[mayamama]

I just wondered if anyone else out there has found that their dd/ds only sleeps on their tummies. If I lie Maya on her back, she'll sleep for a maximum of 45 minutes. On her tummy, however, she'll sleep for at least an hour, usually more on a really full tummy. My theory is, it's more comfortable! Who wouldn't want to sleep on their tummy, especially recently delivered moms who have waited at least 4 months to do so again (like me), but also because that position takes some of the pressure off of a full tummy, maybe counter pressure or something, I don't know.

Question: Am I really risking my child's life by letting her sleep this way?? I know everyone screams SIDS when you talk about letting your kid sleep on their tummy, but my brother and I both survived, so did all of the kids in my mom's family and my great-grandmother tells me that's how she'd always been taught to let a baby sleep. Comments? Suggestions? Anecdotes?

 

[Sagesgirl]

You will find that a lot of people lay their kids to sleep on their tummies.

There is a reason why putting a baby on its back reduces the risk of SIDS--they don't sleep as deeply as when they're on their tummies. Very young newborns can "forget" how to breathe. It's one of the reasons that co-sleeping helps to prevent SIDS; your breathing helps to regulate your baby's. Theory is, if they're in a less-deep sleep, they'll be less likely to forget to breathe. A baby's ability to turn back-to-front usually coincides, developmentally, with no longer being prone to forgetting to breathe (and I must stress this doesn't happen with all babies, and quite often simply manifests itself as irregular breathing; 99.99999% of the time, it's not a problem), thus the usual counsel that you don't have to worry about it any longer once they're old enough to turn over on their own.

It is a risk, but I think that relatively speaking it is a minor one. SIDS has lessened as a result of the back to sleep program, yes, but it's really only part of a comprehensive sleep program. We know now not to do things like smoke around our babies, or over-dress them, or put fluffy bedding in their cribs, and all this has contributed to SIDS's decline. If you have minimal other risk factors, then tummy sleeping probably isn't much of an issue.

 

[grisaleen]

I can't say it any better than Sagesgirl, but I just wanted to add my two cents. We noticed the sleeping thing right away and have been putting our daughter on her stomach for most naps. And PP is right, when you start talking to people, they'll admit to doing it, too.

 

[Mama Poot]

I need to do more of my own research on this. I met a mom who said she put her baby to sleep on his back all the time- it was the only way he would sleep. True we are bombarded with messages about *not* letting babies sleep on their backs, but we're also told not to sleep with our babies, to give them every shot just as a precaution even though we know that can be dangerous.....so many things we're told to do and not do as parents...I think in most circumstances these things are best left to the parents and the child- not the "experts". I don't have a problem with a baby sleeping on its back if that's the only way he/she can sleep.