STTN, but.....

JaymeMane · June 2012

So last night my son slept for 7.5 hours!!!! But before you get too excited let me tell you what happened. He ate every 2 hours yesterday and ate between 4-5 ounces. We fed him at 7:30 and put him down at 8:10. He fussed so we put him on his tummy (we usually do for naps because he always sleeps better on his tummy) and decided to flip him once he was out. So at 9, before I went to bed, I flipped him. He woke up right away. We could only settle him down by holding him. As soon as we'd pick him up he would fall asleep but then when we'd set him down he'd cry. We did this for about a half hour. Then he started getting really upset and fussed even in our arms. So at 9:30 I thought we'd try feeding him (it had been 2 hours!?). He ate less then an ounce and then my husband decided to put him on his tummy. He fell right asleep. I didn't want to try flipping him again because of what had happened. So I set my alarm to get up every hour to check on him. He slept awesome! Got up at 5ish, ate and went back down again (on his tummy) and is still sleeping. So my question for you.... WWYD???? I am so afraid to let him sleep on his tummy but think how we all did and are fine. I don't even want to ask the doctor because I think I know what her answer will be. Would you put your LO on their tummy if it meant they slept better and through the night? Please give me your honest opinion...

Madringal · June 2012

No I wouldn't. I'm sorry, I know that is not what you want to hear. And it looks like you have a premie? I wouldn't take the risk. The only person this is really going to benefit is you and your DH. The NB phase is hard, but you will get through it.

Fink · June 2012

I'm sorry, but I wouldn't do it either - especially if your LO is a premie. There is a reason they started the "Back to Sleep" campaign and pediatricians very strongly recommend having babies sleep on their backs.

Pumpkin62307 · June 2012

Madringal:
No I wouldn't. I'm sorry, I know that is not what you want to hear. And it looks like you have a premie? I wouldn't take the risk. The only person this is really going to benefit is you and your DH. The NB phase is hard, but you will get through it.

I have to agree with this, I'm sorry too. Especially with a premie...

Do you swaddle? It might help. If it's for naps and you're right there, I wouldn't worry about it too much. But there's too much that can happen over night even if your checking on him every hour. And, can I ask, Is getting up every hour to go check on him a better night's sleep that getting up a couple times to feed (or whatever)? Doesn't sound like it to me. I'd rather have a couple 2-3 hour stretches of sleep then be up every hour. I know it's tough, but he'll STTN the right way when he's ready. Hang in there!

JaymeMane · June 2012

I appreciate the honest opinion, that's why I asked for people to be honest. But to answer some of your questions or respond to your statements.

No, it's not a better night sleep for me and no it doesn't just benefit my husband and I. But he's getting a good night sleep that way. He used to get up every 1-3 hours before. He has reflux and is on Zantac, which is why I think he sleeps better on his tummy. I think he wakes up on his back because of his reflux. I guess I also don't understand what him being a preemie has to do with him sleeping on his tummy. He is caught up weight wise and has no other issues now, except the reflux.

Again, I do appreciate honest opinions and hope to get more responses, but I wanted to respond to some of the already comments.

Thanks!

Pumpkin62307 · June 2012

I think the premie thing was brought up because, from what I understand, premies have a hgher risk of SIDS as it is, then tummy sleeping is also a higher risk for SIDS. So you're not only dealing with one risk factor, you've got 2. I'm not sure if that changes when they're caught up in weight or not. I'm not an expert, this is just what I understand about it.

kelleynb28 · June 2012

What about propping him up on his side with some rolled up blankets?

LuckyBride06 · June 2012

My DS sleeps way better on his belly too, but I won't do it at night. It sucks, but I can't risk it! I know how you feel. I'm going to wait another month or two and try it out maybe. Once he starts rolling more consistently. I put DS1 on his belly around 5 months old and he's been a belly-sleeper ever since.

