LO wants to sleep face down!!

akrich22 · September 2015

My LO is almost 4 months old and can roll from back to front very well. He also has good head control. Since he's learned to roll, that's all he will do at night and chooses to sleep that way with his face down in mattress/his hands! I always put him to sleep on his back. It makes me a nervous wreck! Needless to say, I haven't slept in about a week. I either roll him back over or try to turn his head which doesn't work so well. Anyone experiencing this or have any advice? Is it safe to let him sleep that way?

virginiaunicorn11 · September 2015

The responses on this board are very divided on this topic. Medical professionals on here have said they let their babies sleep on their bellies (and they are saying that as moms, not as medical professionals). Other medical professionals and moms on here have said they follow the current leading advice to keep baby on back.
Consensus seems to be to follow your instinct about your baby.

The reason for this advice is due to SIDS risk. Because the real cause of SIDS is not yet known, it cannot be stated for certain whether it is "safe". Some people believe whatever a baby is doing naturally is safe. Others believe back is best, as current, leading medical advice has outlined.

Ultimately, this is perhaps a good question for your own pediatrician who can evaluate the neck strength and overall health of your baby. But others may chime in with advice.

theletlers · September 2015

I say do what you think is right for you and your DH and your baby. Only you really know your LO and what will make you feel comfortable. I know that doesn't really answer your question. But like @virginiaunicorn11 said, there are going to be people cheering in either camp, like most decisions about what is best for baby. What we can all agree on is that we all want all the babies to grow up happy and healthy. But all babies have different needs and wants so some might do better on belly, on back, in a swing, bouncer, mommy's arms, pacifier or not, swaddled or not, blanket or not, or simply in a diaper. If you are truly concerned about sufficient neck strength call the pediatrician and ask him/her to evaluate and give you some more specific guidelines to follow now that your LO is rolling over so much. Sorry if this wasn't very helpful! Good luck momma!!

mishmardhiono · September 2015

If you are really concerned about it could you get Velcro wedges to stop baby rolling over?

jordana0124 · September 2015

I say let him sleep on his belly if he wants to. My son has been on his belly and sometimes prefers the back. In the Dominican Republic doctors say to sleep babies on their belly bc it helps with gas. It made sense to me.

bethanne09 · September 2015

You can always get a breathable mattress for the crib if the price wouldn't be an issue. I have no idea how much they cost, but it might be worth the peace of mind.

akrich22 · September 2015

Thanks for all the help, ladies! He is still rolling over to sleep on his belly but I think he is learning to turn his face to the side now. He seems to be figuring it out. I'm still going to lose sleep over it but this phase will pass soon enough I'm sure!

klkonwi · September 2015

Very well stated @virginiaunicorn11

HayesRN13 · September 2015

My guy sleeps on his tummy and he often loves to go face down, healthy babies will automatically turn if their brain is not receiving enough oxygen, after about ten minutes my guy turns to the side, and he moves side to side, face down probably too I don't know he sleeps all night. It may be scary, especially all the SIDS hype... but healthy babies are fine sleeping on their stomachs. Especially at 4 months your peds should be telling you not to be worried. SIDS IS NOT FROM STOMACH SLEEPING.. It is underlying causes.. I know this is a serious issue but if people did the real research they wouldn't be so concerned with their baby falling asleep belly down. IMO that's why their babies aren't sleeping well... Babies need their sleep to properly grow...put them where they are comfortable and will sleep! So frustrating :-q, I wish they would go back to how it was recommending belly sleeping because there are a lot of tired parents out there who's babies don't sleep=sad unhappy babies... Would you sleep with no blankets on a hard cold surface ???? And add babies that have overactive reflexes.. Good luck with that.

HayesRN13 · September 2015

^^^ example.. If you smoked while pregnant? Don't put your baby face down to sleep.

HayesRN13 · September 2015

mishmardhiono said:
If you are really concerned about it could you get Velcro wedges to stop baby rolling over?

