Tummy sleeping

KaramelSutra · January 2014

This will probably be a TL;DR.

Leo is almost 5 months old. He has a congenital defect in his airway that makes it hard for him to breathe flat on his back. He's had two surgeries not to repair, but to alleviate some of his distress.

Up till now, he has slept swaddled, in a RnP, on his sides. He is quickly approaching the weight limit of the RnP (21lbs now), and we can barely swaddle him. So we are going to transfer to his crib soon. Tonight is night one of no swaddle. He made it 50 minutes in the RnP, and woke up frustrated. I was able to calm him back down and laid him on my bed on his belly. He's been sleeping there since.

Leo is fully capable of rolling tummy to back and he has amazing upper body control. I'm a PICU nurse and I know all about back sleeping is safer, but for him it may not be. Would you feel comfortable tummy sleeping your LO in this circumstance?

EOB584 · January 2014

Yes, I would. If it's best for him to sleep not flat on his back and he can move his head and roll around if he wants then I would do it. DD was sleeping however she was most comfortable by 5 months, which was normally on her tummy.

My cousin (who is also PICU/NICU RN) bought one of the Angel Care monitors for her son who would only sleep on his tummy. It gave her a little bit of relief so she didn't have to worry as much and could get some sleep herself.

RagsdaleA · January 2014

Tummy sleeping doesn't scare me in the slightest. Doctors use to recommend it and sept '13 babies are big enough now to shift/move their head if something is blocking their breathing. My daughter buries her whole face in my breast sometimes and when I move her or my breast bc I think she can't breath, she moves it back in to it. I personally look forward to her wanting to sleep on her tummy bc I know she'll love it just like her momma loves it!!!

sapphire0228 · January 2014

I would definitely feel comfortable. You do what's best and most comfortable for your baby. Everytime my mom watches my LO she lays her down on her belly for naps. I'm not worried at all. My three sister and I all slept on our tummies.

Albertsgirl1982 · January 2014

My LO has been tummy sleeping for a while now. He lasts about 5 min on his back then wakes up. On his tummy we can get a few hours of sleep.

munchkinsmama · January 2014

My LO rolled from back to belly at 8weeks and started sleeping on his tummy days after. I stayed up 3 nights in a row and watched him sleep for 8 hrs straight. It still worries me but if I flip him he looks up at me smiles and rolls right back on his tummy, my pediatrician said if he is doing it on his own it's ok. He's sleeps 11 hrs most nights and I probably check up on him every 4 hrs, I used to gently place my hand on his back now as soon as I creep in the room he let's out a big sigh, almost like I'm really comfortable don't startle me.

eyris · January 2014

Yes, I would sleep him on his tummy. He may start rolling to his tummy on his own soon anyway.

I have slept E on his tummy since he was about 8 weeks old. He could not sleep on his back due to reflux, he would wake up choking and gagging every 30 minutes give or take. He needed proper rest and so did I.

I was nervous at first but I did get an Angelcare monitor. I know they say it can't prevent SIDS but it makes me feel better that I would know right away if he did stop breathing, and I don't have to go into his room at night to check him.

I'm still nervous about it sometimes, but he sleeps great. I have tried putting him on his back or sides but he still won't/can't sleep that way.

kje120 · January 2014

I would be fine with it. I believe this is about the age that DS1 would immediately roll to his tummy to fall asleep when we put him in the crib. If sleeping on his back makes it hard for him to breathe then I would definitely be ok with him sleeping on his belly.

JLMcWeeney · January 2014

I didn't see this post before I started a thread about tummy sleeping. I'm still scared about it, but I think it can be a very safe way for then to sleep. My DS can hold his head up and roll around. I'm still nervous about overnight tummy sleeping, but your LO seems like that is what he needs. Maybe start with just naps where you can watch him.

AshleyPT · January 2014

I support the tummy sleeping

KaramelSutra · January 2014

He's only a side sleeper in the RnP, since he can't be a tummy sleeper in there

. We had a rougher night than the night before swaddled, but it wasn't terrible. I put him on his belly again tonight in my bed and have him swaddled nipples down. See if the security helps him.

Habs2Hart · January 2014

Lo has been a tummy sleeper for a few months now. It took me a few nights not to worry, but he sleeps so well on his tummy. He will not sleep on his back. I say let them sleep how they get sleep.

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