Six week old baby sleeping on front

[PerfectlyPosed]

My six week old dd is much happier sleeping on her front when she's on me. Most times, when I transfer her to her Moses basket and onto her back, she wakes. She also has a bit of a cold so is more bunged up when on her back. How bad is it really to put her on her front? And how do I go about it without her face planting the mattress? Any advice welcome as struggling to get her comfortable.

I bought an angel care monitor. Dd wouldn't remotely entertain the idea of back sleeping. wake ups ranged from 10-40 mins all night.

got to point where I felt lack of sleep must be more dangerous than tummy sleeping. The difference was incredible.

when dd was admitted to hospital for the third time I was convinced I'd get slammed by drs for letting her sleep on her tummy but actually the Dr just said, she needs to sleep. so do you.

When she was in for bronchiolitis they actually put her on her tummy in the tent

Thanks for the response and sorry you had a tough time. Thing is, we are getting enough sleep it's just the process to get her there. I feel I shouldn't have to get her into a deep sleep on me before I can put her down and thought she might self settle better if I put her straight on her front where she is clearly more comfortable?

Do you swaddle?

If she's bunged up perhaps try elevating one end of the basket. lying flat isn't always comfy when you all blocked up.

funnily enough dd1 never back slept either. I had to put her on her side. as soon as she started rolling she tummy slept. clearly haven't read the books

It's a very difficult decision I know. dd2 is 4 now and I still very rarely find her on her back. It really is a huge exercise in weighing up safety advice along side what the baby actually needs. For us there was no way. The only times she slept on her back was basically when she was ill and nothing would wake her.

I started off letting her nap on mats on the floor in the front room while I was there so I could see how she coped with regards to head control.

She used to sleep like a frog

if your getting enough sleep maybe hold off a bit longer, see if you can't convince her. but definitely elevate the basket.

If that fails then the monitor certainly gave me peace of mind and I eliminated all other factors advised.

It is impossible to eliminate all possible risks from the life of your child. Impossible.

So what you need to do here is have good knowledge and understanding of the risks involved and then make a knowledgeable and informed decision weighing up the risks.

This article gives a good level of detail so that you can assess the Sudden Infant Death risk levels yourself.

Personally, I would always ensure my children slept on their backs. But saying that I do go against SIDS recommendations in terms of room temperature, clothing/bedding, co-sleeping, swaddling and probably other things.

It is all about not burying your head in the sand and accepting that what you are doing does involve a risk, but deciding that you will manage and accept that risk (or that you are not prepared to accept the risk and so chance things).

No, I didn't get on with swaddling.

I have elevated her mattress slightly which has improved her breathing. I think she's coming to the end of her cold now so, hopefully, will be better.

Maybe I should just carry on as I am for now. I suppose it's not that she isn't sleeping on her back; it's just that she seems happier when on her front. She's had a strong neck from birth and can easily move it from side to side so I don't think that would be an issue but I do appreciate that she is safer on her back.

Thank you for the link, that's very helpful.

I think I will just keep doing what I'm doing as she is sleeping well once I've got her down.

SIDS deaths went down more than 70% after the Back To Sleep campaign in the early 90's. It's the one thing you can easily do to keep your baby a whole lot safer.
I'm about the most relaxed parent you can find and am always telling people that most risks are over-stated, but I would never put a baby on their front to sleep. Never.

I have such conflicting thoughts on belly sleeping. I have been trained over the last 10yrs to never ever put a baby to sleep on their front, however in the past couple of years I have looked after children who would just not sleep on their back, and my own baby will only sleep on her side, so you have to balance the risks against the fact that babies need to sleep.
I don't know what they are called, I think a PP mentioned it though, but you can buy mats that have sensors on and will alarm you if baby stops breathing.
I hate sleeping on my back, I always lie on my front, however I'm not a baby and I can roll...it's a toughy but you have to inf what works for you and your baby!