I just put my son to sleep on his tummy......

[JoannaL]

My DS3 is now 8 weeks old and I have had terrible problems getting him to sleep on his back in his bed, partly I think because he has reflux, to the point I have given up and have had him sleeping on my chest in bed with me at night. He's hardly been sleeping in the day. My mum suggested I try putting him on his tummy as she did with me and I have so far resisted. Today he went to sleep in my arms and I lay him down on his tummy just to see- he's now been asleep for an hour and a half! PS I have 2 other boys at home, aged 4 and 2 so I could really do with some sleep! I am very tempted to continue with the new miracle sleep solution- what do you think?

It's only discouraged as it's a SIDS risk factor. But if you're comfortable that you've controlled all the other risk factors i.e. no smoking round him etc. etc then the remaining risk is only small. FWIW I slept DS on his front when he wasn't co-sleeping with me - only way to get him to sleep more than 45 mins at a time...

I did the same, though would be reluctant to admit it in real life.

Causality has not been shown re. SIDS and front sleeping - lots of things changed at the time of the back to sleep campaign.

He is your baby, you are aware of the advice, it is your choice.

I'm in the same boat with 6 week old DD. I put her down on her front for naps when I'm around but she sleeps on her side (cosleeps) at night. I know there's a risk but as mentioned I ensure the environment is safe otherwise and she is much happier. She doesn't even nap for so long if I hold her! Was far too PFB with DS to consider it but as soon as he was able to he chose to sleep on his front so I guess it would have helped him too ...

I've done it too with DS2, as it was the only way he would sleep, night and day. I agonised over it for ages and started with naps. Then at 4 months, slept him on his tummy at night. We don't smoke, have room too hot, make sure we leave window slightly ajar, nothing else in cot etc etc to minimise other risk factors.

Likewise, I don't admit to many in real life.

You need to weigh up the risks for yourself.

Thank you all for your advice. I feel better knowing I sm not alone in even considering it! I think I am going to play it by ear but as I know I can control all the other risk factors I think it might be the way forward. I actually had to wake him for a feed today and he fed strongly for ages whereas before he had been catnapping in my arms or in the car then being to tired to feed for more than a few minutes. It might also help with the problems we,ve been having with weight gain!

Hi JoannaL

If you are really worried you could always buy an Angel sensor pad - an alarm will go off if baby stops breathing or makes no movement at all. It will help you sleep hun. I had one it's fantastic

HI OP, our son slept on his front. I can't remember how old he was when we started putting him on his front, but he was young enough for me to worry quite a lot about it. But he slept so much better that once we had discovered he slept better that way we just kept on with it. He was a very windy baby by the way.

It is a difficult decision though!

We started putting DD on her front at a month old. It made a huge difference to her sleep and HVs were far more pragmatic than I expected. We also bought an Angelcare monitor (second hand off Gumtree) for peace of mind. Some babies just prefer this so if you have eliminated other SIDs factors don't beat yourself up.

DS2 always slept better on his front too. I did read somewhere that it's part of the issue, they sleep more deeply and soundly so less likely to rouse themselves? Could be a pile of nonsense though, but maybe the monitor will give you peace of mind

we used to put DS on his side, can't remember how but there is a way of laying them when they are tiny (and swaddled) where they can't roll over, helped him no end - think I tucked one side of the blanked into the moses basket to stop him being able to roll forward! The midwives in hospital automatically lay them on their side if you notice

Used to obsessively put DD to sleep on her back as a baby...it's what all the advice says and you are paranoid as a first time parent.

Her sleeping was never great...quite wakeful right from the off. Eventually, when a bit older, she would turn herself over in her sleep but we used to turn her back when we checked on her I seem to remember.

In the end, we twigged that her sleeping was much, much better when she was on her back so we relented and let her sleep that way if she wanted. Turns out that even then she was suffering from what was eventually was diagnosed as enlarged tonsils (she had them whipped out at just over 2yo). Sleeping on her back was the worst thing for her...just like a snorer sleeping on their back is always worse.

My best friend's DD slept on her front, as she simply wouldn't sleep on her back. They weighed up the risks and did everything else right, and so were happy with their decision. It's probably more common than you think.