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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

Is it ok to sleep on tummy if it's on you??

16 replies

KiwiPanda · 18/01/2009 18:24

Hi there
Quick question (I hope). My 4 week old will drift off after feeding a tnight but as soon as I put her in the basket she's awake crying again. I'm trying co sleeping but she's not even that keen on being next to me - she only seems to sleep when she's on her tummy on my chest. But obviously that's tummy down... so is that bad? Should I avoid? Thanks!

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IAteMakkaPakka · 18/01/2009 18:26

No personal experience but it's quite common from hearing other people's experiences on here. It seems to pass off in time. Someone else will be along shortly with more advice but IMO it's fine as long as you follow all cosleeping guidelines eg don't smoke, drink, take drugs, cover baby in several layers of duvets, etc etc.

poppy34 · 18/01/2009 19:17

would agree with makka - my dd was same - the only thing i would say is make sure that you are positioned in a way that you can't roll onto her - usually what i did was let her get quite deeply asleep then gently put her in her cot.

Racingsnake · 18/01/2009 23:06

My dd was the same. I used to sleep on my back and she would lie on her tummy on top of me. I had pillows each side so that I couldn't roll over in the night but never did so. I don't think you sleep as deeply when you co-sleep and BF. I'm not sure if it is as safe if you are not BFing, though - something about hormones changing sleep patterns. I got aweful backache and worried a lot. I told her about government warnings and HV advice ... but that was the only way she would sleep.

solo · 18/01/2009 23:12

I had to do that a lot with Dd. They don't recommend it because of overheating, but if I personally hadn't done it, I'd have had no sleep whatsoever.
Both my Dc's slept on their fronts too, even on their own(and still do). Some babies just prefer it.

ibblewob · 18/01/2009 23:18

I did this with both of mine from birth. Until definitely a few weeks old, then they slept on their tummies next to me in bed, and then in their cots at maybe 5-6 months. I agonised over it with my first, but it worked for us.

Jenbot · 19/01/2009 09:42

I had to do this too, for a few weeks. It does pass in time!

MarlaSinger · 19/01/2009 09:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BouncingTartan · 19/01/2009 09:45

Same here, when ds was first born, he didn't want to go into the Moses Basket, but we managed to get him in after a few days!

Smee · 19/01/2009 10:19

If it's your only way of getting sleep, then do it. I hated it, but it did mean getting sleep, and at about 3 months, he was fine going into his moses basket.

callmemamma · 19/01/2009 10:44

I can't see anything wrong with it as long as you take some precautions.Few large pillows all around u.Maybe just don't put douvet on top of you,just cover your legs with it and put fleecy blanket on top of you and her.My dd in these early days used to fall asleep an my tummy after breastfeeding and I fell asleep many times,too for half an hour or longer.But then luckily when i was very gently putting her down in her cot she usually was staying asleep.
It is a very short stage and will pass quickly.

solo · 19/01/2009 11:52

They like sleeping on you like that because they can hear your heartbeat and breathing which is what they were used to for 9 months, so it is comforting...

designerbaby · 19/01/2009 13:56

OK... so this is highly contraversial, and I'm going to get flamed, but...

My DD would never sleep on her back. Not in her moses basket, cot, in our bed, nowhere.

After a few weeks of agonising about it, we gave in put her down on her tummy and never looked back.

We were VERY careful about all the other SIDs risk factors, and bought a movement monitor, so if she did stop breathing we'd know within 20 seconds.

If I have another, I will certainly try and put him/her down on their backs, but I feel that, for whatever reason, some babies just hate it.

A half way house might be to try her on her side, propped with rolled up towels or whatever.

I'm not advocating anything, just telling what happened to us. Maybe we should have persevered and she would have got the hang of it eventually, but after several weeks of no sleep we just gave up. We spoke to the Doctor about it, and he said 'Well if she won't sleep on her back, then you have no choice do you. Just be very careful and keep a close eye on her.' Or something along those lines.

She's 14 months now and still hates sleeping on her back - as do I, funnily enough.

[Ducks behind sofa...]

db
xx

solo · 19/01/2009 14:40

I don't think you will get flamed. Both my children slept on their tummies from newborn. They do sleep better that way IME. My Ds wouldn't sleep on his back or side and nor would Dd. I was a little worried with Ds, but with Dd I have a movement monitor, so I've not worried at all.

solo · 19/01/2009 14:57

When I had my Ds in 98, I rolled up blankets to prop him on his side whilst we were in hospital and was told not to as it can overheat babies. Just passing on info.

Original poster

KiwiPanda · 19/01/2009 15:01

thanks for all the replies! I'm very careful to get rid of duvet (well, apart from tucking my feet into it!) and just cover us with a blanket and I sleep in a dressing gown so that I don't freeze! I usually sleep on my back so at least I'm used to that...

OP posts:

solo · 19/01/2009 15:08

You sound sorted then. Just follow your instincts and ensure you've thought it all through...I'm certain you'll be fine. Good luck!

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