Tummy sleeping?

MarieAntoinette - posted on 05/18/2009

Hi,

My son is now 10 months old. He has slept with me since day one, and in all honesty, I have placed him on his belly to sleep since day one. I have chosen organic mattresses for his moses basket and crib. Our bed is not certified organic, but made of natural rubber latex. We also put a wool puddle pad on our bed. I have read that SIDS may be attributed to the flame retardants that they use on mattresses. And, when they get wet from a leaky diaper, it produces this off-gasing that is toxic. Using organic has made me feel more safe about having him sleep on his tummy. I actually feel it is so important for him to sleep on his belly because it tones the front body and allows him to stay curled up more rather than long and extended. Now that he is 10 months, he sleeps comfortably in all positions which he gets into and out of by himself. Also, at night since day one he has also slept on his side alot since he nurses frequently at night.

I hope this helps.

Geralyn - posted on 05/14/2009

What about if you positioned him to sleep on his side? I totally agree with Carissa about the reflexive flailing that they do, and it lasts, if I remember correctly til about 5 or 6 months. Then it improves drastically so that they are not woken up by it. Maybe while your son is sleeping with you, you could get him to sleep on his side. WHen I wasn't lying with him, I'd put a blanket or little pillow next to him on the bed and it'd keep him from rolling over onto his tummy. At night, I co-slept with my son, and breastfed, so that worked really well for us. During the day, he'd nap in a Fisher Price cradle swing (totally helped him sleep)....



I have had friends whose babies tummy sleep. I think (unprofessionally of course) that SIDS is a bigger risk until they have neck and head control to move thier heads to a better position. At least the side sleeping may address some of the concerns with tummy sleeping....



Good luck!

Carissa - posted on 05/13/2009

Hi Betsy,



How old is your son? Mine is 15 weeks and we are starting to sleep him on his tummy when he first goes down at night. I'm trying to wean him from being swaddled, and it is the only way I can keep him from flailing about and/or clawing at his face. I may get a lot of flack here, but I would have slept DS on his tummy from the beginning if my husband hadn't been so freaked out about it. My husband is loosening up because chances of SIDS goes down drastically at 4 months.



There are MANY risk factors that can contribute to SIDS, not just tummy sleeping. Almost all babies used to sleep on their stomachs before the back to sleep campaign was launched, myself included. All Dr.'s will tell you that back is best, but the decision is ultimately up to you. Back may be best, but personally I don't feel that tummy is so terrible!