Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

Flip

Original poster

baby only sleeps on front....help!

13 replies

jubblicious · 12/01/2011 16:57

My DS hasn't been sleeping for two weeks now. He's 5 weeks and suddenly refuses to be put down in his moses basket! We've tried everything and no matter how asleep he is, as soon as we put him down he cries and cries and cries!

He no longer wants to be swaddled as he wriggles out of it. i realised he slept on us fine, chest to chest. So i tried putting him on his front whilst i watched him. Now i know this is not done, but i was staying awake from 1am to 7 am.....so i was at the end of my tether and just crying

But he sleeps....like a log. Wakes up for a feed every three hours.....what do i do?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

WowOoo · 12/01/2011 17:01

Ds1 slept on his front when small. I was a bit anxious about it too until another friend told me that both hers did too.

Hopefully someone else will advise. But, i let mine do it. Ds2 goes to sleep on back and then rolls over, but much older.

Congrats, by the way.

WowOoo · 12/01/2011 17:13

Both my sons woke for a feed every 3 hours. Think that's normal.
Is that what you were asking about or the sleeping on the front?

Original poster

jubblicious · 12/01/2011 17:40

Its the sleeping on the front. I know you are not meant to do it, but its the only way he'll sleep!!

He seems happier when he wakes up...and to be honest, so do i. I'm not the ratty mother with him....

OP posts:

littlevoice83 · 12/01/2011 19:10

If they are fine and comfy with they way they sleep then i dont see how this matters both mine slept on there front and my eldest still does my 5 month old slept on front from young age too!! and esp if mum is getting sleep too! then all round bonus!

JooLoo · 12/01/2011 20:26

My DD slept on front from about 5 weeks and still does so a year later. We worried a bit but she also slept like a log! We bought a sensor monitor second hand which gave us peace of mind

thisisyesterday · 12/01/2011 20:32

I can't tell you it's safe, because we KNOW that putting them on their backs is safest. I won't tell you you ought to continue either

I will tell you that ds3 was exactly the same. and after a few weeks of literally NO sleep, I just went with it.
to start with I only let him nap on his tummy during the day, where I could watch him and check he was breathing. But eventually I caved, and just let him sleep on his tummy
I have to admit I was sooooo stressed and worried the first night, but he is 19 months now and fine

not that that means anything. anecdotal and all that

CUNextTuesday · 12/01/2011 21:24

Mine has slept on his tum since 3 weeks old, when he moved off sleeping on my chest. He's 6 months now and I've never had a moment's concern about it. He was always a big strong boy though.

Our problem is now that he can roll onto his back he doesn't know how to settle himself back to sleep. That is causing a few sleepless night fo' sho'.

monkeyjamtart · 14/01/2011 00:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

jubblicious · 14/01/2011 00:41

Thanks everyone. My DH has now ordered an angelcare sensor moniter. At least it will give him the peace of mind he needs.

And now, i finally get some sleep. DS now gets up twice during the night! Much better than not sleeping all night. I now feel semi normal. I'll enjoy it whilst it lasts...lol

OP posts:

CES100 · 22/01/2011 21:57

How are u getting on? After weeks of battling with DS 11 weeks I have finally given in and let him sleep on his tummy and what a difference, sleeping so well neither of us was getting any sleep and I really did try. first night tonight with the angel monitor which makes me feel a little better trouble is I am still so paranoid I am not thinking of anything else. Probably weeks of no sleep not helping...Good to know I am not the only one though, seems like there are lots of us in the same boat.

porcupine11 · 22/01/2011 22:10

I was too worried to do this with my first born, but both my friend and I let our second borns sleep on their tummies, actually with the 'approval' of our health visitors randomly. Probably rare to find a HV who will go 'off message' like that. But think back 30 years or so, and it was the norm to put babies on their fronts to sleep. Which means you and everyone you know and see your age was most likely put to sleep on their fronts...

Back to being too scared to do this with my first born.... our solution was an Amby hammock as it cradles them so they don't have to sleep flat but are still on their backs. hth, as I've been there and it's miserable!

ginbob · 22/01/2011 22:55

My twin boys have always slept on their fronts and they won't sleep any other way. I guess I've never worried about the issue as they're not my first. Don't worry though - SIDS is a terrible thing but the risks are not worth losing sleep over, and so long as you're doing everything else by the book such as not falling asleep on the sofa with them and smoking, having the room far too hot etc, then your baby is going to be absolutely fine. Us mums have enough to worry about, honestly, without being worried sick because of recommendations which don't realistically work for us. The only thing I worry about it that Babyhood passes by so quickly - if we're too anxious we won't enjoy it?

mumtoted · 22/01/2011 23:02

My 2 dc, now 6 and 3, slept on their tummies from a few weeks old too.

Flip