Sleeping on her belly

[Friendlee]

I know it is recommended to have your baby sleep on their back...however, my baby is particularly strong. She can lift up her entire head and midsection. She then flops back down, but she easily turns her head from side to side and even can shimmy herself across the bed. So I feel like if she's on her belly and she becomes face down, that she would instinctively just move or adjust. The thing is, she is SOOOO SOOOO much more comfortable on her belly and sleeps longer/better. So far we have her sleeping in our bed and I am half awake the whole night checking on her breathing since she's on her stomach. She will nap in her crib but I just keep her on her back when in her crib since I can't watch her and can only listen on the monitor. I'd love to try her on her stomach though.

Is it totally, totally awful to let her sleep on her stomach?

[joyakshi]

I have no idea! Sorry, just wanted to post a reply.
My girl also turns her head to the side and can roll onto her side. I've been sleeping with her in bed in the crook of my arm, with her head on my shoulder. Neither of us moves all night and I know she can breathe.
Maybe try a position she can't easily get out of. I am particularly careful of bed safety, so I'd try something to get her off her belly.
Good luck.

[AuntieLiz]

I don't think there's anything wrong with it; sounds like you're doing everything right to avoid any potential problems. My LO is super strong, too, and I feel safe giving him tummy time. He's a side sleeper, though.

[BlueEyedLady]

Both my kids have had extraordinary head control, both lifting their heads up, holding them that way, and looking around before even leaving the hospital. Sadie is 3 1/2 weeks old and I can carry her on my hip rather than cradling her against me because her head control is now good enough to keep herself from flopping around. Both also could push up with their legs and hold their own body weight early, DS by a few days and DD by a couple of weeks. But, I'm paranoid about bed safety and will only let them sleep on their backs. That's just me, though.

[Kmama2]

ds is the same way. Has good head control. He has been sleeping on his belly since he was about 3 days old. We have a sidecar crib arrangement so he is either right next to me in the crib or in our bed. Ds spits up a ton.... even in his sleep so I am afraid he will choke on his back and he doesn't like side sleeping. We recently inclined the mattress a bit and that seems to help too.

[completebeginnings]

I let my babies sleep on their stomach if they find it more comfortable since they don't have other risk factors for SIDS and I cosleep. Other risk factors include: medicated birth, vaccinated, 2nd hand smoke etc.

[2boyzmama]

We were just talking about this in Sept DDC...lots of us do it Read our thread!

[mysticmomma]

all my babies were tummy sleepers.

[stephanie95]

My DS (14) was born during the sleep-on-the-side movement. DD (nearly 3) was a back-to-sleep baby. Neither one slept per "the rules". My DS slept for hours on his tummy and only moments on his side. About 2 weeks after he was born he started sleeping on his tummy. DD slept best on her side so that's how she slept. As a PP said, if you don't have other risk factors I think it's probably OK. Millions of babies were/are tummy sleepers. The Home-Visit nurse said it's their job to provide information and the parents' job to do what is best for their family with the information received. I am sleep motivated.

If you are nervous, you could get one of those movement monitors. That might give you some extra assurance that all is OK.

[MamaAcorn]

When our ped asked me with ds2 if he slept on his back, and I told her that he much preferred sleeping on his tummy, she responded, "Of course, he does. He's a mammal and that's what's natural!, but on the record, I can't officially take that position."

Most of my babies have preferred their side or tummy to sleep. I'm usually in the same room as they sleep or checking on them every 10 minutes or so regardless of their sleeping position.

[jennyvangy]

Originally Posted by completebeginnings

I let my babies sleep on their stomach if they find it more comfortable since they don't have other risk factors for SIDS and I cosleep. Other risk factors include: medicated birth, vaccinated, 2nd hand smoke etc.

I agree with this position. DS1 slept so much better on his tummy, and DS2 is the same. The only time DS2 doesn't sleep on his tummy is after a night nursing when he just falls back asleep while nursing and neither of us have the energy to "position." I also have my mattresses covered to avoid the off gasses, with their faces smooshed up to it.