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Children's health

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Original poster

Newborn front sleeping - thoughts? Breathing monitor recommendations?

6 replies

KoolDog · 10/06/2016 10:18

Right, my newborn (3 days) really (REALLY) loves sleeping on her front. Obviously, I know there are risks but I also want her to be a calm, well-rested baby too... and I know of a few who've allowed their babies to do this with no ill effect. My doula says "read the guidelines and decide for yourself" and I'm seeing a midwife today... BUT would like to know your thoughts? Also, if I did go down that route, and got a breathing monitor - any suggestions??

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Stiddleficks · 10/06/2016 10:21

I never used a monitor, but my Dd slept on her side til about a month and has been on her front since then with no problems at all. I had her in a sleeping bag and no loose covers or toys in with her.
The advice I had off midwives and the hv was to keep putting her on her back so I stopped asking them!

Gileswithachainsaw · 10/06/2016 10:24

I used an angel care monitor/sensor pad.

Dd would not sleep on her back for more than 40 mins max. amd that happens about twice. usually shed wake within 15 mins.

it was tummy or no sleep.

FellOutOfBed2wice · 10/06/2016 10:27

My DD slept on her side and the AngelCare really put my mind at ease too.

Natsku · 10/06/2016 10:31

Mine slept on her side as a newborn (though that's what the midwives advised) and then she would only sleep on her tummy for several months, putting her on her back just resulted in screaming and no sleep. I didn't have any breathing monitor but she slept in her baby box right next to my bed and would wake up frequently to check on her. At around 4 months she started sleeping on her back.

AnotherTimeMaybe · 10/06/2016 10:35

Both DCs slept on front, they hated it on their backs. But I did used the angel care censor pad (not the monitor just the under the matress pad) and I have to say I couldn't do it without it! Gave me massive piece of mind and I'd use it even if they slept on their backs

Itsaplayonwords · 13/06/2016 20:15

What did the midwife say?

Apparently (according to SIL who is a midwife) the risk involved with sleeping on their tummy is that they can't move their head to the side. So if they were sick they couldn't move their head to clear their airway.

Also, when my daughter was in NICU they regularly moved her between back, side and front - this reason they did this was to prevent bed sores, oedema and to stop her from getting a flat head. Obviously this was because she was laying in an incubator for the vast majority of the time - far more than a newborn would be laying in a cot. I asked about them putting her on her front as its contrary to all advice and they said it's fine because she was on the monitor and it's often better for their breathing as their lungs can expand more fully. Her oxygen saturation was always higher on her front.

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