Sleeping on stomach and SIDS

[jacie87]

I have seen/read several articles on not putting baby to sleep on their stomach because of SIDS, but is that because sleeping on their stomach is a bad thing, or similar to the co-sleeping arguments that co-sleeping is unsafe, when really it has more to do with formula feeding, mother smoking, etc. Does anyone know if the stomach sleeping correlation to SIDS is also related more to other issues than simply sleeping on their stomach? Are there any studies on stomach sleeping safety if all the "safety rules" for proper co-sleeping are followed?

My DD2 is 4.5 months old and every time I put her to sleep she wakes up and rolls to her stomach within 10 minutes to go back to sleep. If I try putting her on her back again she wakes up, and after I nurse her back to sleep she repeats the cycle of waking up and rolling to her stomach to go back to sleep again. I do not smoke, she is only breastfed, I do not cover her with heavy blankets or anything and she is on a firm mattress. I don't want her to be in danger from sleeping on her stomach but I would like to relax and not feel like I need to turn her over several times a night and when she is napping during the day. She does not roll from stomach to back very well yet, though I have seen her do it a couple times.

I just wonder if the stomach sleeping/SIDS correlation has more to do with other factors (parents smoking/drinking, baby was premature, formula feeding, CIO, blankets, not on a firm surface, etc) than to actually be because of stomach sleeping, similar to co-sleeping being blamed for SIDS when it really has more to do with the above reasons than simply the fact of co-sleeping.

[Annie Mac]

In the last 20 years, "they" have recommended sleeping on the stomach, sleeping on the side, and now they're onto sleeping on the back. SIDS isn't understood, or it would have a different name.

[isign]

Both of mine were tummy sleepers, and still are at 34 and 19 months. I was more worried about them sleeping well, and comfortably. If your little one is turning over and putting herself on her tummy, I'd let her do it. She's telling you what she likes. Have fun, it's just the beginning

[eclipse]

If she's rolling herself over, I don't think it's considered a risk. My youngest slept on his stomach because he wouldn't sleep any other way - I figured the theoretical danger of SIDS was much lower than the actual danger of me hurting him because I was so sleep deprived.

[MommaCrystal]

My 2 1/2 week old just rolled over on to her tummy from her back this morning. Oye! She seemed SO happy that way though. I'm not sure what to do!

[jabeen]

At my LO's last check-up, they said it was ok for him to sleep on his tummy now that he's 3 months, that the risk of SIDS was considerably less. I've read that the highest risk is from 2-4 months though. I think once your babe can roll over, you definitely don't need to worry as much. I'd let her sleep on her tummy!

[thefreckledmama]

You might want to cross post this in family safety, too.

[lalemma]

I think SIDS is correlated with stomach sleeping because babies on their stomachs tend to sleep more deeply and can potentially forget to breathe.

[ians_mommy]

Originally Posted by lalemma

I think SIDS is correlated with stomach sleeping because babies on their stomachs tend to sleep more deeply and can potentially forget to breathe.

This is correct. They have longer, more frequent "deep sleep" cycles during which all babies have brief episodes of apnea. The vast majority of babies do start breathing again, but for some (and the reasons are still not understood) they simply dont start breathing again. Back sleeping leads to fewer "deep sleep" and thus fewer apneic episodes. It is also thought that stomach sleeping allows a greater build-up of carbon dioxide around the babies face...but this is a theory.
The fact is that the SIDS rate did decrease once the push came for babies to be placed on their backs to sleep. However, once a baby can roll from back to front, I wouldnt worry myself sick about repositioning them on their back. It certainly shows a maturation of the neurologic system which would offer me much reassurance. I think even most daycares follow this rule.

Jabeen: you are right, the highest rate of SIDS is in the 2-4 month range.

[Kelly1101]

Originally Posted by ians_mommy

This is correct. They have longer, more frequent "deep sleep" cycles during which all babies have brief episodes of apnea. The vast majority of babies do start breathing again, but for some (and the reasons are still not understood) they simply dont start breathing again. Back sleeping leads to fewer "deep sleep" and thus fewer apneic episodes. It is also thought that stomach sleeping allows a greater build-up of carbon dioxide around the babies face...but this is a theory.
The fact is that the SIDS rate did decrease once the push came for babies to be placed on their backs to sleep. However, once a baby can roll from back to front, I wouldnt worry myself sick about repositioning them on their back. It certainly shows a maturation of the neurologic system which would offer me much reassurance. I think even most daycares follow this rule.

Jabeen: you are right, the highest rate of SIDS is in the 2-4 month range.

This, all of this.

I believe because of the decline in SIDS since the push for back sleeping, that there is something to this. Enough so that I put my young infants to sleep on their back. But once they can roll, I wouldn't worry (because what can you do anyway?). A lot of people say "well they sleep better on their stomach" but my understanding of it is that's the risk in and of itself-- they don't rouse/breathe because they are so deeply asleep (obviously in a very very small percentage).

I've never seen any evidence of co-sleeping being a risk for SIDS, any more than crib-sleeping or sleeping in general is. Unsafe co-sleeping could lead to death (drinking/drugs for example), but I wouldn't call that SIDS.

Not ALL babies should sleep on their back-- I know that if there are problems like reflux side or stomach sleeping is better. But, unless there is a real reason to NOT back sleep, I'd say back sleep.