Sleeping on Stomach

karen31186 · April 2014

I know the whole "back is best" thing, but does anyone else let their babies sleep on their stomach? My DS sleeps SO much better on his stomach, and I let him for naps when I can watch him on the video monitor. I really want to let him at night because I know he would sleep better, but I haven't yet. Our pediatrician couldn't say that it was ok, but she did say that she firmly believes that in the future the American Pediatric Association will change their minds back to stomach sleeping is best.

pepperedmoth · April 2014

Why not put him down on his stomach, watch him, and then flip him over when he's out cold? I've done that and it seems to work well. I am very much in the "only on the back" camp.

AriaAmante143 · April 2014

LO loves napping on her tummy on my chest, but I could never let her sleep for long periods of time that way. My anxiety wouldn't allow it, plus luckily she sleeps just fine on her back at night.

I agree with the "flip them when they're asleep" thing, if you're going to try.

dannie2011 · April 2014

They want them sleeping on their stomachs because when they do they sleep more deeply. Deep sleep is one of the things they think leads to SIDS as babies do not remember to breath. It's not completely automatic yet.

My 4th baby I did put him on his tummy to sleep, for the desperate nights. They had the back to sleep going on since my oldest that was 23 years ago so I don't think they will change it.

memo9 · April 2014

Both of my kids have been tummy sleepers. I'm much more nervous about using a blanket or bumper in the crib than how he sleeps.

VanessaBee · April 2014

I admit, I have a tummy sleeper. I started it at nap time and now do it at night too. It did help to start at nap time so that I could closely watch.

It's a totally personal choice and I wouldn't be comfortable recommending it. It works for us and in consult with my pedi, it's just the right choice for Baby.

TX08Aggie · April 2014

Both my girls are tummy sleepers. I was very against DD1 sleeping on her tummy for a long time. I'm a little more relaxed about it with DD2. That being said, I only let them nap on their bellies where I can watch them. DD2 is napping in her playpen on her belly right now where I can see her from pretty much anywhere in the house. I wish it was considered safe enough to let them sleep through the night like that, they just seem so much more comfortable!

I did not let DD1 sleep on her belly at night until she could roll over consistently by herself. I'm sticking to that with DD2 as well.

I like the idea of trying to flip them over and see if they stay asleep - I will have to try that!

myfriendscallmemeg · April 2014

Have you tried side sleeping? My LO always rolls onto her side while sleeping. It looks like a position similar to the one she sleeps on my chest in.

lalaith50 · April 2014

karen31186 said:

I know the whole "back is best" thing, but does anyone else let their babies sleep on their stomach? My DS sleeps SO much better on his stomach, and I let him for naps when I can watch him on the video monitor. I really want to let him at night because I know he would sleep better, but I haven't yet. Our pediatrician couldn't say that it was ok, but she did say that she firmly believes that in the future the American Pediatric Association will change their minds back to stomach sleeping is best.

did she say *why* she thinks they would change? Are they going to come up with a certain reason stomach sleeping is better? Or just decide the SIDS risk isn't what they thought?

mfarmer0811 · April 2014

pepperedmoth said:
Why not put him down on his stomach, watch him, and then flip him over when he's out cold? I've done that and it seems to work well. I am very much in the "only on the back" camp.

I'm so glad someone posted this question!! My LO is like me and Likes to sleep on his tummy!! He will nap 3 hrs on his stomach, and 2 hrs. Most on his back.

@pepperedmoth‌ what a great idea!!!

[Deleted User] · April 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

jasi704 · April 2014

DS sleeps on his tummy, for naps and at night. Yup, I'm a horrible mom, but it's the only way he'll actually sleep for more than 15 minutes. I do check on him regularly. And if I'm sleeping, I just naturally wake up (probably because of the nerves) and I check on him frequently.

akflutterby · April 2014

All three of mine have been tummy sleepers. I'm sure I have created this because I let them all fall asleep on my chest and I fall asleep too.

