Do any other moms put their newborns/ infants to sleep on thier bellies?

Alison - posted on 04/14/2011

I did on occasion, when she needed to have a longer nap during the day or had a hard time sleeping at night. But I've also found swaddling to help newborns sleep quite well.

Michelle - posted on 04/14/2011

from the second my son was born he slept on his belly the hospital had a few things to say but i just ignored it he is ow 2 and still sleeps on his belly most nights.

Kate - posted on 04/14/2011

I know all of the above Sarah, I've been researching SIDS for almost 2 years now, and both the sites I have listed are trusted sites, 1 being a government site and the other an Australian leader in SIDS research and funding.

My child Ella is 5 1/2 months old, at last weighing she was 6.73kg she is in a mothers choice reversable car seat, and will remain rear facing as long as she is able to fit that way because it is safer.

Don't be sorry, I entered the conversation without giving you my previous history, so you were't to know, I just don't want any other parent to go through what I have, I must point out though that my son wasn't on his stomach he was in my bed, but I have many friends on facebook who thought it would be ok to put their baby to sleep on their stomach, and now wish so much they hadn't...I just don't want anyone to feel that pain. I'm also very passionate about safe co-sleeping to and other precautions against SIDS, but I also know that it also happens even if you've taken every precaution, SIDs doesn't discriminate

Sarh - posted on 04/14/2011

Kate, I would still like to know the answer to the last set of questions I asked if you don't mind, but I would also like to apologize if I was being rude at all during our discussion.... I viewed your profile and I can't imagine going through they and I'm sorry I "argued" w/you about something that must be so hard for you to discuss.
I now understand that you are just trying to inform us and help us prevent this from happening to our children. I give you sooo much credit for being able to have gotten pregnant just 3ms after your angel leaving your arms, I would have been a train wreck and probably would never have children again. Again, I'm so sorry!!!

Sarh - posted on 04/13/2011

For Australia that is from 1989-2006.... you made it sounds like it was w/in the last year, anyways.
And the one for "world wide and in America" is from 1988-2006.

SIDS has been linked to Low levels of Serotonin! My daughter was born in 2006 and according to this there was a pretty low chance of infants surviving past a year, but she slept on her tummy with "loose" blankets and is perfectly fine today.
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/feb2010/n...

Pediatricians trust these sites and give them more credibility then any other site out there. Because really ANYONE could have written all those other sites and could have pulled it out of their... you know what.
Maybe my son's pediatrician never said anything about me putting my son to sleep on his tummy because he has reflux....
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sle...

"Although the SIDS rate continues to fall, some of the recent decrease of the last several years may be a result of coding shifts to other causes of unexpected infant deaths. Since the AAP published its last statement on SIDS in 2000, several issues have become relevant, including the significant risk of side sleeping position".... "the hazards of adults sleeping with an infant in the same bed, the SIDS risk reduction associated with having infants sleep in the same room as adults and with using pacifiers at the time of sleep," My favorite part here CODE SHIFT!!!!!! has helped reduce the rate of sides!!!
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi...

I never said it was 100% safe to put bubby on tummy to sleep. It is the parents choice!


Kate, How old is your child? How much does your child weigh? What car seat is your child in and how long will your child remain rear facing?!

Kate - posted on 04/13/2011

The facts, and questions answered http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids/sids_qa.cf...

Horiana - posted on 04/13/2011

Hi Lori My daughter is 6 weeks old and she loves sleeping on her belly. And when my midwife came over she told me its unsafe to put them on there bellies but i think if they are comfortable on there bellys and u are close by and keeping a eye on them then they are O.K. thats my point of view anyway. With my daughter i no she is ok cause she turns her head if she cant breath.

Kate - posted on 04/13/2011

Sorry the rate of SIDS has dropped 50% world wide and in America http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids/

And has dropped almost 90% in Australia http://www.sidsandkids.org/offices/north...

Sarh - posted on 04/13/2011

Do you have sources for your FACTS!?
I was giving my personal opinion. :)

SARH

Kate - posted on 04/13/2011

Since the back to sleep campaing was introduced the rate of SIDS has dropped by 90%, I don't think that is a coincidence?? They may not know what causes SIDS but they do no how to lower to the risks, you can't completely eliminate the it completely, but why take cautioni and try and lower the risk whenever possible.

More babies die from SIDS on their stomach then they do Co-sleeping, but why not elimate the risks and avoid doing both.

@Sarah, you say not to use a sleep positioner, yet you encourage and say its ok to put a baby to sleep on it stomach...More babies have died on their stomach then from sleep positioners, so why not go with the safer option?? personally I wouldn't recommend either.

And using a breathing monitor isn't going to stop your baby from stopping breathing, it will only alert you once your baby has stopped breathing, which could already be too late.

They say that SIDS is unstoppable, so even if the alarm does sound, you may not be able to save your baby

Sarh - posted on 04/13/2011

Jessi, exactly. They are just going to continuously change it. My daughter who is now 5yrs old also would only sleep on her tummy and she started sleeping through the night at about 3wks old like my son.
What I don't understand is how people are willing to co-sleep with baby in that huge bed with those huge pillows and blankets!!! And two huge people on each side of baby. But no no to tummy sleeping? Tummy sleeping seems SOOO much safer to me!!!!!!!

