Is it so bad to let 13 week DS sleep on stomach?

[noheroicsplease]

DS sleeps on back but is developing a bit of a flat head in one place. Showed doctor but he was as dismissive/unconcerned as he always is; showed cranial, she didn't seem to think it was bad.

Concerned, however, that it will get worse. I am, OF COURSE, aware of SIDS, but I do also think the stats are very low. If we attach an apnea attack monitor to the cot/nappy, would it be so terrible to try him sleeping on his tummy? Or are there props we can use to encourage him to sleep on other side? I do go in when sleeping and change head position but he does often change it back...

Have you tried the special pillows with the dent in them? Have used one as dd was in pavlik harness for 3mths and I think it prevented the problem?

Well personally I wouldn't / don't do it. I would ask for a referral though if I was worried enough to consider it. I'd be surprised if a gp didn't know what to look for.

Are you following all the other sids guidelines? ( Sleeping in same room as you ever for naps, feet to foot, etc etc etc)

Of all the things to prevent SIDS, back sleeping is the most important - the number of cot deaths fell by half the year the Back to Sleep campaign started.

Those breathing monitors haven't been shown to prevent SIDS by the way.

If you're worried about his head being flat, I'd try other things before tummy sleeping - try putting his head facing the other end of the cot, things on the wall on the other side for him to look at, lots of tummy time in the day.

I have put DD on her front since around 4 weeks. She finds it impossible to sleep on her back due to reflux. I follow all other SIDS guidelines carefully. It is very clear that back sleeping is a major factor in preventing SIDS so do your research and make yourself happy with the facts first.

When my dd's head started to look a bit flat at the back, and she had a big bald spot on that part of her head too, so it was really noticeable to me. I got one of those foam pillows, but I was afraid to use it while she was out of my sight.

At night, she was put down on her back as usual, no pillow, but during the day I would put the pillow under her head in the pram or let her sleep on her tummy for naps, but only if I was in the same room, awake and not too distracted and could watch her the whole time. I mean like lying next to me while I read or watched TV, or while I was folding laundry etc. while still close enough to see and hear her breathing. She had most of her naps in the living room in a little travel cot.

I was really worried about the flat head thing at the time, but I just couldn't ever feel comfortable having her on her tummy while I was out of the room or asleep. Either the worry was for nothing or the things I did worked, because she has a lovely round head now. :) Still bald, though!

Oops first sentence should read: "When my dd was that age her head started to look a bit flat..."

Thanks for the replies. V helpful. Can someone advise which pillows you're referring to?

Thanks

this is the one I used

this is the 'goi goi' one that people rave about

Our Ds (13 weeks) was also developing a flat head on one side and GP was equally unconcerned. We've had some success by making sure we continually turn his head to the other side - so changing mat positioned so he looks to the right at us, all hanging toys on one side of his baby gym, repositioned the cot so he sleeps facing out etc (he seems to like sleeping facing us in bed, bless). His bald patch has slowly moved round and is now on the back of his head rather than the side so its having some effect. Helps to catch it quick I think but I'm going back to the doctor in a week or so to insist they assess the level of improvement.

Good luck with it.

www.kiddicare sell the jane 2 stage ergonomic pillow which is very similar to the one I used, also it is not big enough to cause suffocation problems and its the same size as the baby's head

I used the goi goi pillow linked to by cloudydays (now called Lilla Kuddis pillow)