To let baby nap on tummy?

[ElinorCadwaller]

^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

DC1 always slept on her front, since nothing we could do would persuade her to sleep on her back (even if put down on her back when already in a deep sleep, she would awake, screaming, in minutes).

Just make sure that the sleeping area is absolutely safe (firm mattress, no blankets etc) and that she is the correct temperature, and check her frequently.

They don't know what causes the higher risk on the front, you can't say it's definitely to do with overheating. (someone else) also can't say it's "perfectly" safe, that's impossible! At 3yo though you don't need to worry any more as the risk period has passed.

Having access to the information is the important part, people are free to take from it what they feel is relevant for their own family.

Mary - this is safe according to guidance. It's safe to let babies choose their own sleeping position if they can get themselves into it.

Your baby is 12 months old and so is assumed to be able to roll themselves? If so then there is no increased SIDs danger for front sleeping, as that advice only applies for babies who can’t roll yet.

PrivateDoor. I was/am aware of the current research into SIDS and sleeping on the back. Australia led the way in this research. However, I made a decision and it worked for us. My baby was strong and could make her own comfort arrangements. As for the overheating, we were in Perth, in mid January and the aircon cranked. My concern was cold draughts. And, anyway, when your swaddled baby repeatedly crawls from under the blanket at 8 days old to sleep the way she wants to, at some point sleep rather than picking a fight wins the day.

It’s not necessarily about over heating, some studies suggest that babies sleeping on their front go into a deeper sleep than those on their back and they are less likely to rouse or take a breath if they stop breathing for a moment.

I wouldn’t risk it. You will get people that say their babies slept on their front and it was fine, but it’s not something I’ve ever done or would do.