He won't sleep on his back...HELP!!

CharmCitySmith · November 2008

I have tried and tried and tried to get DS to sleep on his back since we brought him home and he just will not do it. I wait until he is good and sleep (ie. the arm drop test) but within minutes of lying him down, he'll wake right up. After a few weeks of virtually no sleep, we put him down on his stomach and he's out like a light. He's 6 weeks and can turn his head from side to side on his own but I still can't get any sleep bc I'm always up monitoring him. Last night I even tried to roll him on his back (after he fell asleep on his stomach) and again, within a few mins, he was wide awake. Anyone have any advice?

jenifairies · November 2008

what about putting him on his side? or swaddle?

Parks2Be · November 2008

I don't really have any advice because my little princess is 7 weeks today and has been on her belly since week 4. I did this against the pedi's advice but that is the only way she will sleep. LIke you, I have tried to move her to her back after she was sound asleep and never fails, she wakes right up.?

She also has really good head/neck control but I am paranoid and am constantly checking on her. But I would rather her get sleep than me. ?

CharmCitySmith · November 2008

He haaaaaates being swaddled. I thought that this would help so I went out and bought swaddling blankets only to have him either cry until we took him out or discover he's busted out of them after 5 mins. I've put him on his side and he tips right on over to his stomach. I've talked to the pediatrician and have tried everything she's mentioned but it's like he's determined to sleep on his stomach no matter what.

mamamoos · November 2008

i was in the same boat. DS had awesome neck control so i finally broke down and let him belly sleep. i still followed all the other rules/suggestions (no blankets/stuffed animals/bumpers, cool room and have a fan on to circulate air) and i was a wreck for the first week or so, but you gotta do what's best for your family. he needed more than 15 minutes of sleep at a time and frankly, so did i.

you can always get one of those movement monitors, but i know my DS squirms all over his crib, so that would've been useless for us.

GL!

RedBrideNC · November 2008

DS was like this so we use a sleep positioner and put him on his side.

mattnlinz03 · November 2008

mamamoos:

i still followed all the other rules/suggestions (no blankets/stuffed animals/bumpers, cool room and have a fan on to circulate air) and i was a wreck for the first week or so, but you gotta do what's best for your family.

Ditto.

DS has been sleeping on his tummy since he was 2 weeks old and we have never once looked back. His pedi said that it is a no win situation beacause if you try to keep him on his back you won't sleep and if you put him on his tummy you won't sleep. We did what was best for us.

LaLaSweets · November 2008

dd was and still is the same way. I put her on her belly and she sleeps so great!

RikaNTim05 · November 2008

DS was the same way. After 6 weeks of fighting with him we now let him sleep on his stomach, its frankly the only way he will sleep. Pedi doesn't like it, but I feel like we don't have a choice...he just won't sleep on his back. Sleeping on the stomach does not automatically = SIDs. Good luck with whatever you decide.

CharmCitySmith · November 2008

Thanks Ladies...it makes me feel a lot better to know there are other tummy sleepers in this back sleeping world.

CharmCitySmith · November 2008

Sleeping on the stomach does not automatically = SIDs.

I'm glad you said this bc honestly, that's what's been in the back of my mind and one of the reasons I just can't seem to rest at night. EVERYTHING you read about babies and sleeping says "back to sleep" = reduced chance of SIDS. I feel so guilty for putting him on his stomach bc I feel as if I'm totally ignoring the risks and putting him in danger. I'd NEVER forgive myself if something happened.

missfire · November 2008

You can try using a breathable sleep positioner to allay your concerns of him face-planting and not being able to breathe. My DS is a side sleeper, and I know lots of stomach sleepers who are turning out just fine.

Jessica85 · November 2008

My baby has been a tummy sleeper since week four. My pedi strongly disagreed about me doing this, but hey...Baby and I BOTH needed sleep and that is the only way I could get him to sleep without holding him constantly. When I was a baby they said to put babies to sleep on their bellies to reduce the risk of SIDS... I turned out fine! They can't seem to make up their minds, no one really knows what causes SIDS. So, I would suggest letting him belly sleep so atleast he gets some rest.

Alligator · November 2008

My DS is a tummy sleeper.

I feel guilty sometimes, but you have to do what works. My pedi didn't seem too concerned, but he's super old and I know all babies were recommended to sleep on their bellies up until recently so he's fairly okay with it.

smiling76 · November 2008

Us tummy sleepers are a special secret society LOL. But we're out there. My DS was the same way--hated being swaddled and would wake up either immediately or within 20 minutes of beign put down. So when I saw how well he did during naps on his belly (Dr recommended that for naps only)---I said "hmmmmm". I also have the angelcare monitor though--which is awesome.

thereds · November 2008

RikaNTim05:
DS was the same way. After 6 weeks of fighting with him we now let him sleep on his stomach, its frankly the only way he will sleep. Pedi doesn't like it, but I feel like we don't have a choice...he just won't sleep on his back. Sleeping on the stomach does not automatically = SIDs. Good luck with whatever you decide.

and sleeping on back does not automatically = no SIDS. Too bad it isn't that simple though!

MattsWifey<3 · November 2008

Put him on his belly.

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