FirstTimeMom2012 · June 2012

I WOULD. But that's just me. You have to decide that on your own though.

bride2005!! · June 2012

My DS has been rolling over for about two weeks. We place him on his back to sleep and he immediately flips to his tummy. We leave him there. I honestly can't say what I would do because he has always been a great sleeper either way but it is clear that he definitely prefers his tummy. Does he roll yet? If he is able to flip on his own obviously I would leave him there.

joyfullyfound · June 2012

I would. Call me crazy, but I think the whole SIDS thing is kind of blown out of proportion... Besides, if your LO honestly prefers sleeping on his tummy, he's probably only a few weeks away from being able to roll over onto it himself. And then what?

You could try laying him down on his side... That's what i do with DD at night, and she usually ends up rolling onto her back later on. For naps, she tummy sleeps

GL!

eyenigh · June 2012

If he's reflux-y, can you maybe elevate the crib mattress a bit to help him sleep better? I've heard the incline can help, though I honestly don't have that experience myself (my baby didn't have reflux).

Just the fact that you're questioning if it's a good idea means you're nervous about it and, for that reason, I'd go with your gut. If you're worried, you're going to be getting up every hour to check on him anyway so you won't be getting any more sleep on your own. To me, for a few months, I think it's worth it to try to eliminate every risk factor, if for no other reason than to feel like you did everything you could've done if, god forbid, anything did happen. A friend of my MIL just lost her 3 month old baby to SIDS and had been letting him sleep on his tummy. She's now absolutely beside herself that it may have been prevented. I guess no one could ever know for sure but it'll always be with her. It's so sad, it makes me sick to think of.

dfoley1111 · June 2012

I would. My son has started rolling to his side to sleep at 3 days old. He usually sleeps on his stomach but we have an Angel Care movement monitor so that gives me some peace of mind. Unfortuntely for me, no matter what position he sleeps in he still is up every 2-3 hours though.

nhenry8078 · June 2012

My LO sleeps on his tummy in his crib. I was worried at first but I saw him have his face in the mattress and then move it because he couldn't breath while he was sleeping. He has always been really great at moving and holding up his head. I check to make sure he has his face turned before I go to bed. I keep the monitor loud so I hear every movement he makes. If it helps you can always get a video monitor so you can see always see him.

Eveamlizya · June 2012

If he wasn't premie then I would say go for it. I made the decision to co-sleep with DD because she slept better that way, but she was born on her due date, could control her head pretty well, and I'm a fairly light sleeper since becoming a mom. It was the right decision for me and DD and she transitioned great to the RNP at 2 months if swaddled and still STTN. She just needed a good start I think. Plus, I would rather her fall asleep with me in a safe situation rather than me be so tired and fall asleep in a dangerous one.

You're the mother so ultimately it's your decision. However, since he is premie, I would try all the PP's tips first and if that doesn't work, once he can roll over on his own then it's usually ok to leave them on their tummy, but ask your pedi first.

michelle7482 · June 2012

Have you tired the rock and play? My DD has reflux, and is also on Zantac. She hated sleeping on her back and the RnP changed our lives. She slept soooo much better instantly (got it when she was 3 weeks old.) She started sleeping 7-9 hours when she was about 9 weeks old and now she is 4 months and it's been great. I dread when she outgrows it and have to move her to the crib.

F15Wife · June 2012

I let my daughter tummy sleep. She sleeps way better that way as both my boys did. She started fighting her swaddle like a champ and that was the way I found that she wouldn't startle and she loves it.

I understand the whole "back to sleep" thing but 15ish years ago they pushed for belly sleeping too. Do what works for you and what you are comfortable with. If your baby can turn his head side to side and lift his head then go for it. That is usually when I'm ok with it is when they can turn thier own head and not smash thier nose into the crib and stay there.

kjcb · June 2012

I don't think it's horrible to let your LO sleep on his tummy. If you plan on continuing to do it though, I might invest in a monitor with a movement detector like Angelcare. If it were me, that would give me enough comfort to let him tummy sleep. I might also put a fan in the room, which is supposed to help lower the risk of SIDS.

