February 2014 Moms

Is this super offensive??

Okay so I'm a first time mom and I don't claim to know everything. But I know a girl who just lost her two month old to SIDS and I've been obsessively researching how to prevent it. Well one of the first things every website says is not to let your infant sleep on his/he stomach.

So my friend who has a six month old son posted a sweet picture of he son sleeping on his stomach this morning. I "liked" it but then sent her a text saying "does he always sleep on his stomach?" And told her about my research on the subject. She went on to reply that he won't sleep unless he's on his stomach, and that twenty years ago they said babies shouldn't sleep on their backs (which is true but they've since done more extensive research), and how it's in God's hands, etc, etc.

Well I just kind of let it go and tried to change the subject after that, but now she's not texting me back. My question is, did I speak out of turn or is that super offensive? She's one of my best friends and I just don't want to see anything happen to her son.
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Re: Is this super offensive??

  • IblissIbliss member
    edited October 2013
    I think you approached it in the correct way. You weren't accusing her of abusing her son. It sounds like you just mentioned something you thought would be helpful. I don't think she should be upset that you were concerned.
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  • That's the thing I'm pretty sure she pits him to sleep like that. If he did it himself I wouldn't think it's an issue but it kind of bugs me because I know how she is and I think she just didn't want I deal with him not going to sleep so she put him on his stomach.
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  • He probably is rolling over himself by 6 mo.
  • She knows me and she knows how I obsess on things lol. I wouldn't have said anything if she was a stranger.
    BabyFetus Ticker
  • Sometimes you just gotta do what you've gotta do....like PP stated, no one KNOWS what causes SIDS, there are ideas from those ideas stem theories and practices. At 6 months old though I wouldn't judge her for letting him sleep on his belly...

    XoXo
    Sarah


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  • I wouldn't give you the side eye for that! I think that it was a legitmate concern. I don't think you were being offensive.
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  • Soap1 said:



    That's the thing I'm pretty sure she pits him to sleep like that. If he did it himself I wouldn't think it's an issue but it kind of bugs me because I know how she is and I think she just didn't want I deal with him not going to sleep so she put him on his stomach.

    Some babies really won't sleep on their backs.  DS2 wouldn't.  As soon as he could pick his head up easily, I started letting him sleep on his belly (prob around 2-3 months old).

    I think she's probably frustrated that someone who hasn't ever had a baby is coming at her with all this research saying what she's doing will cause SIDS when that's not even necessarily the case.  Her baby is 6 months old, he can roll and has sufficient head control, and he won't sleep on his back.  Since you haven't been in that situation, it's hard for her to take your advice seriously.  

    I would definitely eye roll you if you sent me something like that when I had a 6 month old.

    And ETA: "dealing with him not going to sleep" - if you've ever had a baby who refuses to sleep and you're exhausted and so is he, you'd know that it's a lot easier said than done :P

    I realize how it sounds, but being a mom is her full time job. She doesn't work outside the home, in fact she refuses to even though her family needs it financially. Also she is a first time mom herself so it's not like she has this vast ocean of experience that I don't have. I'm going to be a full time mom as well, and I'm telling you, my baby will sleep on her back whether she likes it or not. Neither of us will sleep until she does. She will just have to learn the hard way. I am terrified of SIDS after seeing this girl go through it. But I guess everyone has their own methods. And like I said before, I wouldn't have said anything if we weren't close.
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  • RondackHiker -
    Calm down=P you don't know this girl. I get that sleep deprivation can make you desperate, but what I'm saying is I KNOW how she is, and I'm pretty sure she didn't try. She didn't want to have a baby when she did, her husband pressured her right after they got married, and I just feel like a lot of the decisions she's made have been made based on her convenience and not what's best for her baby. For instance, she drank (small amounts) while pregnant, which I personally feel is horrible but I didn't say anything. And as I've said many times before: we were best friends growing up. We are close. And no, no judgment on her came through my texts, I can promise you that. There was nothing but concern.
    BabyFetus Ticker
  • It sounds to me like you did what you needed to do by saying something.  That's really the extent of what you can do about the situation.  It doesn't sound like you approached it in a judgemental or offensive way.  So that's good.  But there's nothing else you really can do except give your friend the info, which you did.  So now, you should probably just let it go.  
  • Soap1 said:





