Back or tummy..how does little on sleep?

starlight0412 · August 2014

It's been crazy around here since LO was born. So I haven't even posted her birth story. The short: Savannah was born July 30th 6 pounds 12 ounces.

Anyway she refuses to sleep on her back. Every time i get her to sleep and place her on her back she wakes up in seconds. DH says to just let her sleep on her tummy. I do and I can't sleep. I keep looking over into her bassinet making sure she isnt suffocating. She lifts her head and will turn from side to side. I'm so scared that she will somehow get stuck and wont be able to breath. Anyone else has a lo sleeping on their tummy? Are you trying to get them on their back?

abrazz · August 2014

When I was 15, which was 20 years ago, I worked at a daycare and the consensus was sleeping on the tummy helped prevent SIDS. I'm not sure when it changed to putting them on their backs. All three of mine have slept in the PNP bassinet so they are slightly elevated. If I put them flat on their backs they wouldn't sleep. Will she sleep in a swing or bouncy chair?

reelcelticdancer · August 2014

Is she sleeping flat on her back? It could be a reflux issue. I noticed my little one spits up a lot after 3am feedings when I put him flat on his back. When I put him in the rock and play, he does much better (the rock and play keeps LO slightly inclined).

MrsLele · August 2014

Back

lamarei · August 2014

Olivia sleeps on her side, no joke. I put her on her back and she rolls over within a minute or two. I didn't know teeny babies could roll like that!

Skeemer · August 2014

Like PP said, try the swing or bounce seat. My DD sleeps like a champ in her swing but only likes the vibrate part & not the swing. Ironically she's not a fan of her car seat.

starlight0412 · August 2014

@a_brasuell‌ at the hospital I was told she should sleep on her back. I also worked at a daycare about 6 years ago and they wanted us to have them sleep on their back. The views constantly change.

starlight0412 · August 2014

She doesn't spit up alot. But she despises her rock and play and swing. So those are out of the question. Lol. She is picky. Its either her crib or bassinet.

lindslalala · August 2014

DD sleeps on her side, my oldest did the same when he was a baby too. They roll into the position on their own.

TurtleMonsters · August 2014

Side, in my arms/on tummy, on my chest. or inclined in a seat. My first did that and survived.
They still have that startle reflex, I think that is why they wake,...also why they should sleep that way, the thought I last read is they don't wake themselves when on tummy, regarding sids (or sleep too deeply)...though IDK what to believe since the "experts" don't even know.

kenziebug22 · August 2014

DS sleeps on his side, if hes on his back at any point, diaper change, slightly laying back in the bath, anything, he screams like crazy! He loves sitting up or his side

likeanoldtimemovie · August 2014

I'm at the point where she sleeps on her tummy 90% of the time. I check on her constantly and never see her with her face down in the crib. No blankets, not even a swaddle because she haaaaates it. I'm still a little scared to try it while I'm sleeping, but it's got to be safer than her on my chest in our bed or in my arms on the couch.

Soon2BMrsN · August 2014

She sleeps on her back or kind of on her side (if she rolls) in the PNP. I'm too nervous to put babies down on their stomachs until they can get there on their own.

iris427 · August 2014

He sleeps on his back and occasionally rolls to his side. Tummy sleeping is significantly more likely to lead to SIDS than back sleeping.

If your baby is waking up the minute you put him down, try waiting a little bit longer. If they aren't in a deep sleep cycle yet, they wake up easily. Also just keep trying. I've been working on it with my baby and he's already going down much better most nights. Swaddling really helps my baby stay asleep too, and I usually have some white noise going too.

abrazz · August 2014

starlight0412 said:

@a_brasuell‌ at the hospital I was told she should sleep on her back. I also worked at a daycare about 6 years ago and they wanted us to have them sleep on their back. The views constantly change.

I think it changed not long after I worked there because I remember someone talking about it. That was a long time ago lol. I know DD wouldn't sleep in the swing but she liked to be bounced in her chair. Every baby is so different. The swaddle idea is a good one as well. My other two hated it but this one likes to be swaddled. I hope you find a solution

abrazz · August 2014

starlight0412 said:

@a_brasuell‌ at the hospital I was told she should sleep on her back. I also worked at a daycare about 6 years ago and they wanted us to have them sleep on their back. The views constantly change.

