Sleeping on front

[Littleguggi]

Hi all

My 12 week old will only settle to sleep on her front. This started around 2 weeks ago. Prior to that she would sleep on her side. Now when I put her down on her side she rolls over onto her tummy.

She seems most comfortable on her front, awake or asleep. She loves tummy time too when playing.

Is it safe for her to sleep on her front? She is able to move her head side to side but occasionally we see her face down. What can we do to make this way of sleeping safer for her, other than watching her constantly?

Can she roll independently? If not then no the advice is it isn't safe for her to be on her front.

Can you put her down on her back (as per the safe sleep advice) instead to stop it happening?

Lots of people will tell you it's fine their baby slept on their front etc but I think you need to have a read up on safe sleep guidelines etc then make your own informed decision about whether your happy to leave her like that.

You shouldn't be putting her on her side anyway.
Lie her on her back.

Since the guidelines changed from front to back sleeping SIDS reduced by half.
SIDS also peaks around 2-3 months. So with all this in mind I'd keep your baby on their back to be safe.

Do you breastfeed? If so you could look into co sleeping which might help her settle better.

Thank you all, I'm making more of an effort to put her flat on her back but eventually she turns onto her side, and then front! Reading about SIDS has had me up multiple times in the night checking on her. She sleeps in a next to me crib and is breastfed. I follow safe sleep guidelines, no teddies, blankets etc in cot.

My little girl is 18 months old. Since birth I’ve put her to sleep on her tummy and had no issues whatsoever, there’s less chance of choking if some milk comes up too. She was also colicky, so laying on her front she could push gas out easier as well. She was a healthy 9lb 3oz, wouldn’t settle lying on her back, would scream until I rolled her over. If they’re a healthy baby, and it’s what they prefer, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t sleep on their front. As long as there’s nothing laying around in the crib, you’re all good, do what you think is best :) you got it mama!

I follow safe sleep guidelines, no teddies, blankets etc in cot

Well you don’t if you insist on putting her on her side!! Arguably the biggest most important part of safe sleeping is ‘back to sleep’ and ‘feet to foot’.

Every baby is different, what works for one, may not work for another. Doesn’t mean she’s not following guidelines, if a baby wants to sleep on their front, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t

@mariinaa the back to sleep advice applies to all babies regardless of birth weight

And it's not true that babies on their backs are more at risk of chocking on milk

@mariinaa just because your baby has been okay doesn’t mean that all babies will be - the back to sleep IS the guideline so she therefore isn’t following it!

Your choice and OPs choice too - that’s ok for you to make those decisions yourselves — but the guideline and evidence is there and this therefore is the ’reason why they shouldn’t’

I don’t think there’s any point in scaring mothers, they’re only guidelines, not rules you must religiously follow. I believe in following your instincts and listening to your baby’s needs.

And it is true that there is less chance of choking while on your sleeping on the front, it’s simple rules of gravity:)

@mariinaa

Please see the information on the lullaby trust website

www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/sleeping-position/

Research has shown that the back is the safest position and that babies are not more likely to choke. It is not simply about gravity, it is about the baby's anatomy.

The lullaby trust has further information talking about the research beyond the page I shared above

Of course these are only guidelines and it is not about frightening Mother's it's about ensuring information is clear so we can make informed choices.

My DS sleeps on his front or his side. He's almost 9 months and has been sleeping like that since he could roll over.

What should I do then? Sit by his bed all night and constantly turn him over so he nor I will get any sleep.

Just leave baby to it. They have preferences like us, as they are human beings too.

If they are strong enough to roll onto their front, you cannot stop them tummy sleeping.

Back to sleep is a massive campaign. Ignore it at your own risk (we ignored it, as tummy sleeping was the only way to get DS to settle for more than 40 mins. After a month of no more than 39 mins sleep in a row, I was beside my self. The first time I got to sleep for 89 mins felt like bliss!)

@kikibo @RainOrSun

That's exactly the advice, once they can move themselves leave them to it. Nothing you can do to stop them.

my Dd is also 9 months and I still put her on her back but she pretty much instantly moves to her side. Short of holding her down there is no way to stop her (obviously I'm not going to to do that)

There was a huge reduction in sids cases when back to sleep was introduced. Obviously it can't prevent it, tragically nothing can.

I think once they start doing it independently it’s ok, and there’s not much you can do about it anyway. My DS did this from about 5 months, at first I would turn him over but I soon gave up. I would always lie them on their backs first though.

@bob1985

Thank you, however I stand by what worked for me and my baby. Of course if my daughter preferred to sleep on her back I wouldn’t force her, but she didn’t so front it was, and still at 18 months she rolls over to her tummy.
I just don’t see how it’s so frowned upon when it’s just a natural position to sleep in. I had 3 different midwives visit when my daughter was born. Each said complete opposite things about sleeping positions so I listened to my baby and did what’s best for her :)

It's frowned upon because it significantly increases the risk of SIDS. Not just a little bit. Significantly. No great mystery there.

But that's talking about putting your baby down to sleep on their front when they cannot roll to get themselves out of it, as they can get stuck face down and unable to breathe. If your baby is able to roll themselves in and out, and you put them down on their back and they roll into another position, then that's fine. It's putting them down to sleep on their front when they're unable to get out of that position that's the problem.

I am having this issue with my nearly 6 month old. She can roll over but is not able to roll back. I do move her onto her back but this seems to be her favourite position to sleep. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stop them rolling onto their front. Thank you.

@mariinaa as @Celebelly said it's frowned upon as the back to sleep campaign has significantly reduced the number of sids cases.

I would suggest that you do take a look at the information provided by the lullaby trust.

I would also be very surprised if a midwife told you not to follow the safer sleep guidelines.

We all take risks and decide what risks we are comfortable with as parents but I do fine the 'my baby was find' stance a bit worrying.

@Snoopyd1985 I would just continue to put down on back at the start.There's nothing you can physically do to stop them moving once the can do so on their own.

Make sure they're not swaddled and as has been mentioned above remove any potential hazards - bumpers, soft toys etc

Everything has been removed from the cot as I was worried she would grab something. Honestly once they start moving its a nightmare lol!