Anyone else have a baby who won't sleep on their back?

Mimaloo · August 2014

DD has slept in her RNP for months, but I think she is outgrowing it. She's long and just doesn't sleep soundly in it anymore. However, DD absolutely refuses to sleep flat on her back (she has always woken up crying when put to sleep on her back unless it's on an incline. And no, she does not have reflux).

The other night I tried to just let her CIO on her back (she is 3.5 months) and the screaming that ensued was heart wrenching. I lasted 15 minutes and she was SO upset that it took me what seemed like forever to calm her down.

If I put DD on her tummy, she happily goes right to sleep. I talked to the pedi about this and she said that since DD has been up on her elbows and rolling over from tummy to back for almost two months, the risk of SIDS is significantly reduced. She also said that DD will most likely be rolling from back to front soon and once she can do that, there's not much I can do to stop her from sleeping on her stomach. So I have been letting her sleep on her stomach (even though I don't love it).

That said, does anyone else have a tummy sleeper? Any suggestions for getting DD to sleep on her back?

letal316 · August 2014

My DD likes to sleep on her side. Some nights she's on her back all night, other nights she's on her side all night. I let her do what works best for her.

Mimaloo · August 2014

katsmewsings said:

Mine wouldn't sleep for any stretch on her back once she hit six weeks an became more aware of her surroundings. With her reflux and strong head control doctor said it was okay to sleep her on her stomach. Mentioned there was less chance she'd aspirate on her reflux spit up if she did spit up over a night time stretch. That being said, it's not for everyone. We went that route after keeping a close eye on her for a week while she only napped that way. Now that's she's almost four months and rolls tummy to side and back to front (she still gets her arm stuck a little) I doubt I'd be able to keep her on her back.

I did this - let her nap this way in her crib during the day and checked on her every 5 minutes! But I would still put her to sleep in her RNP.

Mimaloo · August 2014

RNmama12 said:

SIDS and suffocation are two totally different things, so the whole being up on the elbows thing is sort of irrelevant to the SIDS stuff. Rolling and tummy time skills will help prevent suffocation, but not SIDS. I think that's a common misconception, but I just wanted to bring that up so you didn't think tummy sleeping is risk free once they can roll/lift their head. That being said, I am not opposed to allowing the baby to sleep on their belly if it's all that works for them. Can you slightly elevate the crib mattress or will she sleep on her side?

Thank you. The pediatrician only mentioned SIDS. I realize it's not risk free which is why I'm looking for any suggestions to get her to sleep on her back. She won't sleep on her side and the pedi said nothing in the crib or under the mattress. I did ask about that.

Bacon2 · August 2014

My DD is a tummy sleeper (12 weeks). She slept on her back for the first 5 days. Then she got jaundice and had to be put under the lamps for 24 hours in the hospital. The doc and nurses put her on her stomach and ever since I couldn't get her on her back. But she also hates everything back related. Hates her car seat, bouncer and swing.

Sleeping on her tummy is the only wAy she will sleep. It's what works for us.
She sleeps with the fan on and uses a pacifier. Read somewhere that it could help with SIDS.

SweetTea420 · August 2014

DS has been sleeping on his tummy since he was 10 weeks. I started noticing during tummy time if he was tired he would fall asleep by himself. So I started letting him nap like that, and once I was more comfortable with it I started letting him sleep like that at night. There are other risk factors for SIDS (many out of our control) and I think they stress back to sleep because it is something everyone can do with minimal effort. Just do your research and make an informed decision that is best for you and your baby.

ho11yday · August 2014

DS2 will only sleep on his belly. We've tried to have him sleep on his back but he woke up relatively quickly and wouldn't go back to sleep.

Mimaloo · August 2014

becole42 said:

@Mimaloo‌ I wonder why your pedi said nothing under the mattress? My pedi suggested it for reflux and said she used textbooks with her own daughter.

Yeah I'm not sure. She was the one who brought it up and I didn't ask why.

Mimaloo · August 2014

ho11yday said:

DS2 will only sleep on his belly. We've tried to have him sleep on his back but he woke up relatively quickly and wouldn't go back to sleep.

Story of my life.

caballo718 · August 2014

DS is a tummy sleeper too. Since we brought him home from the hospital be would not sleep on his back. He slept in a swing for the first month. He also hated being swaddled and I had to basically trick him into it when he was just about to fall asleep. He has been sleeping in a RNP but he's getting big for it. So now he's on his belly because it's where he is happiest and falls right to sleep. I find myself checking on him constantly. Sometimes I let him fall sleep in his belly then move him to his back. My pediatrician told me no belly at his 2 month appt but he isn't the one missing out on sleep. DS is 12 weeks now so it's only a matter of time before he's rolling anyway.

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