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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

does anyone put their newborns to sleep on their front?

70 replies

quokka · 27/02/2006 11:50

My 4 week DS seems so much happier on his front, and falls asleep straight away. When I turn him over or settle him in his cot to sleep on his back he wakes or cries. Just wanted to see if anyone ignores the warnings of front sleeping? My DS has very good head control already and seems to be very strong, does this make a difference?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

OldieMum · 27/02/2006 11:54

Please don't ignore these warnings. See this article in today's Guardian - babies lying on their fronts are in real danger of suffocation.

\link{http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1718723,00.html\here}

The heeding of advice to lie babies on their fronts has had a dramatic impact on the incidence of cot deaths.

SoupDragon · 27/02/2006 11:55

I've always put DSs and DD to sleep ontheir side after a feed as they are more comfortable (they generally roll onto their backs fairly quickly anyway) but no, I would not have put them to sleep on their fronts unless I was awake and next to them (DD sometimes will only settle face down on my chest).

expatinscotland · 27/02/2006 11:55

Original poster

quokka · 27/02/2006 11:58

I might try putting him on his side and see how that works?

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 27/02/2006 12:00

disclaimer

I do it only on the basis that they roll onto their backs once asleep. According to my cot death leaflet, sleeping on their sides is not as safe as on their backs.

OldieMum · 27/02/2006 12:03

Why not just get him used to lying on his back? Then you don't have to worry so much.

Original poster

quokka · 27/02/2006 12:05

I understand what you said. He is quite a windy baby which is why he doesn't like being on his back.

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 27/02/2006 12:06

Presumably because he screams blue murder if put on his back...? it's not always as simple as "just get him used to it..."

Original poster

quokka · 27/02/2006 12:07

Oldiemum it's the night time that is the problem he just wont settle on his back. Thats usually when I'm trying to get some sleep!

OP posts:

lizardqueen · 27/02/2006 12:08

I just wouldn't have dared, quokka.

Original poster

quokka · 27/02/2006 12:10

also it doesn't matter how much time I spend burping him or how many burps I get out of him. I have no problem with leaving him to cry a bit to settle himself, he needs to learn.

OP posts:

throckenholt · 27/02/2006 12:16

just to show the other side - I will admit I did - after a month of trying to get said baby to settle on his front - he would scream and fuss for at least an hour each time (sleep - what's sleep?). I gave in and put him on his front - asleep in minutes - me frantic with guilt and worry. He also had good head control. We had none of the other risk factors for cot death (eg smoking). So I gave in and stuck with it (he is now at school). I also did with my twins after about 6 weeks - again because they just were not sleeping well on their fronts. My bottom line is we all needed to sleep.

You can go halfway - let him fall asleep on his front and then turn him over once he is settled - most sleeping babies are happy to be moved without waking up IME.

So basically - you do what seems right to you - assess all the risks and then close your eyes and hope to god you are doing the right thing.

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 27/02/2006 12:18

if wind is a problem, have you tried raising one end of the cot slightly? Might help?

Original poster

quokka · 27/02/2006 12:28

Have tried tilting the cot, doesn't work for him.

OP posts:

Original poster

quokka · 27/02/2006 12:34

I mean my sisters and I were all put on our fronts and we are ok. Also my sister did it for her kids - this was in autralia though. Sometimes I feel we are told to do and not to do so many things and maybe we should relax a bit and go with your gut instinct.

OP posts:

rubles · 27/02/2006 12:42

My SIL has done with all 4 but gets told off by the HVs. Is it to do with the moro reflex or a sense of feeling more secure on his front, do you think? Have you tried swaddling him nice and snuggly so it might help him to feel more secure on his back? I started swaddling dd from 8 weeks old, as getting her to settle was a nightmare and we had instantaneous success with it.

Original poster

quokka · 27/02/2006 12:44

Hates being swaddled, likes to flap his arms and hands around tto much. I can only manage to half swaddle him without him bringing the house down!

OP posts:

sunnyside · 27/02/2006 12:46

Has anyone read the info about Babesafe mattresses from New Zealand? The research around that seems to say that the front sleeping position only causes problems if there are issues with the fire retardant used to treat mattresses (Ironically, the retardant means they reach safety standards I think!)

The info suggests that there's a lot more involved than the sleeping position. It's pretty compelling stuff IMO

Flossam · 27/02/2006 12:46

My DS would only sleep on his side. So I would put him down like that! would never ever settle on his back. if he rolled on to his tummy I would roll him back but rarely happened. Agree back is best though.

MrsBadger · 27/02/2006 12:56

Perhaps a grobag?
cosy as a swaddle but more scope for arm flapping.

Or maybe his tummy feels the cold more than his back - does pre-warming the cot (by sitting on it, hanging sheet on radiator etc) help?

Original poster

quokka · 27/02/2006 12:58

am already a huge fan of grobag

OP posts:

Hausfrau · 27/02/2006 13:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

alibubbles · 27/02/2006 13:28

The baby i look after has slept on her front from the age of 3 weeks. She just wouldn't settle on her back, would scream for ages.despite being swaddled. So, front it is, and she has slept through from 7-7 since 10 weeks old.

Both my two slept on their fronts from birth, but that was 19 years ago!

nailpolish · 27/02/2006 13:46

i put both mine down to sleep on their fronts from practically day 1. they both seemed so uncomfortable on their backs, you would be cosy-ing them in against your chest, then suddenly they would be lying on their backs flailing around like upturned turtles - and they would immediately wake up. it just seemed more natural to me.

had a HV with palpations when she spotted it, but it was my decision.

both have been fabulous sleepers ever since.

kittyfish · 27/02/2006 14:37

We all do what we feel is best, but the 'Back to Sleep' campaign has had the most significant impact on the numbers of cot deaths in this country. I was put on my front to sleep because that was the advice at the time, but I would never put a child on its front to sleep now because we know it can contribute to sids. I find all of the pro front-sleeping comments very disturbing tbh.

Side sleeping (from what I have read) is fine if the baby is able to roll over anyway and the research about antimony in matresses was rubbished by british research, and there is no antimony in matresses sold in this country now.

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