    That's the thing I'm pretty sure she pits him to sleep like that. If he did it himself I wouldn't think it's an issue but it kind of bugs me because I know how she is and I think she just didn't want I deal with him not going to sleep so she put him on his stomach.

    Some babies really won't sleep on their backs.  DS2 wouldn't.  As soon as he could pick his head up easily, I started letting him sleep on his belly (prob around 2-3 months old).

    I think she's probably frustrated that someone who hasn't ever had a baby is coming at her with all this research saying what she's doing will cause SIDS when that's not even necessarily the case.  Her baby is 6 months old, he can roll and has sufficient head control, and he won't sleep on his back.  Since you haven't been in that situation, it's hard for her to take your advice seriously.  

    I would definitely eye roll you if you sent me something like that when I had a 6 month old.

    And ETA: "dealing with him not going to sleep" - if you've ever had a baby who refuses to sleep and you're exhausted and so is he, you'd know that it's a lot easier said than done :P

    I realize how it sounds, but being a mom is her full time job. She doesn't work outside the home
    , in fact she refuses to even though her family needs it financially. Also she is a first time mom herself so it's not like she has this vast ocean of experience that I don't have. I'm going to be a full time mom as well, and I'm telling you, my baby will sleep on her back whether she likes it or not. Neither of us will sleep until she does. She will just have to learn the hard way. I am terrified of SIDS after seeing this girl go through it. But I guess everyone has their own methods. And like I said before, I wouldn't have said anything if we weren't close.





    Being a mom is a full time job for working mothers too.

    I normally try not to say, "You just wait" but...

    You just wait.

    That's what I said: "being a mom is her full time job." I didn't say she doesn't work at all. I said that IS her job, and therefore she should give it everything.

    I guess I will "just wait."
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  • Oh just saw that you said "for working mothers." I fail to see what that has to do with anything?

    I'm saying I can see how it would be especially frustrating for someone with a crying baby who won't go to sleep whenever thy ave to get up for work the next morning, but she doesn't.
    BabyFetus Ticker
  • Once you become a mom you become very protective of your own . Like a tiger with her cubs . I think it's best not to say anything to someone about their child as most of the time it's taken the wrong way even if you don't mean it to . My DS would sleep any which way once he could roll . We have a sensor pad under the crib so if he stopped breathing it would go off . That was a huge relief for me and some much needed sleep for a very tired mommy !
  • My exs daughter passed away at 14 months of SIDS, and she was sleeping on her back. I'm a FTM too and yes I will put my child on her back, but truth is, no matter what number child your on they are all different. If the only way my child will sleep is on her tummy after trying her back, what am I supposed to do? And your friends child is able to roll over and control his head and neck, so what does it matter If she puts him to sleep on his tummy.

    And for your " she refuses to work even tho her family needs the money " comment. Well she would then need to find a day care, and more times than not that second income would all be going to pay for daycare. So maybe it makes since for them.
  • And for those of you who say I probably sounded judgmental, here is the text I sent her:

    "That pic of Kenneth was precious but does he normally sleep on his stomach? Please don't get mad I'm only asking because I've been freaking out about SIDS and I've read a lot that says infants under a year old need to sleep on their backs. This girl I know just lost her two month old so I've been obsessing a little bit."

