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?!

7 week old dd has bad reflux - is sick literally after every single feed and cannot sleep for toffee while on her back as she wakes after about 30 mins when the contents of her tummy come back up. I cosleep and place her on her left side with a blanket behind her back. I place her so she's at a slight angle so if she rolls she rolls onto her back and not her front. Usually she squirms onto her back as soon as she's comfortable anyway. When she's had bad wind (she doesn't bring wind up well) I've resorted to chest to chest as I've heard that helps her regulate her breathing - usually she'll be in a sling though or I'll be awake when we do this. If your lo had reflux then side sleeping could be a good compromise. Make sure it's the side though which makes them more comfortable, placing them on their right hand side aggravates it for some reason.

left side.

It's your baby, you need to do what's best for yourself and your baby. The advice is there, but it's only advice. No-one really knows what causes SIDS.

I had never even heard of sleepyheads, I've had a look now though I can't see why that would help! Think I'm just being a bit dense though...
Have tried rolling him.
He's okay with sleeping when he is in bed with me however I don't feel this is safe as DS1 clambers into bed with me often and throws himself about all over the shop!
I don't have a baby Bjorn bouncer, I've got I think a Nuna? But he hates it. I can just about tolerate the 5 minutes of screaming when he is placed in it whilst I get in the shower.
I think left side with rolled towels has a good chance of working.
Thank you everyone!

It is not possible to avoid all risks.

As loads of posters have stated above, all else being equal sleeping on backs seems to result in a lower rate of sids.

Nobody knows what causes some cases of sids. There are however many cases where smothering or reduced airflow are strong candidates.

It is also a risk factor for sids for baby to sleep on you. Risk of dropping, smothering, and similarly to front sleeping risk of baby sleeping very deeply and disregulated breathing.

Finally it is also risky for baby to be cared for by parents who have not slept. You need to fasten your own life jacket first.

So everyone has to chose which risks that are willing to accept - there is no completely 'safe' option.

Both of mine have been front sleepers - I think a lot more do it than publically admit it. Rates of sids are still small. We do not know what causes sids in all cases.

Nobody can ever advise you to take a risk like this but I don't think you are being unreasonable. Good luck!

Oh and for those who asked he's 6 weeks, so very weeny!

DC2 (12 weeks) will only settle on his side. If I put him on his back then he wakes up every time. I suspect he will be a tummy sleeper when he can roll over. Is there anyway you can prop your baby on their side to see if that helps?

I had the same problem with my daughter and also had countless elder relatives and parents telling me how they all did it with their children who are absolutely fine. I even gave in to it for a few weeks to start with as my husband and I couldn't continue tag-teaming on the sofa with no more than a couple hours sleep each but even once she went down in her cot, I couldn't sleep properly as I was terrified something was going to happen to her.
We invested in a Sleepyhead and it answered all our problems. She is 11 weeks and sleeps brilliantly in it for 6-7 hours every night as well as her naps. If you can afford it, a Sleepyhead or Purflo nest are fantastic

I had this problem. I was so exhausted I was on tears and on anti depressants.
He would only sleep on his front. I tried everything but gave up in the end and let him.
I got a angel care monitor though and he was in a next2me crib. I felt that was the only way I could get through the newborn phase without sinking into the severe pnd I had with my 1st.

Have you tried swaddling then put baby down on its back? Nephew was the same & the HV suggested it - said it's not a problem if done properly.

The idea of the sleepyhead is to fool the baby into thinking that you are still holding them.