Stomach sleeping?

[RoundAbout]

I know this has been gone over before here, but I need some reassurance. I think I've been brainwashed by the back to sleep campaign.

My DS is 5.5 months old and I've always put him to bed on his back. However, lately he doesn't like it - he either rolls over immediately onto his tummy and falls asleep or more often just keeps waking up and crying every few minutes.

Is it ok to put him to sleep on his tummy? He rolls over in both directions, has excellent head control, and is almost crawling already (first thing in the morning he is up on all fours or dragging himself all over the place). He crib sleeps until about 2 am and then we co-sleep the rest of the night. He only takes naps on me or sometimes in his swing. I really think putting him down on his tummy will give him the rest we both need, but is it ok?

[aniT]

When I was baby moms were told to only put their babes to sleep on their tummies. Generations of babes were put to sleep on their tummys and lived to tell about it. At 5 months I would think he should be fine. Do what feels right to you. I have read that if the babe rolls over on his tummy on his own he is fine.

[ksera05]

if he can roll, go for it.

[SPOpa]

.

[frenchie]

Once they can roll over on their own, you have no control over it...it's fine. My DD is a month old, and prefers to belly sleep. She doesn't sleep well on her back, at all. I was put to sleep on my belly, my mom was put to sleep on her belly as well. I think SIDS is related to so much more than belly sleeping.

[cuttyhunker]

belly babe

My son slept on his tummy from the day he was born (he could lift his head and turn it from day one). Listen to your mommy instincts. You know your child better than anyone else

[scoobysgirl03]

A good friend of mine has a son who refused to sleep in any position other than his stomach. She never had any problems!

[granolalight]

Originally Posted by cuttyhunker

My son slept on his tummy from the day he was born (he could lift his head and turn it from day one). Listen to your mommy instincts. You know your child better than anyone else

yep, mine too. I never worried about it.

[Khourtniey]

For fear of my babies choking on vomit from reflux I let them sleep on their tummy or sides.. If the baby is going to die from SIDS then its going to die... Back or tummy.. If the baby suffocates then that is not SIDS.. I dont know what one you are worried about, but the back to sleep campaign focuses on SIDs so just thought I would throw that out..

Anyway.. My oldest always slept on his tummy.. Usually on me, but on the rare occasions he was not on me then he was on his tummy.. My youngest also was a tummy sleeper.. until he found his side..

[Trixie Pixie's Mom]

My daughters pede said that if she rolled over onto her tummy herself then it was fine, but to still put her down on her back.

[kochanyk]

Originally Posted by Trixie Pixie's Mom

My daughters pede said that if she rolled over onto her tummy herself then it was fine, but to still put her down on her back.

I was told the same.

[SGVaughn]

I'll third the ped assurance that when they roll on their own then the "back to sleep" campaign goes out the window.
we just discussed this yesterday in fact

[rmzbm]

Tummy sleeping is fine. SIDS is overblown & "back to sleep" has NOT changed a THING. Mine tummy slept from day 1. No worries.

[kiwiva]

We started putting our baby tummy down before she could roll over and it was great. The first couple days I had residual "back to sleep" guilt/fear. But then I got over it as she slept SO much better.

[crystaldawn]

I'm a nurse so I actually give people discharge instructions for babies and say "back to sleep" but my oldest HAD to sleep on his tummy. When he was on his back the longest he slept was like 15 min... And I am not kidding. I thought it was more important for him to have a well rested mommy that was happy LOL. I also agree with the previous poster that sids has more to do with other things than how the baby is positioned for sleep.

Certainly if your baby is rolling on to his tummy I'd let him stay that way!!

[RoundAbout]

Thanks everyone! I had been letting him stay on his tummy when he rolled over for sure.

The last few nights I have put him down on his tummy though and it was great! Usually I nurse him to sleep on my lap and then when I put him down he wakes up, lifts his head up, looks around, and then I just pat his back until he goes back to sleep. This is so much better than putting him on his back and having him cry, pick him up again, etc.

I'm not going to worry about SIDS anymore. He is almost 6 months now and we have none of the risk factors.

[frenchie]

Today I was at the mall with the kids. DD was asleep in her stroller, on her tummy. This lady was walking toward me and looked into the stroller. Her eyes got HUGE and she gave me the dirtiest look. It took me a minute before I realized why she did that.

[mamadelbosque]

We started putting our baby tummy down before she could roll over and it was great. The first couple days I had residual "back to sleep" guilt/fear. But then I got over it as she slept SO much better.

:

DS sleeps SOOO much better on his tummy, its incredible. When I tried to lay him down on his back he ALWAYS woke up, almost immediatly... now he can actually take naps w/o me having to hold him the whole time, its SO nice!! I can actually get things done, even take a shower!!!

[UmmIbrahim]

my son is almost 5 months and is the same way
I dont give it much thought
just make sure no fabric is bunched around him...i figure he;ll move or make a noise if somehting goes over his head...but if they can roll and movea round and stuff they r...i assume going to be okay becos they can get themselves freed OR make ALOT of racket if need be.

DS loves to stomach sleep now with his thumb in his mouth and he sleeps better too!

Umm Ibrahim

Originally Posted by RoundAbout

I know this has been gone over before here, but I need some reassurance. I think I've been brainwashed by the back to sleep campaign.

My DS is 5.5 months old and I've always put him to bed on his back. However, lately he doesn't like it - he either rolls over immediately onto his tummy and falls asleep or more often just keeps waking up and crying every few minutes.

Is it ok to put him to sleep on his tummy? He rolls over in both directions, has excellent head control, and is almost crawling already (first thing in the morning he is up on all fours or dragging himself all over the place). He crib sleeps until about 2 am and then we co-sleep the rest of the night. He only takes naps on me or sometimes in his swing. I really think putting him down on his tummy will give him the rest we both need, but is it ok?