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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let baby nap on tummy?

30 replies

ElinorCadwaller · 21/06/2018 10:06

^dramatic title and aibu for traffic, but I'd like to hear opinions and experiences on this.

Baby is 12months, ebf, good head control, strong shoulders-can do a wee press up. I can get him down for first nap of the day on his back (with a long rocking, feeding preamble) but after that it's the sling or on me. I needed a break today as I've hurt my back, so after trying everything else I rolled him on to his front and he immediately self-settled (unheard of) and went to sleep. I'm sitting next to the cot trying to research actual risk. What does MN think of this? Links to any further info very much appreciated

OP posts:
Original poster
ElinorCadwaller · 21/06/2018 10:07

Ffs he's 12 weeks not months, sorry!

OP posts:
Original poster
ElinorCadwaller · 21/06/2018 10:09

Should say as well this isn't an issue at night, we cosleep (in a bedding clear, king size bed) and he sleeps on his back. Day naps have always been a struggle though.

OP posts:
Tartsamazeballs · 21/06/2018 10:11

Sounds lovely, you're overthinking it, just enjoy the baby cuddles. Just try not to fall asleep too Grin

Usually a good idea to have a wee before you get settled, plus get a drink, snack and telly remote handy 😂

BertieBotts · 21/06/2018 10:12

Once he can roll from front to back is the point it's not considered dangerous any more.

Otherwise it's still an elevated risk from front sleeping. It's your call though - it's a miniscule raise in actual risk. It might be a compromise you're OK with for daytime naps, or for when you're in the room with him for example.

Safety guidelines are just information you can use to make the decision, it's not like it's a black and white thing of this way is safe, the other way is instant death. Yes the risk is elevated, but you might be OK with that in the absence of other risk factors.

You could try rolling him back onto his back once he's in a deep sleep (lift arm and drop to see if it stays floppy) but of course running the risk he might wake up.

ILikeMyChickenFried · 21/06/2018 10:12

I would say if you're sitting next to him watching him the risk is minimal. Mine could roll not long after 12 weeks and as soon as they could do that they were tummy sleepers.

Bambamber · 21/06/2018 10:13

personally I would just stay in the room with him and keep a close eye and just let him sleep. My DD was the same so I just stayed next to her while she was sleeping so I could keep an eye on her

BarbarianMum · 21/06/2018 10:15

Well sleeping on their fronts puts some, or possibly all (we don't know) babies at greater risk of SIDS. The average increase in risk is small, but no one can tell you how big the increase is for your actual baby.

Probably if you do let him nap on his front he'll be fine. Probably if you do it this time, you'll do it again. What you decide depends on how risk averse you are.

Original poster
ElinorCadwaller · 21/06/2018 10:15

Tarts I do love having him sleep on me but that's actually how I messed my back up-lying on the sofa of all things! He's now face down in his cot sleeping soundly while I google Confused

OP posts:
TheSheepofWallSt · 21/06/2018 10:15

Mine slept on me, on his tummy, for day naps from a few weeks. The SIDS risk is thought to be quite a complicated set of factors- hearing/feeling mum breathing is thought to lower the risk... tummy sleeping raises it.... dummies lower it.... cosleeping raises it unless you breastfeed, don’t smoke, drink, take medication, and follow safety guidelines ...

Tummy sleeping is just one factor- and it raises the risk, doesn’t make it an inevitability. I wouldnt worry too much- esp if baby can lift their head.

ijustwannadance · 21/06/2018 10:17

I let my DD nap on her front or side during the day. Strong baby with great head control. She sleeps so much better this way. As long as he's in same room as you I don't see an issue.

nosleepforoverayear · 21/06/2018 10:18

We did this but with a motion sensor under the cot mattress so an alarm would go off if no breathing movement is detected.

Original poster
ElinorCadwaller · 21/06/2018 10:21

Sheep yes we don't have any other of the risk factors in play by day. It's hard to weigh up.