    And rondackhiker - we've been friends since long before she was a mother. Regardless of how I feel about her methods, she is my friend. That's not for you to qualify.
    BabyFetus Ticker
  • I don't think what you said sounded terrible...but like others have said, once babies start to roll over, many will do it nightly, my DS included!  And once that starts happening, I, for one, definitely wasn't about to start going in to his room every 5 minutes to roll him back over, and potentially wake him up!!  Also, again, like others have said...once they can roll themselves over, and they have been developing head/neck strength, the risks of stomach sleeping lessen.  It would bother me I someone who didn't yet have a baby questioned my judgement on that (or many other) parenting topics.

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  • Oh just saw that you said "for working mothers." I fail to see what that has to do with anything? I'm saying I can see how it would be especially frustrating for someone with a crying baby who won't go to sleep whenever thy ave to get up for work the next morning, but she doesn't.
    Well, first, when you make comments about how SAHMs should "give their all" to being mothers, doesn't that sort of imply that working moms don't or don't have to?  Both working moms and SAHMs give their all to motherhood and do everything they can to make good decisions about parenting.

    Whether you work or SAH, you're still busting your ass every day, and if you and your baby are both exhausted, you do what you have to do.  A 6 month old baby is perfectly fine sleeping on his stomach, whether you put him there or he rolled.  

    I get that you think you're right and you think she's wrong.  But making sweeping judgments about how she should behave as a mother is just mean.  You said she should give it all as a mother, as though she isn't already.  You also said she should work because her family needs it financially.  Those are both REALLY judgmental statements that you should avoid.We're all trying our best, including your friend - she has clearly made a thoughtful decision about this.  
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  • Chereen said:

    My exs daughter passed away at 14 months of SIDS, and she was sleeping on her back. I'm a FTM too and yes I will put my child on her back, but truth is, no matter what number child your on they are all different. If the only way my child will sleep is on her tummy after trying her back, what am I supposed to do? And your friends child is able to roll over and control his head and neck, so what does it matter If she puts him to sleep on his tummy.

    And for your " she refuses to work even tho her family needs the money " comment. Well she would then need to find a day care, and more times than not that second income would all be going to pay for daycare. So maybe it makes since for them.

    No she wouldn't. Many people have offered to care for him full time free f charge because they know her situation. She just doesn't want to work.

    You guys need to stop acting like you know the full situation, because you don't.
    BabyFetus Ticker
  • Oh my fucking god. 


    Good to know stay at home moms don't need sleep and that it's not frustrating to have a crying baby who won't sleep when you don't need to get up for work the next day.

    You have no clue what sleep deprivation is or what it can do to you.
    Speaking of offensive, your language is extremely offensive to me, jsyk.

    I imagine it will do horrible things to you emotionally, but I feel my child is worth it. And now that I've seen the effects of SIDS firsthand, I'm sticking to my guns.
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  • All we know of the situation is what you say.


    From what you've said, you sound super judgmental to her and to any mom who doesn't do things perfectly. 
    Scroll up and read the text I sent her. I dare you to tell me it sounded judgmental.
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  • So you're concerned about her baby passing of rolling over on his stomach?
    CLEARLY you should be more concerned about what a pos she is at life huh!? but hey you are her "good friend" right???
  • I'm not going to stop replying just because everyone on here likes taking things out of context. All I can say is read the actual text I sent. I commented it a few comments back. Maybe you guys are completely justified in how you handle your children and their sleep. But you don't know this girl and I just don't feel that she is. Those are my personal opinions. I'm not saying anyone doesn't value their children, but I will tell you in the text she sent me back she said "if I'm not meant to have my son, so be it." I'm sorry but I just don't feel that a mother should leave it up to chance like that. Everything you can do, you should do.
    BabyFetus Ticker
  • All we know of the situation is what you say.

    From what you've said, you sound super judgmental to her and to any mom who doesn't do things perfectly. 
    Scroll up and read the text I sent her. I dare you to tell me it sounded judgmental.
    I did.

