Did/does your LO tummy sleep?

[penstamon]

I have read all about the correlation between tummy sleeping and SIDS, so I am fully aware that it is highly recommended by professionals to put LOs on their back to sleep. However, my LO (almost 5 mo) is not a good sleeper and lately has not been a good napper- his longest naps are generally 30-40 minutes. So after I put DS down for a nap around 1 1/2 hrs ago, he woke up after the usual 20 minutes and I quieted him on my shoulder until he fell back to sleep. Then I laid him on his tummy and lo and behold he has been sleeping soundly for over an hour!!!!

Our pedi (whom we love) casually mentioned that tummy sleeping works for some kids when we complained about his sleep habits. Our parents think there is nothing wrong since we all survived. DS can roll over both ways and is pretty advanced with his physical milestones. He sometimes sleeps on his tummy on our chests at night- especially when he had teething pain and a stuffy nose. I can't help but be paraniod however and I keep checking his breathing I do at least feel comfortable trying it while I am right here to watch over.

Does anyone else put their LO down to sleep on their tummy? Is this so wrong for me to do if he is actually sleeping?

[woodchick]

DD2 has slept on her tummy since (almost) day one. She absolutely wouldn't/won't sleep on her back. I have checked on her while sleeping probably twice as much as I ever checked on DD1 when she was sleeping (on her back)

I believe that even the most hardened "back to sleep" advocates will say that once LOs can roll over it is fine for them to sleep on their tummies.

[SusanaLaLoca]

My DS is 9 weeks old, and he's been a tummy sleeper pretty much since we brought him home from the hospital. For about a week or 2 we tried putting him down on his back, then his side, and he never slept soundly. On his belly, and he sleeps so peacefully and for longer stretches now. I do check on him all the time, though. Both grandparents say not to worry about it since in their time pediatricians were telling parents TO put them on their tummies to sleep since it helps with digestion, prevents choking on spitup, strengthens muslces or something, and there's a bunch of other good reasons too. The only reason they changed their mind to the back sleeping it seems is because of SIDS. Not that that's not a good reason, but I think you need to do what's best for you and baby... there's more risk factors for SIDS than just tummy sleeping, so I'd look that up - that helped ease my mind too knowing that we didn't have any other risk factors. Plus, we've noticed DS has strong neck muscles and started holding his head up sooner than the average back-sleeping baby.

[evening start]

Our ped said that once they can consistently roll over on their own, it is fine for them to sleep on their tummy. Since DS is a very wiggly boy, we had to take him out of the swaddle when he started rolling for fear that he would get trapped on his tummy without his arms to help turn him over. As part of the swaddle weaning, we started putting him down on his tummy, and that's how he sleeps whenever he is on his own (he sleeps on his side or back when we are co-sleeping).

[moobiegirl]

My ds has been a tummy sleeper from day 1 and dd sleeps on her tummy sometimes. She's usually more comfy on her side or back. It'sa different personalities for each of my lo's.

[MichelleAnnette]

I've got tummy sleepers but I am usually RIGHT THERE or I check often, on the rare occasion that my almost 3 month old actually sleeps when I'm not right there.

[writteninkursive]

DD1 was a total backsleeper (still is).
DD2 was a side/tummy sleeper (still is).
DS is a side/tummy sleeper.

All kids are different, and how they sleep as babies tend to be how they sleep all their life.

An interesting point to note: SIDS "symptoms" if you will are scarily similar to a bad vaccine reaction (sometimes cerebral hemmorhaging or seizure). SIDS went up as vaccines were increased, and then went down as mercury was removed (er... I mean, as back-sleeping was pushed).

I'm of the mind that a SIDS risk has far more correlation to vaccines than to position of sleep.

[penstamon]

I didn't know that about vaccines...interesting!

So I am in shock- that first tummy nap lasted 2 hours yesterday!!!!! And then we put him to bed (on tummy) in his co-sleeper for the 2 hours before we came to bed and he slept soundly the whole time. He usually wakes at least 3 times in that 2 hours. We checked him six times- this we will have to get over.

When we brought him in bed with us we put him on his back again because we were worried about the new positioning- I guess its unfamiliar and we need to get comfortable and make sure all in safe in bed. Well he woke up 4 times last night, so I think we're onto something here!

[azmomtoone]

My DS always slept on his tummy, from day one...he absolutely would not sleep on his back, he'd wake up screaming less than a minute after being put down (that includes in a swing or vibrating bouncy). And on top of tummy sleeping - would only sleep face down. If we turned it to the side he'd wiggle it back down. Made me completely paranoid, it didn't even look like he could breath most of the time....so he spent a LOT of time in a wrap when he was tiny, I refused to have him down sleeping in another room.... maybe I was overly paranoid about it but I just couldn't see leaving him like that and there was no other way he'd sleep....