To let baby sleep on his stomach?

[Rinmybell]

DC2 since birth has only slept if being held. I have tried the water bottle trick, floppy arm test etc. I did not have this issue with DC1.
Very late the other night put DC2 on his stomach and he fell asleep within seconds. Same again the following night, and during nap time. So he is clearly happy on his stomach? However, I am then worried so haven't actually slept really whilst he is on his stomach.
Should I let him sleep like this? I think my mum used to settle us on our fronts?!

[Foldedtshirt]

She probably did, but since the advice has changed to back for babies, cot deaths have plummeted. The advice is there for a very good reason.
sleeplessness sucks.

[ItsLikeRainOnYourWeddingDay]

A generation ago we did sleep on our fronts as normal. The UK had one of the highest rates of cot death. The 'back to sleep' campaign started and has been very successful so yabu. Put baby down the safe way. You might regret it.

[welshweasel]

Not until he can roll over himself (I.e. Puts himself in that position). The back to sleep campaign has been a major factor in reducing SIDS. I know it's really tough but you need to find a way to get him to sleep on his back. Have you tried raising the head of the cot up? Sleepyhead?

[LouBlue1507]

How old is your DC? My DD is 5 months and has started rolling over and sleeping on her stomach no matter how many times we roll her back. I'm not too worried as she sleeps with her head to the side and is strong enough to pick her head right up and roll back over.

If your DC is really young then no I wouldn't.

[Ebbenmeowgi]

They sleep more deeply on their stomachs which I think makes it riskier for SIDS as they can't regulate their breathing as well?? May have that wrong! Can you watch him while he's on his tummy til he's in a deep sleep then flip him on his back? Also are you co-sleeping, does cuddling him to sleep in a safe co-sleeping position work? It sometimes works for my dd but I find it really uncomfortable so have just ordered a sleepyhead as it's supposed to recreate the feeling of being held.

[JC23]

YABU it's not safe

[kel12345]

Once your baby can roll over its fine (mine sleeps on his front all the time). Not until then though

[wonderwoo]

I think it is obviously advisable not toz and for good reason. However....

... I had a baby who screamed all day, would not be put down ever, and would only sleep on me, ever. After a few weeks I was on my knees. I confess that I did put him on his front to sleep in the end. I couldn't carry on otherwise, I was a mess. And it wasnt exactly safe having him sleep on top of me in the bed, especially when I was so exhausted.

However, he was a light sleeper, so woke regularly through the night anyway, and often to any kind of movement from me, so I felt it was less risky than a baby that was a heavy sleeper and would sleep all night. I also made sure all other risk factors for SIDS were minimised.

I have since learned that a number of other mums I know used to let their baby sleep on their front too. I am not saying it's a good idea, but I felt I had no choice. And you wouldn't be the only one.

[picklemepopcorn]

I had a baby that had to sleep on her side for medical reasons. So I put her on her side with a rolled towel btn her and the crib, and a tight tucked sheet to keep her in place. Try that?

[MrsGB2015]

If you have to put your baby to sleep on the front can you get a baby movement monitor (Angel care or hi sense)?

[Kpo58]

If the baby doesn't roll yet, it might be worth trying a sleepyhead. It saved my sanity.

[ElspethFlashman]

Definitely try side sleeping with something rolled up behind them. They generally tolerate that.

But I would add that once they're asleep, gently start to pull the towel/blanket away bit by bit. They will sink back into their back and if you do it carefully they won't startle awake again.

I did that for both kids, for every nap. They never once slept on their fronts as a result.

[ElspethFlashman]

I believe front sleeping is by far the biggest risk factor for SIDS. Even if you do everything else right - just that one thing alone can kill.

[ems137]

Mine all slept on their tummies, they are 10,9 and 15 months. I began by following the back to sleep advice but after many weeks of poor sleeping and thrashing about I put them on their fronts and they slept better. I did try side sleeping first though by rolling up a cellular blanket and putting it behind their back whilst on their side, that also helped.

I'd never tell anyone to do it as I'm fully aware of the advice and why it's so important. Cot deaths have reduced dramatically since the newer advice so the risks are higher from baby tummy sleeping

[RedHelenB]

All mine slept on their stomachs as did I until pregnant with dd1. I weighed it up, no other risk factors and they all could hold their heads up from birth. Sadly the one "cot death" I personally knew came about in a car seat on a not to lengthy journey.

[RedHelenB]

I'm not advising it but as well as the back to back stuff there was also advice on not being too warm, not smoking etc which will also have had an affect. With me it was when ex had dd1 downstairs for a bit while I tried to sleep and when I went downstairs had fallen asleep on the sofa with dd1 on her tummy on top of him. I concluded we all needed some sleep asap!

[Iwasjustabouttosaythat]

I assume you've tried rolling him into his back once asleep? It sounds like a reflux issue if lying on his back is hurting him. Have you seen the gp about maybe some reflux medication?

Do you have a baby bjorn bouncer? They are so so good and it lulled my refluxy ones to sleep, though I admit they weren't as upset as yours. I let mine nap in their baby bjorns in the day. Can you nap on the couch next to them?

Please don't put your baby to sleep on their belly. You would never forgive yourself if anything happened. It won't be long until they can roll themselves over.

[londonrach]

my sisters two sleep better on their tummy BUT the risk of cot death is not worth it ever!!!!!!!! Put your baby down on his back. When he can roll he can get himself onto his tummy himself. I think cot death risk decreases after 6 months. Isnt that when they can roll?

[SolomanDaisy]

I wouldn't do it after watching how many more heart rate and breathing dips DD had when she was on her stomach when she was in scbu. But if you're doing it, maybe you could get a breathing monitor?

[ElspethFlashman]

RedHelen there was a sad case I remember where that exact situation resulted in a death. Mum went out with the girls for first time since birth, back to find baby on top of a sleeping Dad on the sofa. Baby was dead.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2604943/Actress-Leigh-Arnold-tells-baby-son-Flynn-dying-fathers-arms.html

[redexpat]

Could you let him fall asleep on his front then roll onto back? Perhaps with a muslin that you put down in the cot first?

[MLGs]

It s about the fact they sleep more deeply, isn't it? Rather than suffocating. So whether they lift their heads probably doesn't matter.

But I believe it's OK once they can roll, at about 5 months.

[MyBreadIsEggy]

I would never advise anyone to do it, purely because of the risks involved.....but I've been in your position.
My DD has been a tummy sleeper since I tried it at 8 weeks old after 8 weeks of 30 mins sleep at a time. She's 20 months now and still goes on her front.
DS is 12 weeks and is exactly the same as my DD.
I do use an angel care breathing monitor mat under his mattress though

[NerrSnerr]

No I wouldn't, I agree it's not about being able to lift head up, it's about being in a too deep sleep. I also don't see how an angel care monitor would help, that'd just tell you when it's too late.

My daughter was an awful sleeper so I feel for you but the SIDS guidelines have dramatically reduced the number of deaths. All the anecdotes are frustrating 'I did it with my child and was fine' etc, as a child seatbelts weren't mandatory and I remember not wearing them as a small child (I remember being pissed off when they changed the law and we had to wear them), just because I was fine should I not strap my children in?

[coffeetasteslikeshit]

I ended up letting DS2 sleep on his front. For a while he would only sleep tummy down, in his pram, with the back slightly tilted up. It looked uncomfortable but it worked for him.