WWYD- baby sleep position

kleigh926 · October 2014

We discovered pretty early on that DS sleeps very well on his belly. Honestly, if he's not being held, that's where he spends most of the day because he screams bloody murder laying on his back or in his bouncy chair. So obviously he naps on his belly a lot, but so far it's always been when someone can supervise him. Up until a few nights ago, he did fine on his back at night as long as he was swaddled. Lately he has been okay on his back for his first stretch of sleep, but after he wakes up around 1:30-2:00 to eat, he has been very restless on his back for basically the remainder of the night. He's not crying and I'm not sure if he's even really awake, but he grunts and makes noise almost constantly, making it nearly impossible for me to sleep. I'm considering putting him on his belly for the second half of the night tonight and seeing if he sleeps more soundly that way.

Now, I'm sure we're all well aware of the risk factors for SIDS, and that belly sleeping is said to be one of the major ones. Sleep position wasn't even a question for DD since she hated being on her belly. But with DS's reflux, he spits up a lot which sometimes causes coughing/gagging when he's on his back, and I wonder if it sometimes also causes discomfort and that's why he's restless. We do have the head of his mattress elevated but I don't think it makes much of a difference. I also read that with reflux babies, belly sleeping may be a reasonable option because of the spitting up and pain. That combined with the fact that he seems to love being on his belly makes me wonder if we should try it, even though the whole SIDS thing does make me nervous. Just looking for opinions/thoughts, WWYD?

Poppy523 · October 2014

Honestly I consider myself very SIDs conscious, but after hearing from some ladies on here back when DD was very young I put her on her belly from time to time because like your DS she slept better and she didn't gag on her spit up all night long. If it were me and I were dealing with what you are talking about I would probably try the second half of the night on his belly to see if it helps. But I know that's a sensitive thing and I would probably never tell my pedi or even my crazy family just to avoid the flames.

mrr5058 · October 2014

Have you thought about an angel care monitor? I used to think they were silly but my parents insisted on getting us one before DD was born. FFWC is that we just stopped using it last month because DD was moving too much and would cause false alarms because she was no one near the mat. I loved the peace of mind it have me.

Dannysmama · October 2014

I second the Angel Care monitor recommendation, but you might also consider asking your pediatrician. I know someone with a reflux baby and their very reputable pedi told them to have their baby sleep on his stomach. I know your little guy is young, but how is his head movement? If he's on his tummy, can he turn it from side to side? That'd probably make me feel a little bit better since he's less likely to wind up facedown on the mattress.

( ... the Angelcare monitor is great ... we used it until DS was 14 months and I wish we still used it!)

kleigh926 · October 2014

I have thought about the Angelcare monitor... might have to look into that if we decide to make nighttime tummy sleeping a regular thing. Luckily DS has his 1 month appointment tomorrow so I will be able to ask the pedi too. Thanks ladies!

ETA: his head strength is pretty good, he can move it from side to side. He has also rolled from belly to back or side multiple times already. He doesn't do it consistently, but enough to make me think it wasn't just a random accident.

nlp1990 · October 2014

I started having DS sleeping on his belly at 6 or 7 weeks when he could easily move his head side to side. I am a belly sleeper and so is he. I don't think we would have ever gotten sleep if I didn't put him on his belly. I say you gotta do what you've gotta to!

kleigh926 · October 2014

We haven't tried a rock n play, but he doesn't last long without crying in his car seat or stroller either. He just isn't happy unless he's on his belly or being held

For clarity's sake, obviously I don't put him down to sleep in his car seat or stroller, those are just two other places that he is only content in for pretty short periods of time.

M2M85 · October 2014

I have friends who's baby only wanted to sleep on their side or belly and it was ok for them. I know SIDS is very scary so just use your judgement.We used RNP swaddled and our LO transitioned to a zippy sack after that and sleeps in her bed.

ally2011 · October 2014

My perspective is going to be different, there are moms in my loss group who have lost babies to SIDS so there is just no way I could personally be comfortable with that. That said, I have absolutely had to sleep holding babies in the recliner....I prop both arms with pillows and am a light sleeper so I am comfortable with that....even though I know others would probably say that is less safe than belly sleeping so basically, you have to figure out what risk you are personally comfortable with.

Could you try a Rock N Play? We had to swaddle DD in it sometimes when nothing else worked. Another thing that helped us is swaddling her and then placing a rice sock (basically a long sock filled with rice and tied off - used for pain management) on either side of her....the rice makes it really malleable so it kind of feels like arms holding them.

We also used the Miracle Blanket and it was wonderful. I highly recommend it.

I am sorry you are having a hard time.....it is really hard to balance safe sleep with the need for sleep. Hugs mama....remember this stage won't last forever....even though it feels like it will

ally2011 · October 2014

kleigh926 said:

We haven't tried a rock n play, but he doesn't last long without crying in his car seat or stroller either. He just isn't happy unless he's on his belly or being held For clarity's sake, obviously I don't put him down to sleep in his car seat or stroller, those are just two other places that he is only content in for pretty short periods of time.

STUCK IN THE BOX

As others have said, the RNP is completely different than stroller or carseat....I think it's worth the money to try it....lots of people swear by them. We used as sparingly as we could for night sleep (did some naps there) to avoid the transition trouble that others have had....but at your stage we did whatever we had to do to get through.

tamarar5 · October 2014

A belly sleeps sometimes for naps. And I try to prop her on her side to help with the reflux, too. That seems to work. But mostly, she also just wants to be held. Gah.

kleigh926 · October 2014

@ally2011‌, we actually do have a Miracle Blanket and use it every night for swaddling. I like it.

We moved him to his crib last night and we all slept better. He had his longest stretch yet between feedings (6 hours, although I wasn't sleeping that whole time) and if he was grunting or making noise, it wasn't loud enough in the monitor to wake me up. I don't know what it is but both my babies have slept better in their own rooms once they get to be around 5 weeks old. Hopefully it continues to go well.

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