You guys need to let your babies roll over! Lol .. Omg
:-c

HayesRN13 · September 2015

akrich22 said:
Thanks for all the help, ladies! He is still rolling over to sleep on his belly but I think he is learning to turn his face to the side now. He seems to be figuring it out. I'm still going to lose sleep over it but this phase will pass soon enough I'm sure!

Please stop losing sleep, let your baby roll over and sleep...

HayesRN13 · September 2015

I'm sorry but these threads only frustrate me. We have come to a point where mothers can't even trust being their babies mother, there are always new changing trends, contraindicating each other, and everyone reads and listens to TV, media, etc... I'm sorry ladies but please trust yourself, trust your babies. Let them be, let them roll, and especially let them sleep! Your baby will not die from sids sleeping face down! Especially when they are old enough to roll there! Give them a chance and please give yourself some sleep...

HayesRN13 · September 2015

^^ DH loves reading my posts.. He said I think you got the point across...

virginiaunicorn11 · September 2015

The research I have seen says that when they changed the recommendations to putting babies on their backs and removing blankets, the SIDS rate was cut in half. That's a figure I find worth paying attention to. If there are underlying causes, that's fine, because these are the two biggies that have seemed to make a big difference for those causes. And the research I've seen has said they actually do not know the causes, though there are a few leading theories.

If your baby is cold, that's an issue of dressing them. There are easy ways to keep a baby warm AND to follow recommendations not to use blankets. Being warm is not related to belly sleeping.

I know you've done your own research @HayesRN13 , and that you feel strongly about this. If you have some articles you'd be willing to share, I'd be interested. I agree with you on not using wedges, and just letting a baby roll naturally.

My kid fusses like mad on his belly, and will only sleep on his back or side. (He can roll to his belly if he wants, but he never does so to sleep.) So for me, a lot of this is moot for now, anyway.

7425cait · September 2015

For me it's the struggle out weighs the risks. Just like during pregnancy. Even though the chances were slim to get sick off of cold cuts, I still avoided them. The joy of on Italian sub wasn't worth the possibility of my child getting sick. Same with the back sleeping. A few more months of struggling to keep LO on her back, and putting an extra layer of onesies on, way overrules the increased chance of SIDS. Even if she's perfectly healthy. I wonder if propping Los mattress up like they do for reflux babies would deter your baby from turning as easily.

Sammy K · September 2015

I get putting LO on their backs to sleep, but once they can roll, it's fine to let them sleep on their bellies. This was definitely what my pedi told me, so I would encourage you to talk to yours. I think trying to turn them back onto theirs backs in the middle of the night, while they are sleeping no less, is a little ridiculous. And I haven't read a single piece of literature that recommends that. No wonder you're not getting any sleep.

As for the wedges, I have read they can actually increase SIDS risk because they don't really prevent rolling but if baby does roll, it's one more thing that can block breathing. So there's that.

@HayesRN13 For what it's worth, I wish I had known you with DS. Getting over my fear of belly sleeping has made such a big difference with LO, I wish I would have listened to my mommy intuition sooner. So while it may not be recommended, thank you for helping me realize that ultimately the decision is mine.

aj1327 · September 2015

I'm to nervous to put LO down on his belly but can't wait until he can roll there himself. I was under the impression that once they were able to roll themselves, it was fine to leave them.

cheriep3 · October 2015

I completely understand the research that supports letting babies sleep on their backs but it hasn't worked for my LO. He has been sleeping on his belly since he was 1 month old or so. It saved my sanity and actually let him sleep. I think it's great to be informed but it all comes down to what works for you and your baby. Don't forget that you know your LO better than any doctor. Do what you need to do for your baby!

virginiaunicorn11 · October 2015

HA! Guess who fussed and tossed and turned tonight... Until I put him on his belly, and now he's doing his cute little clicks snore and farting away.
I said it before and will say it again - this kid is out to prove me wrong every chance he gets!

LO wants to sleep face down!!

Re: LO wants to sleep face down!!

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