my daughter wants to sleep on her tummy...what do i do??

Kelly - posted on 07/01/2009

Hello Antonja. My name is Kelly Christman and I have 3 beautiful kids, Tara is 14, Tyler is 12 and Ally is 6. Each one of my kids I let sleep on their bellies. I started out by letting them sleep on their bellies during nap times when i was awake so that I could check on them periodically. They all did fine. Once the child can easily turn their heads, I think it should be alright to put them on their bellies. Honestly, all of mine slept so much better on their bellies and slept longer, they were just more comfortable. I hope this helps.

Kelly

Amanda - posted on 07/01/2009

My little boy always ends up sleeping on his tummy. He is six months old now, but been doing it for a while. He spent the first month of his life in hospital where he always slept on his side or stomach, they weren't concerned. They used to prop a rolled up blanket at the side for support.

Stephanie - posted on 07/01/2009

If your baby has good control of her head, I wouldn't worry. As long as there is nothing in the crib that could muffle her at 7 1/2 months the SIDS factor has gone down dramatically. But then again you need to do what you are comfortable with. My second child only would sleep on his stomach since about 4-5weeks and at first I was scared and watched him closely, but he's always had good head control since the beginning and I never found him with his face down. He finally grew out of it around 4-6 months. Do what you feel is right and are comfortable with, not what other people tell you they think is right. You know your daughter and yourself best.

Good luck-

Steph

Jamie - posted on 07/01/2009

I use a sleep positioner to keep my daughter from rolling over in the crib, only because she can't fall asleep when she is on her stomach. The risk of SIDS greatly reduces once a child can roll at will. I just looked at kidshealth.org and they say that it is fine to let a child sleep in the position they choose once they start rolling http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sle...

Kim - posted on 07/01/2009

if shes rolling i'd let she lay how ever she is comfortable.

Nicole - posted on 07/01/2009

I have a 15 month old son. From the time he was born he preferred to sleep on his stomach. I used to turn him over but he would only sleep for a short period of time on his back. Eventually I used to let him sleep on his stomach but keep a very close watch over him. Finally, at his 6 month appointment my doctor noticed how strong his neck was and said I must be giving him lots of tummy time. I explained that he prefers to sleep on his stomach. My doctor said he could not recommend letting us do that as it went against the "rules". However, he did note that Noah obviously preferred to sleep on his stomach. He did not freak out or tell me that, on no uncertain terms should I let him sleep on his belly. So, I did what I thought was best,which was to let him sleep the way he was most comfortable. Don't forget, it was not so long ago that it was recommended that all babies sleep on their stomachs.



If you are worried, just check in on her a lot. That is what I did.

Dionne - posted on 07/01/2009

we had the same worry with my eldest. she rolled over when she was very young, but the difference with her was that she wouldn't sleep unless she was on her front. she was really bad with colic so i guess it was more comfortable for her. we used to put her down on her back and she would scream and scream until you turned her on to her front then would fall asleep quite happily. and our health visitor told us that there was no way she should be sleeping on her tummy. however i think as every child's different it really is what you as a mum think is best for your daughter. if shes happy on her tummy i would leave her be, because if shes rolling then she can probably lift her head quite easily so if she gets upset she will do that. make sure there's not too much in the cot and she'll be fine. she'll probably find even more weird positions to sleep in as she gets older!!!!!

Tonya - posted on 07/01/2009

I would not worry. If she can roll over on her belly she can lift her head when she needs air. I had the same worries at first when my son started sleeping on his belly, I would go in there and check on him 2-3 times a night... Also, I would suggest not giving her a blanket or anything to sleep with it though.

Melanie - posted on 07/01/2009

My son is 6 months and turns regularly now, he prefers to sleep on his tummy or with his knees underneath him and so i do not stop him. He is strong enough to turn himself and so i do not worry.

Jennifer - posted on 07/01/2009

She's fine to sleep on her tummy. Mine does it all the time. Just make sure she can breathe and theirs nothing that could block air flow like a pillow, blanket etc..

Taryn - posted on 06/30/2009

My son slept on his tummy since day 1. It was obvious to me that he knew he was not breathing and moved his head when his nose was against something. Do a little test to see if she knows if she isn't getting breath while asleep. Cover the nose and see if she moves her head.

If she does, you don't have anything to worry about.

Sarah - posted on 06/30/2009

My doc said the same thing as Nicole's. However, if you are still worried, there are some things on the market to help you. There is a product called Angelcare Movement Monitor that detects the baby's movement and if there is no movement after 20 seconds, it beeps. I could actually SLEEP peacefully after I purchased this product. Also, although I cannot recall the name, there is a product that allows you to Velcro your child on her back. Not sure how I feel about this one because I am not sure if anyone wants to be so restricted while sleeping, but it is available...nothing a little Google search can't clear up. Hope it helps and rest easy to know that 90% of SIDS cases occur in baby under 6 months of age and the bulk of that percentage is low birth-weight boys. Good luck! :-)

Juliet - posted on 06/30/2009

Ahhh, I know how worried you are, I STILL worry and my daughter is 13months! LOL

She HATED sleeping on her back or side so I put her on her tummy when she was round 8 weeks I think, she LOVED it and slept so much better (she would jerk in her sleep and it would scare her and wake her up)....I just made sure she was swaddled well and ther e was nothing around her face like stuffed animals, blankets,crib bumper anything soft..... as she was able to move and push things and lift her head up and stuff I didn't worry as much.....like I said she's 13 months now...so it all worked out!

Good Luck!

Amber - posted on 06/30/2009

My year old always wanted to as well. I just let him.. It dosnt hurt them. just make sure that the blanket she is on is not loose so that it dosnt smother her and dont put any stuffed animals in with her.

Antonja - posted on 06/30/2009

thank you guys i feel better about letting her sleep how she wants to now!! :)

Sharyn - posted on 06/30/2009

My daughter has been sleeping on her tummy since she discovered rolling over at 5 months. she sleeps with her butt up in the air .... i check on her (when i'm up obviously) every half hour to an hour to ensure all is ok and she sleeps all night on her tummy too ..... she is now 7 months.

Shelby - posted on 06/30/2009

My son never liked sleeping on his back. I stopped worrying after he was able to lift his head & shoulders up & of course roll over. I also took everything out of his crib to reduce the chance of him wriggling into anything else he could suffocate in. No bumper pads or toys, just a light blanket. He's 14 months now & still won't sleep on his back!!! =)

Antonja - posted on 06/30/2009

thank you so much!

Nicole - posted on 06/30/2009

Doctors say once babies can roll over the risk of SIDS goes way down and if they roll over in their sleep it's ok. My own doc told me this at my last appointment. My son is about a month younger than your daughter and he sleeps in all kinds of weird positions! He's almost never in the same spot I left him in. She should be fine, she has the strength now to roll over if she needs to. Besides, even if you do go in and put her back on her back she'll probably just roll over on her tummy again!