He's just done a little sequence of moves that would have woken him were he on his back.

OP posts:
User0304 · 21/06/2018 10:21

My 12week old is currently asleep on his tummy right now ☺️ He’s been crying for 15minutes and nothing was stopping him so I led him down and he is out like a light... I’m staying right next to him while he’s asleep but if he’s comfy I’m leaving him ☺️

Original poster
ElinorCadwaller · 21/06/2018 10:21

nosleep which brand was that? I'm looking now

OP posts:
Original poster
ElinorCadwaller · 21/06/2018 10:22

user I did go and make a cup of tea Wink

OP posts:
User0304 · 21/06/2018 10:27

Naughty naughty Wink

Bobbiepin · 21/06/2018 10:31

Personally I'd say if he is able to move his head its fine. The instinct to breathe is there and if you're awake then you can stop him going face first into the matress. I wouldn't necessarily do it at night but if he's fine sleeping at night, do what works.

Tartsamazeballs · 21/06/2018 10:37

Sorry I had dumbass moment I read that as him being on your tummy asleep 😂 sorry that was really thick 😑

letsallhaveanap · 21/06/2018 10:37

YANBU if the baby can lift their head and is on a flat firm surface so unlikely to become tangled in blankets or have their face in a dip in a cushion etc.. then its perfectly safe as if they are not getting enough air they will simply raise or turn their head to a better position.
You will be keeping an eye on him so will notice if there is any difficulty for him.

My son used to sleep on his front at night... drove me mad with worry. Well I say used to, he still does at 3yo!!
There are actually many studies which say that babies with no medical issues who are not premature, actually have very little risk from sleeping on their front, and quickly become used to it and able to lift their heads, and change position to get air, faster than babies who do not sleep on their fronts....
As I could not break my son out of the habit despite all my attempts. those are the studies I chose to believe!!

MaryShelley1818 · 21/06/2018 10:54

My baby (6mths) literally sleeps face down since he was able to roll. I panicked for ages and kept turning him over in his sleep but he just turns straight back so now I leave him.

nosleepforoverayear · 21/06/2018 10:59

We have an angelcare monitor and it came with that. I bought a spare one second hand for when we go away really cheaply. Only now my baby is over a year have I stopped using the motion sensor. It gave me lots of peace of mind, as my reflux baby would only sleep on me or on her front. Otherwise she screamed constantly day and night and I think sleep deprivation was making her worse.

TheSandgroper · 21/06/2018 12:16

I tried DD out in hospital after she was born. First sleep on her back, second sleep on her side, third sleep on her front. She was able to move her head from one cheek to the other at 24 hrs old and slept better (I thought) on her front so that's what we did. I couldn't do feet to the foot, either. She would crawl until she was jammed at the top of the bassinet so I eventually put her head to head. It worked for us.

PrivateDoor · 21/06/2018 12:21

The sand I am completely gobsmacked, why would you even think to do that? It has nothing to do with head movement - it is about overheating. I genuinely am gobsmacked.

OP personally I wouldn't risk it, it never would have occurred to me to put a baby on their tummy, but then I have read a lot of the research around this which is very convincing. The info about this has been around for a long time, I honestly am amazed anyone would ignore it.

PrivateDoor · 21/06/2018 12:25

MaryShelley

The evidence shows that babies who roll onto their tummy themselves are not at increased risk of SIDS compared to those who are deliberately placed that way by their care giver Flowers

Dvg · 21/06/2018 12:30

I would never risk it, it can be hard to breathe when lying on your front especially for someone with such a delicate chest and that tip about the motion sensor isnt making it safe - oh yeah that's so great .. as long as i know WHEN my baby stops breathing then that is all that matters right? no need to reduce of the risk of it happening all together because i can just try CPR if it does happens and oh well if CPR doesnt work i can say i tried.

honestly things like this are up to you but i would never risk it.