sleeping

[please help]

How many of your babies sleep on their tummies. It seems like the only way to get one of my 8week old twins to sleep. Is it really that bad?




April

[NutMeg]

My twins sleep on their tummies mainly just during naps where I can really keep my eye on them. At night, I prop them up on their sides. They sleep sooooo good on their tummies. Mine also have colic, and my Ped told me that sleeping on their tummies helped with the colic, and if that's the only way to get them to sleep, or get them to be comfortable, then do it. When they are on their tummies, their little arms and legs don't flail around and startle them and wake them up. I am a little nervous about them sleeping on their tummies though.

[sullytwinboys]

April, this is one of those controversial parenting subjects. But, you asked for opinions and here's mine: Don't do it!

You may sleep better, they may sleep better, but, it is truly dangerous. If you look at the SIDS stats, the numbers are staggering. Almost 95% of all SIDS babies were belly sleepers, that's convincing enough for me. I remember reading a post from an ER nurse on this board a few months back, when someone asked a similiar question and she convinced me. She said that when the parents of a SIDS baby come to her ER, the regret that they have for allowing their babies to sleep on their tummies was overwhelming.

You may sleep less, they may sleep less, but they are much less likely to die of SIDS.

When I'm making a tough parenting decision, I ask myself, "Could I live with the consequences? " If I can't then I don't do it.

I know a lot of moms on this board allow their babies to sleep on their tummies, so you may get a lot of support here for it, but please think about what the stats show.

Good luck.

[IsaGab]

My Gabriela has been sleeping on her tummy since she was a month old. She had gas and colic really bad and it was the only way she could sleep. I think the pressure make their tummies feel better. Anyway, just make sure that the sheet is nice and tight, don't use any blankets. We had one of those terry sleepsacks and they were wonderful. That way she had no loose clothing on that could bunch up but she stayed nice and warm.

And as our ped told us - we all slept on our tummies and we survived. As long as you take precautions that nothing can cover her face, she's going to be fine. Of course, I say that but I still to this day check on my girls 2xs a night - I'm paranoid and I still put her on her tummy...whatever helps her helps us ;)

[ihave6boys]

I start with them on their sides until they can lift their heads and then put them on thier tummies. Stats have showed that SIDS decreases after 3 mos of age. As soon as I make the change from side to tummy, they started sleeping 2-3 times longer. I don't leave anything around the crib they can suffocate on, and with all of them, they have been in my bedroom until about 3-4 mos, so I am constantly waking up to check them. I agree with the above post..I slept on my stomach as a baby, and continue to this day to do so. I think putting a baby on their back is much scarier, as they could spit up and then choke on it!!

[Steph]

I never let mine sleep on their stomachs, but I know many people do and it works fine for them.

I've posted this before, but it is worth repeating. A friend of ours daughter had a 3 month old baby boy, he was very healthy. She breastfed him one morning and laid him back down in his crib. She went in to check on him, and he had rolled onto his stomach (for the first time) and was blue. He died at the hospital. I never wanted to increase the chances of SIDS happening to mine, so I kept them on the backs.

Steph

[Mom2BoyGirlTwins]

When my babies came home from the hospital, my dd slept on her tummy because they let her in the nicu and that was the only way she would sleep after that. It scared me, but she would NOT sleep on her back. SHe is one years old now and is doing well, so I dont know what to tell you, but you will just have to do what you think is right.

[2boys2girls]

Not to scare you, but I am going to share my experience with you. I feel very strongly about this subject. This is why.

When I was 12 years old my baby nephew who was 3 days shy of 3 months old died of SIDS on my bed on Thanksgiving day. He had been sleeping on his tummy. I went in to get him from his nap because my sister noticed that he had been asleep longer than usual. When I went in his face was buried into the mattress and he was blue.

A couple of years later was when they started with the "Back to Sleep" campaign, and I have been a very strong supporter of it. When my dd was first born, she had colic, and we were at my in-laws house. She was screaming and wouldn't go to sleep, so my MIL laid her down in the pack-n-play that they had. She did go to sleep. About 10 minutes later I went in to check on her, and she was on her belly. I panicked and flipped her over. She woke up and started to cry. My MIL argued with me and said "I put all of MY kids to sleep on their tummies" I told her point blank, "I would rather have a crying baby than a dead baby." She never put any of my kids on their tummies after that.

[petwir]

I agree with Nicole. The risk is too great and I could not live with myself if something bad happened to one of my kids.



Suzanne

[sullytwinboys]

OMG, I had chills reading your story about your nephew. I just can't imagine!

To the poster who made the comment about all of us sleeping on our tummies and turning out just fine. I just have to comment. It really bothers me when people use this line. My mother and MIL use it all the time and it just bugs me.

The truth is is that babies have died from sleeping on their tummies, they have also died from having their heads stuck in crib slats that are too wide, they have died from using walkers and johnny jump ups and from ingesting baby oil. I lived through all of these parenting choices too, but others didn't, why take a chance? Could you live with yourself if you were wrong? For what a few more hours of sleep or less crying? I personally could not.

I don't mean to be rude, but that comment really bothers me.

[Catherine]

As expressed by many moms the dangers of SIDS highly outweigh any advantages. The statistics are loud & clear. I don't believe anyone can refute them. We all make our choices, I would never want to insult anyone based on their parenting styles. However, with so much research & knowledge out there, people are making more infomed choices. For example, when I was a baby, my parents never used a car seat. Of course, back then that was normal. Now, it is illegal. Times change, we are more educated & informed & as a result we change our ways. To defend a position by stating that my mother did it, or many others did it, in my opinion is inadequate. Please note, no insult intended.
Catherine

[Ferdie]

you can always let them fall asleep on their tummies then turn them over.

[Mom2BoyGirlTwins]

This is obviously a topic that is heading for a debate. I will share what I did only to give you another viewpoint. My ds always slept on his back from day one, but for some reason they put my dd on her tummy in the NICU so when I got her home, she would not sleep on her back. I tried for 1 week to get her to sleep on her back, but she just wouldnt and we all needed sleep. She is now one years old and it didnt bother her. I knew the statistics and I worried all the time and was constantly checking on her, but what was I to do. Now that she is 1 she is out of the woods for SIDS so I can stop worrying about that (and find something else to worry about LOL). So, it is all what is going to work for you or what makes you feel comfy. You may want to try propping the baby on his or her side. So, theres is my two cents. Good luck.