PerkyErky · April 2014

We have started napping on his tummy because he is getting a minor minor flat head. We do tummy time and I wear him upright a lot, but back sleeping and the swing are causing the flatness. He is napping on my chest at the moment. I still want him on his back at night though.

teaforthree · April 2014

I was told that it's okay for babies sleep on their stomachs once they're able to flip from back to tummy on their own. So basically, if you put them to bed on their backs and they flip to their tummies, it's okay to leave them, but not to intentionally put them down on their fronts. I do let LO nap on her tummy on my chest, but I don't put her down in bed that way.

jennybean80 · April 2014

DH has a cousin with a 2 year old daughter who nearly died of SIDS. She was napping on her tummy, mom left the room, came back and the LO was blue. She was resuscitated but now has significant brain damage, is legally blind, has speech/language delays and problems with fine and gross motor control. She is just starting to walk with a walker and sees PT, OT, CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind), speech therapists and possibly other specialists.

For me the risks (rare as they are) outweigh the rewards. Once they can roll themselves, I'm fine with it. But otherwise they will go down on their backs.

sopranoali · April 2014

All of you who worry about your LO sleeping on their tummy, get a Snuza hero it will alert you if they stop breathing. We love ours.

mbhalla33 · April 2014

This exactly for us too

bennieangel said:
I only let his sleep on his tummy if he's on my chest. Otherwise he gets put on his back. As soon as they can roll I understand they can sleep however they like.

AriaAmante143 · April 2014

sopranoali said:
All of you who worry about your LO sleeping on their tummy, get a Snuza hero it will alert you if they stop breathing. We love ours.

I think the false alarms alone would make that a horrible purchase for me. I thought about it but it just might make the problem worse.

sopranoali · April 2014

AriaAmante143 said:

sopranoali said:
All of you who worry about your LO sleeping on their tummy, get a Snuza hero it will alert you if they stop breathing. We love ours.
I think the false alarms alone would make that a horrible purchase for me. I thought about it but it just might make the problem worse.

We've only had 1 false alarm from it falling off her diaper. Yeah it was startling at first, but reassuring to know that it works if it doesn't sense baby breathing. Using it every night for almost 50 nights for 8 hrs per night and it only having 1 false alarm? I'll take it...

sebullows · April 2014

sopranoali said:

AriaAmante143 said:

sopranoali said:
All of you who worry about your LO sleeping on their tummy, get a Snuza hero it will alert you if they stop breathing. We love ours.
I think the false alarms alone would make that a horrible purchase for me. I thought about it but it just might make the problem worse.
We've only had 1 false alarm from it falling off her diaper. Yeah it was startling at first, but reassuring to know that it works if it doesn't sense baby breathing. Using it every night for almost 50 nights for 8 hrs per night and it only having 1 false alarm? I'll take it...

I agree. We've had 3 false alarms in 2 months. Once from it falling off the diaper, 2 from losing contact. And I'm so glad it went off.. I know it's working. That's also helped me not to freak out when it goes off, just get up and quickly tickle his feet/try and wake him. The 2 that lost contact, I could hear him cooing or whining as soon as I woke up so I immediately knew he was ok. Worth it x1000. Couldn't sleep without it.

AriaAmante143 · April 2014

sebullows said:

sopranoali said:

AriaAmante143 said:

sopranoali said:
All of you who worry about your LO sleeping on their tummy, get a Snuza hero it will alert you if they stop breathing. We love ours.
I think the false alarms alone would make that a horrible purchase for me. I thought about it but it just might make the problem worse.
We've only had 1 false alarm from it falling off her diaper. Yeah it was startling at first, but reassuring to know that it works if it doesn't sense baby breathing. Using it every night for almost 50 nights for 8 hrs per night and it only having 1 false alarm? I'll take it...
I agree. We've had 3 false alarms in 2 months. Once from it falling off the diaper, 2 from losing contact. And I'm so glad it went off.. I know it's working. That's also helped me not to freak out when it goes off, just get up and quickly tickle his feet/try and wake him. The 2 that lost contact, I could hear him cooing or whining as soon as I woke up so I immediately knew he was ok. Worth it x1000. Couldn't sleep without it.

Well now I'm wondering if I should get one. Maybe I would sleep better

AriaAmante143 · April 2014

babycaps said:
andplusalso, if anyone wants this:
https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/AAP-Expands-Guidelines-for-Infant-Sleep-Safety-and-SIDS-Risk-Reduction.aspx

I wish I had never heard that a pacifier at night can reduce the risk of SIDS, my LO hates any and all pacifiers no matter how hard I try

Want a personalized experience?

Sleeping on Stomach

Re: Sleeping on Stomach

Choose Another Board

Search Boards