Jessi - posted on 04/12/2011

Sarh is completely right with both the SIDS thing and the fact that they do like changing sleep recommendations. when my ma was a baby the recommendation was to rotate them on their sides to prevent misshaping of the skull, when i was a baby it was to sleep belly down to prevent choking, and now its belly up to prevent suffocation...it's never going to end!

Sarh - posted on 04/12/2011

Oh and i forgot, how are they going to blame the babies sleeping on their tummies on SIDS? SIDS is UNEXPLAINED!!!! If it were caused by tummy sleeping then it would be.....? EXPLAINABLE!

Sarh - posted on 04/12/2011

My son has been the SAME way!! He would wake in the night if he were on his back, but I started laying him on his tummy at about 2-3wks old and he started sleeping THROUGH the night!! He has never liked to be cradled unless nursing. He has reflux and has been congested off and on since birth.
Do not use sleep positioners they are trying to recall them ALL! because babies are suffocating.
By all means if it is working for you and your baby then of course you are doing the right thing!!! Anyways they continue to go back and forth on whether it's safer on back or belly. Do as you, her mother feel is right! My son is now 10ms old and if I try to rock him to sleep I have to do so chest to chest. When I lay him in his crib he rolls to his tummy and goes right to sleep!

Jessi - posted on 04/11/2011

from day 1. wasn't interested in taking the risk of choking on his spit-up. he's now 2 and still loves sleeping on his stomach. my parents also did that with me and i still love sleeping on my stomach.

Christine - posted on 04/10/2011

My son now 9 months has slept on his stomach starting as soon as we left the hospital the only way he would sleep on his back was if he was swaddled super tight, it was just easier to have him sleep on his stomach. He slept in his crib 2 ft from the bed and since he is EBF he was up ever 2 hours.

Christine - posted on 04/10/2011

My son now 9 months has slept on his stomach starting as soon as we left the hospital the only way he would sleep on his back was if he was swaddled super tight, it was just easier to have him sleep on his stomach. He slept in his crib 2 ft from the bed and since he is EBF he was up ever 2 hours.

Emily - posted on 04/10/2011

No, I didn't. Not interested in taking a risk like that.

Lucia Susan - posted on 04/08/2011

I'm way too paranoid to do that. I've put her to sleep on her side, but never on her tummy.

Brandi - posted on 04/08/2011

Yes. My daughter will not sleep unless she's on her belly. She is like I am. She's more comfortable on her tummy. Plus, she's rolling over now. So, even if we put her on her back, she'll get herself on her belly.

Kate - posted on 04/08/2011

SIDS is the number one cause of death amongst babies aged 1 month to 1 year of age, me personally I don't think the risk is worth it, I have too many friends that thought it was ok because their baby just wouldn't sleep any other way, and now they have to spend the rest of their life wondering if they'd just put their baby to sleep on their back would they still be here...Also try to remember that while you may have a breathing and movement monitor that it goes off once your baby has stopped breathing, it won't prevent them from stopping breathing...While the exact cause of SIDS is unknown it has been shown that putting a baby to sleep on their stomach increases the risks...Sids is not suffocation, it is silent, there is no warnings, and if what they say is true it is unstoppable, so even if your alarm does sound, there is a very good chance you won't be able save them. The chances are that your baby will be fine, but is the risk worth it? Only you can answer that

Samsam - posted on 04/07/2011

my baby is six month i make him sleep on his back, but wakes while sleepin on his belly so no choice .

Liz - posted on 04/07/2011

My daughter is a year old and she has been sleeping on her stomach since 8 weeks old. She slept better and longer. Once she was able to turn and lift her head well I felt ok with doing this. Just don't have any blankets or stuffed animals in crib. Of course it's not recommended to do this but if u feel it us safe for your baby then...

Jeanette - posted on 04/07/2011

my lil girl when she wasa baby she wouldt sleep anyother way but onher belly. My lil boy loves to sleep on his back and i think thats better io on the side cause layin them on their belly aint safe

Kimberly - posted on 04/07/2011

i had to do that for the first three months my son was waking up so much we would use the swing and the car seat for him to sleep in when we were desperet for just twenty minutes but with landon he didnt like his tummy to much but when he did sleep on his tummy we were just careful and payed more attention

Lori - posted on 04/07/2011

I already have an Angelcare monitor. I think that helped me make the decision to make the flip.

Karen - posted on 04/07/2011

i know the whole lecture about SIDS but i did it with my son - we began around 3 weeks because he just wasn't comfortable (we put him on his side before that because back sleeping scares me due to an incident a friend had). once we put him on his belly he slept so much better. we made sure there was nothing in his crib, i turned on a small fan to keep the air circulating around him and he did great. it's one of those things that you have to do what you think is best for your baby. if you want extra reassurance until baby can roll over you can get an angel care system that goes under your baby and monitors the breathing. so many seconds without a movement will set an alarm to you. not all babies are comfortable on their backs or sides just like not all adults are. good luck!