I think it changed not long after I worked there because I remember someone talking about it. That was a long time ago lol. I know DD wouldn't sleep in the swing but she liked to be bounced in her chair. Every baby is so different. The swaddle idea is a good one as well. My other two hated it but this one likes to be swaddled. I hope you find a solution

MrsWallick · August 2014

If they roll into a position other than their back, then that's generally considered to be ok. I slept on my tummy as a baby because that was the recommendation back then and yes, I survived too. It is more comfortable for gassy and reflux babies. However, studies have shown more recently that sleeping on their back is much safer in preventing SIDS and personally, whether or not I survived, that's not a chance I'm willing to take, no matter how tired I am. Not only that, but if LO spits up in their sleep while on their tummy, they could have difficulty breathing due to the spit up being all in their face, nose and mouth. Once during tummy time, my LO spit up and proceeded to rub her face all in it. Luckily I was right there and got it cleaned up within seconds, but if you are sleeping, you wouldn't know LO spit up until you woke up. Again, just personally not a risk I'm willing to take. I know you said LO hates the swing and RnP, but I would maybe keep trying. What about car rides or stroller walks to get her passed out and then try the transfer? Not trying to come off judgey, so I do apologize if it's coming off that way, but my mom and I both worked in children's hospitals for a while and when you see stuff, you get extra paranoid.

iris427 · August 2014

The views don't "constantly change." Back sleeping has been the recommendation for at least 20 years now and it's based on evidence from actually looking at factors surrounding SIDS deaths. SIDS has declined 50% since the Back to Sleep campaign started in 1994.

If you want to put your baby on their tummy because they sleep better, OK (and I bring my baby to bed with me sometimes so I get being too tired to do everything "right"), but understand that back sleeping recommendations are not just some arbitrary fad.

starlight0412 · August 2014

Thanks ladies. I appreciate all your comments. I'm going to take some of your suggestions and keep trying to get DD to sleep on her back.

glitterclaws · August 2014

I'm with @iris427 - my niece is 22 years old and my sister says the "back is best" and "back to sleep" were new when she was born.

Are you swaddling? You've ruled out the swing and RnP, but you said your LO doesn't sleep at all, so I wouldn't say that the crib/bassinet are working either. We went through this too, we have the RnP, the PnP (with newborn napper), a cradle, a bassinet, a crib and two different swings. I totally feel your pain, and I would just recommend that you keep trying and rock the swaddle. Your babe is only a week old, so I wouldn't rule anything out yet. Being a newborn is hard work.

[Deleted User] · August 2014

If she'll sleep in the crib, have you tried a crib wedge? It will elevate her a bit. We have this one and with DS1 I tucked it under the crib sheet. He didn't like to sleep flat on his back, either, and probably would have been a tummy sleeper but I wasn't comfortable with that when he was a newborn.

https://smile.amazon.com/Dexbaby-Safe-Universal-Wedge-White/dp/B00067AUP2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407429034&sr=8-1&keywords=crib+wedge

kwh33ls · August 2014

The SIDS data is so clear, that I just couldn't put her I sleep on her tummy, unless I was able to watch her every second. We've found that swaddling plus her mamaroo swing puts our LO to sleep for at least a few hours at a time. We tried her crib for a long time, but it just wasn't her thing, so for now the swing is where it's at. If you can find one that lets your baby lay flat enough that their head doesn't fall forward, it's a safer option than sleeping on their belly.

Shelleybell · August 2014

dd1 had terrible reflux and slept in the rock n play swaddled and with the white noise machine. DD2 so far has been OK on her back tightly swaddled with white noise. Again things can change on the daily, but i wouldn't put her on her stomach yet.

rheard3582 · August 2014

I am convinced all babies will not sleep on their back. DS1 refused to sleep on his back or be swaddled Trust me I tried every recommendation known to man until he could rollover. Which by than the general consesus is they can choose. DS 2 is a little better. If he will let me swaddle usually within 1 hour he is up fighting to get out. And if he sleeps on his back he will wake up about the same time. So honestly I go back and forth. Honestly I still stress about it some times

I have obessed over this &I am not here to argue SIDS data however I have done tons of research on this. Sids has gone down by 60% since the back to sleep campaign. But other things have changed as well. We dont put bumpers, sheets, blankets, and stuff animals in bed. Medicine has greatly improved and daignosing deaths that may have been ruled as sids.

Side sleeping is considered safer than tummy but less safe than back sleeping. But than if they side sleep, especially swaddled, there is an increase change of them rolling onto there tummy and being swaddled that can be even more dangerous than if u put them on their tummy originally

back sleeping is one factor in reducing sids. There are others like using a paci, breast feeding, and not overheating can helpunfortunately to this day it is not known what exactly causes sids. Or really how these things reduce sids

Again I am not here to argue any data or choices. Just replying based on my experience.

VTKatie · August 2014

So people have commented on the dangers of the swing or rock n play. Our LO naps exclusively in the swing during the day and sleeps in RNP. I missed the memo on these being dangerous. Can someone fill me in? I mentioned the sleeping arrangements to our pedi last appt and she didn't voice concern.

glitterclaws · August 2014

Summerlovin314 said:

Here is a good read. This also applies to swings, car seats and bouncy chairs. https://kckidsdoc.com/dear-fisher-price.html

I read this before LO arrived and was terrified. My pedi also said no to the RnP for nighttime sleep.

With all of that said, LO currently sleeps in the RnP for nighttime sleep and alternates between the swing and PnP for daytime sleep. Gotta do what works. I do plan on transitioning him soon to the crib for at least half the night.

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Back or tummy..how does little on sleep?

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