Zimger · June 2012

I wouldn't. I still turn my son over when he flips over onto his belly to sleep. Even though I've been told that once he can flip over over his own and has head control he'll be okay. I still feel a slight bit unconfortable. So he sleeps on his back or his side.

jhelly77 · June 2012

DS has slept on his belly ever since he could roll. Just silly to keep rolling him over. There's some good arguments on either side of the story so do what feels right for you. Obviously you don't feel comfortable doing it yet if you are getting up every hour.

JWSchwarz · June 2012

JaymeMane:
I appreciate the honest opinion, that's why I asked for people to be honest. But to answer some of your questions or respond to your statements.
No, it's not a better night sleep for me and no it doesn't just benefit my husband and I. But he's getting a good night sleep that way. He used to get up every 1-3 hours before. He has reflux and is on Zantac, which is why I think he sleeps better on his tummy. I think he wakes up on his back because of his reflux. I guess I also don't understand what him being a preemie has to do with him sleeping on his tummy. He is caught up weight wise and has no other issues now, except the reflux.
Again, I do appreciate honest opinions and hope to get more responses, but I wanted to respond to some of the already comments.
Thanks!

If he has reflux I highlt recommend getting a Rock n Play. He'll sleep great!!

kristyb04 · June 2012

I wouldn't do it but that's just me. It's your choice and what you are comfortable with. If you are going to let him sleep on his tummy then a good suggestion is getting the angelcare monitor. Checking on him every hour won't make a difference when it comes to SIDS. You could check on him and then 10 minutes later he could stop breathing. You wouldn't know it until you checked on him again 50 minutes later....which is too late. My daughter also has acid reflux. We propped one side of her matress and that seemed to helped. She is in the minority and didn't like the rock n' play.

tartaruga · June 2012

Most babies do sleep better on their tummies. Back sleeping is an uncomfortable position for them because it's not particularly natural - they feel vulnerable and exposed (which they are, really).

Tummy sleeping is a risk factor for SIDS which is extremely unlikely to happen anyway - it's not like letting your baby play with a knife or something. Putting a fan on in the room and making sure it's not too warm can mitigate the risk of letting him sleep on his tummy.

mundayem · June 2012

I agree with trying a RnP. My LO wouldn't sleep anywhere else but in our arms the first few months and that thing was a life saver. He now sleeps great in his crib but he can roll back and forth really well. If he couldn't do that I wouldn't let him sleep in his tummy. The early months are hard but to me tummy sleeping wasn't worth the risk.

CotterpinDoozer · June 2012

I wouldn't, if something happened I'd never be able to live with myself, especially if I had reservations about it. However, O do cosleep for a couple hours most mornings amd I know the opinions on that.

wychets · June 2012

Pumpkin62307:
I think the premie thing was brought up because, from what I understand, premies have a hgher risk of SIDS as it is, then tummy sleeping is also a higher risk for SIDS. So you're not only dealing with one risk factor, you've got 2. I'm not sure if that changes when they're caught up in weight or not. I'm not an expert, this is just what I understand about it.

I agree with the PP...DD is a tummy sleep but I did not allow her to sleep on her stomach until she was 3 months and could turn her head on her own. With your LO being a premie I believe the risks for SIDS are higher (not to scare you) but I just wouldn't take the risk. GL mama, it gets easier:)

JaymeMane · June 2012

Thanks everyone for your responses. I never expected to get so many! However, it really didn't help me any. I still don't know what to do. Last night we put in on his back and he was up most of the night. I tried his side, but he's wake up as soon as he'd roll to his back. I don't want to prop him with blankets as one post suggested because that worries me more then stomach sleeping. He has great head control. For naps, when he sleeps on his tummy his head will be one way one time and the other way the next time I check on him. Again thanks for all your input.... I just wish it helped.

I am just hoping he starts rolling soon.

contourhands · June 2012

Hi,

I am in the SAME boat as you. My guy is 4 month 1 week...he has great head control and can turn his head from side to side but he isn't much of a roller yet. He HATES being on his back and sleeps like a champ on his belly. I don't know what to do either!!! I'm going to keep an eye on him during naps, talk to my husband and see what we feel is right I guess...

Good luck!

Want a personalized experience?

STTN, but.....

Re: STTN, but.....

Choose Another Board

Search Boards