. 9:10

[7thHeaven]

I always used to put Samera down on her back because the nurses told me to and because that's what all the books said also, but as soon as she could move on her own, she was on her tummy!!!

[Iwantmycrown]

When we brought her home...and the paranoid parent we are....we always put her on her back. But, as soon as DD could roll over by herself...she has been a tummy sleeper ever since. She always sleeps on her tummy with her little legs tucked under her. Almost like a half crawl type of thing. Looks uncomfortable to me. But, that's how she loves to sleep. When she first started rolling over and doing it on her own. I would check on her a lot during the night and re postion her. But, after the first couple of days of no sleep for me and disrupting hers. I just let her do her own thing. She always sleeps alot better on her tummy than her back. So now I think we will be a little less paranoid when our second little one comes...on this.