Babies on their Bellies?
 

Since they have turned six months, my twins have been adamant about sleeping on their bellies. I turn them over before I go to bed, just to watch them turn right back. A few more tries, and I wake them up. I've heard that once babies can hold up their heads, SIDS is really not much of an issue when they are on their bellies at night, yet I still worry myself silly about it. Any tips about keeping them flat on their backs, or should I let the issue go?

from my understanding if they can roll over then its ok. my twins are my 2nd and 3rd so i am not a new mom sort of speak and they have slept on their bellies since they where 2 weeks old. alot of moms disagree but they sleep so much better.

good luck

Mine are starting to sleep on their tummies too and I get a little worried sometimes, but like the previous poster said once they can roll over they are less at risk. I would just keep putting them down on their backs and if they roll over don't stress about it, just leave them. Try not to worry yourself too much and just enjoy the fact that they are sleeping! ;)

Mine have been sleeping on their tummies since around 4 mos...once they learned how to roll over. I've read that it's fine. Just continue to put them in the crib on their backs and if they roll, you can leave them alone.

But, I don't have anything in their cribs just in case.

i read lastnight in the book healthy sleep habit, happy baby that when they get to the point of rolling over on their own, you're supposed to leave them or it could turn into a game to get you in the room. If they can roll over, I'm sure they can safely move their heads to get air! My twins already love it on their belly but I haven't put them to sleep at night yet... just a nap here and there... and they sleep forever! I check on them every few minutes to make sure they are still breathing though!

Mine were napping on their bellies pretty early (those days are a blur, so how early I can't remember) They were sleeping at night on their bellies just before 3 months old though.

This is totally a personal decision - for me, at the time, it was.

I decided it was ok since they were doing all of the following:
turning their head/holding it up while on their belly - NEVER had a breathing issue - had napped very well in this position - were busting out of their swaddles waking up often while on their backs (making them and us miserable) - we never put blankets or toys in their cribs. If you've read 'Happiest Baby on the Block', you'll know that the reason they like the belly better is because it turns off the Moro reflex - that feeling of falling you get when you are lying on your back.

Especially now that they can roll themselves over - I don't worry at all.

//Any tips about keeping them flat on their backs, or should I let the issue go?//
You'll likely get more sleep if you let the issue go:)

Wow, it's good to hear that there are other mothers out there with Belly Sleepers.

zoe923- I, too, have heard that they sleep a lot better on their bellies, and for longer durations. Guess it's just more comfortable for the little guys.

mo7tlc-You're right, I should enjoy the fact that they are sleeping! It wasn't too long ago that I was fretting because they weren't!

Jenna-I also take everything out of the crib, even blankets. I guess I'm just a worry wart.

Breanna&Brayden- I also read the Happy Sleep Habits, Happy Child Book. It's a great book, never quite got it finished though. Guess I missed that part.

Milligrace- Thanks for the information, that's interesting that it turns off the Moro Reflex. I had heard something similiar, that lying on their bellies also makes them feel less exposed.

Thank you, everyone, for being so helpful! You helped this mommy to not worry so much. I've decided to take your advice and let the issue go. Maybe now I will get better sleep :D

My twins have slept on their tummies since they were just a few weeks old. I was desperate for sleep, and they slept longer and more soundly on their bellies.

When my older children were born, we were told never to let babies sleep on their backs, because they were at higher risk for SIDS, and they could choke when they spat up. Give it another 15 years, and the theory might change again!

You have to do what works best for your babies. All of my babies slept best on their tummies.

I raised 4 babies, and all were allowed to sleep in whatever position they would actually fall asleep in. I am not a believer that sleeping on a tummy invites SIDS, nor do I think sleeping on their backs will prevent it. I think SIDS is just a catchall phrase for unexplained death - which new studies have proven there are lots of diseases out there that haven't been diagnosed in our children yet during a SIDS death - so in reality, the undiagnosed disease is the culprit, and not sleeping on the tummy.

To me, the common sense approach is to make sure there are no pillows, blankets, sheets, or toys for the baby to suffocate under. Constant supervision is also a requirement. If your baby dies of suffocation, that is not SIDS, that is just plain old suffocation. Newborns actually do have the innate ability to turn their heads to the side to breathe when on their tummies. So if something is there that shouldn't be (pillow, sheet, blanket, etc.) than that is the parents' fault.

Bottom line...try not to worry about it. You can find doctors on both sides of the fence over this one.