Sleeping on tummy - irresponsible or not a big deal?

[NKffffffffe749edcfX11d6d7397af]

My DD is 11 weeks and is a good sleeper. We've always found that she sleeps better on her tummy and settles easily after a feed by being placed on her tummy. I have had many comments about how dangerous it is which is really starting to worry me. Is it worth starting to try and settle her on her back in the night? Selfish I know, but I don't want to jeopardise the long stretches of sleep I've started to know and love!

What's the consensus???

We all know babies should be put on their back, and those of us who put our babies down on tummies are probably racked with guilt/worry all night about it. Before I had my baby I thought anyone who put their baby down on their tummy was irresponsible/ignorant. I now know better and realise that when it's done it's out of desperation. It's amazing how much better my baby sleeps on his tummy- he'll sleep for 3 hours vs 10 mins on his back.

";it's not a car seat equivalent
baby in question is not a newborn'

It is. The peak time for SIDS is 2 to 4 months.

If they won't sleep on their backs, then let them sleep on you. But not on their stomachs until they can easily roll.

Wannabe... Nobody knows why babies die of SIDS.

Whilst that is correct we do know that babies on their fronts are much more likely to die. The global statistics show this to be true. Your baby is more likely to die on it's front than on its back.

I don't care if that offends the front sleepers. If you're willing to go against evidence then you should expect disagreement.

Seeker you're spot on.

I'm amazed at how black-and-white the world can be to some MNers. God forbid you ever find yourself in a situation where you actually have to make a judgement call on your child's health and safety and realise the world comes in shades of grey.

Some things are judgment calls.

Some things aren't.

This isn't.

It is so very irresponsible to suggest that it is.

We'll have to agree to disagree then. Because to my mind, when your baby won't sleep any other way no matter how hard you try, and your mental health and ability to look after your baby is being put at risk, it is a judgement call.

If the baby can roll themselves onto their tummy it isn't a risk iirc - my DS could from about 16 weeks.

Looking at the numbers of the back-to-sleep campaign, I would not take the risk. While it's up to you as a parent to judge risk - the (admittedly very small) risk isn't that of a scratch or a bumped knee - it's death. Sorry to be blunt.

Well, I suppose if a baby was going to spend the first 4 months constantly awake if it wasn't put on its stomach to sleep, then the risk of SIDS is the lesser of two evils - presumably not sleeping at all would be fatal. But that is a situation which is just not going to arise.

Being the parent of a non-sleeping baby can be hell on earth. For 4 months. Being the parent of a dead baby is hell on earth forever.

I suspect people on here are too young to remember when cot death was a real fear for new parents. It used to be the single biggest cause of death for under 6 month old babies. It isn;t now, because of the Back the Sleep campaign. It would be awful if the numbers started to creeep up again because people forget.

Seeker, I think cot death isalways a real fear for new parents, even now... or is that just me?

I don't think it is as close a fear as it was. I amin my 50s and I know personally two babies who died in this way. I suspect most people my age do. And this was at a time in my life when I didn't know many babies. But since I had my own children - both since the Back to Sleep campaign - I have thankfully not known any - despite knowing lots and lots of babies.

Don't forget this comes from an op whose dc sleeps well... Just longer & deeper on their front. Hardly a non sleeping baby.

My DD (14w) slept 3 hrs between midnight and 6am two days ago and she wasn't hungry. I still wouldn't put her on her front.