    If I was a mom who struggled with a baby who hadn't slept, and who was exhausted... if I got that message I'd be pissed and feel judged. You implied that she did not do any research and that she was clearly not knowledgeable about back sleeping. You said you were worried about her baby, which to a tired mom sounds a heck of a lot like she's putting the baby at risk. I would feel judged and would ignore you.

    But hey, her child clearly isn't worth it to her.

    Again, you have no idea what sleep deprivation can do. I've had friends sobbing hysterically, constantly, because they were so damn tired. One had a baby girl who was literally GETTING SICK from lack of sleep. Clearly it's better to reach that stage than to ensure you both have a good night's sleep.


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  • Chereen said:

    My exs daughter passed away at 14 months of SIDS, and she was sleeping on her back. I'm a FTM too and yes I will put my child on her back, but truth is, no matter what number child your on they are all different. If the only way my child will sleep is on her tummy after trying her back, what am I supposed to do? And your friends child is able to roll over and control his head and neck, so what does it matter If she puts him to sleep on his tummy.

    And for your " she refuses to work even tho her family needs the money " comment. Well she would then need to find a day care, and more times than not that second income would all be going to pay for daycare. So maybe it makes since for them.

    No she wouldn't. Many people have offered to care for him full time free f charge because they know her situation. She just doesn't want to work.

    You guys need to stop acting like you know the full situation, because you don't.

    Well we know what you are telling us. And you are coming off very judgemental. Basically you are saying she isn't giving it her all as a mom and she's lazy and selfish because she doesn't want to work. This girl is one of your best friends??? I'd be pissed if you were my "bff" and you were talking all this crap about me to a group On strangers on line.

    Is her son fed? Does he have clean diapers and clothes? A roof over his head? Is he loved? She may not do things your way or my way but as long as her son isn't living in filth and he's a happy healthy baby he's perfectly fine.


  • All we know of the situation is what you say.


    From what you've said, you sound super judgmental to her and to any mom who doesn't do things perfectly. 
    Scroll up and read the text I sent her. I dare you to tell me it sounded judgmental.

    I did.

    If I was a mom who struggled with a baby who hadn't slept, and who was exhausted... if I got that message I'd be pissed and feel judged. You implied that she did not do any research and that she was clearly not knowledgeable about back sleeping. You said you were worried about her baby, which to a tired mom sounds a heck of a lot like she's putting the baby at risk. I would feel judged and would ignore you.

    But hey, her child clearly isn't worth it to her.

    Again, you have no idea what sleep deprivation can do. I've had friends sobbing hysterically, constantly, because they were so damn tired. One had a baby girl who was literally GETTING SICK from lack of sleep. Clearly it's better to reach that stage than to ensure you both have a good night's sleep.

    Well considering this is coming from a stranger who just said they wanted to slap me, I'm going to just assume you're a pissy person=)

    BabyFetus Ticker
  • I'm not going to stop replying just because everyone on here likes taking things out of context. All I can say is read the actual text I sent. I commented it a few comments back. Maybe you guys are completely justified in how you handle your children and their sleep. But you don't know this girl and I just don't feel that she is. Those are my personal opinions. I'm not saying anyone doesn't value their children, but I will tell you in the text she sent me back she said "if I'm not meant to have my son, so be it." I'm sorry but I just don't feel that a mother should leave it up to chance like that. Everything you can do, you should do.
    Good plan!  Because you just keep saying rude things that make those of us who are mothers (of outside babies) feel we have the circle the wagons to protect one of our own.

    Maybe your friend is suffering from postpartum depression and can't handle her feelings (PPD is real and devastating. I suffered from it after DS1).  Maybe your friend has tried everything and is giving it her all despite your perceptions.  Maybe she really doesn't care much about the SIDS/back to sleep connection.  Regardless, you sent her one text, it sounds like it didn't go over with her very well, and now you're judging her and other moms.  Kind of a bad day, so best to scratch it and start over again tomorrow, hopefully with less judging.
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