11 Week Old Baby Won't Sleep on Her Back

We let our first sleep elevated. It did very little to help with his spitting up. We let our second sleep with the wedges and that worked very well. Your daughter will spit up less on her left side. Remember pregnancy heartburn? You can both elevate and side sleep, but we found the wedges did the best for that. Also, the second one got great sleep that way. He still has never slept on his back at 18 months. Congratulations! Enjoy that little one.

Alisha,

I know you need some sleep, I have four kids myself, but I would just never put her down on her tummy. No one wants to live with the "what if's" should something unthinkable happen. And as you know, you can't sleep well knowing she is on her tummy anyway. Do you have a carseat/carrier? Get her all ready for bed and put her in the seat, tuck a blanket around her and put the whole thing into the crib. My kids always slept great this way and it helps with the spitting up to. My pediatrician also says this is fine to do.

Here are few things to think about.

-Let her fall asleep that way then once settled (20 min or so) gently turn her over. Have you ever noticed how once babies are in a deep sleep they can be moved? She will begin getting use to sleeping on her back.

-Checking on her constantly is more disruptive to her sleep then you might think it is, so try to retrain her sleeping position so you can stop this habit soon.

-You may consider elevating the head of her crib mattress slightly by propping feet of her crib up on that end. That way she is not laying completely flat on her back, this may help with her spiting up.

-Eventually she may begin rolling herself onto her stomach on her own if you place her on her back to sleep. Once she does this on her own...it is fine to leave her that way. IF you can retrain her to be a back sleeper before that it would be better, but you don't have to force her if she does it on her own.

SOme of my kids were born when you layed them on their tummy's and then the other half was when they were to be layed on their backs. I don't know which way is "right" except I let those who liked their tummy sleep on their tummy, and those who liked their back sleep on their back. And a few really liked the wedge so they can stay on their sides, and to this day that is still how they sleep. I don't really have any advice accept to say do what works for you and your baby and take lots of naps, the dishes and laundry aren't going to attack you if they don't get done. :)

My younger son hated sleeping on his back and I tried those foam wedges which allowed him to sleep on his side. They worked great!

A.,

my oldest wouldn't sleep on his back either. I was totally stressed out because of what I had heard about SIDS. We found a side sleeper - 2 triangle pillows that help babies sleep on their sides. It was a great help. We used it for our youngest because he was always spitting up and I was scared he was going to choke. Both boys used it for what seemed like forever (until after they could roll). I think I got it at target or possible Babies R Us.

Hope it helps!
L.

My husband put our 2 year old on her tummy at 6 weeks one night just to see if she slept better. She did, and ever since then we put her on her tummy. I know they say to put them on their back, but as my husband says this changes. Before they swore up and down it had to be the tummy. Anyone from that time will probably be afraid to put them on their back because they'll be afraid they will choke. I say do whatever works. We have our 4 month old on his back, because that is what he prefers, to be swaddled and on his back. My little girl hated being swaddled and loved her tummy. Just think. Most of us were put on our tummy's and are still alive. But yea, I hope this helps.

my friend got a device from i belive babies r us that you put under the crib sheet and it can tell if they stop breating and it lets out a really loud alarm if they do, or if you forget to turn it off when you pick up your baby

Hi Alisha,
I am a stay at home mom of three, my children are 10,5 and 31/2. I never put my kids to bed on their belly, I was always afraid they would throw up and suffocate in it, and on their backs I was afraid they woudl choke. What I did and it worked great was put them to sleep on their side. I would roll up a receiving blanket or one a little thicker as they got bigger and tuck one next to them in the front and one in the back of them so they couldn't roll over. They slept well. They liked the feeling of having something all snug next to them. Make sure when you roll the blanket you are not putting it by where their face would be, I would roll it and place it snug next to them from about armpit down, this way if they do roll over or on to their back the blanket isn't near their face. You can also buy a wedge sleeper, I think the blankets work just as well. Just make sure it is rolled tight so it doesn't come unrolled. Once the baby starts rolling over and moving a lot you won't have much control over how the baby sleeps. Just like us, your daughter will find a position that is comfortable and that is how she will want to sleep. I hope this will help.

I want to know if anyone who is commenting has actually lost a baby to sids. Their responses might be different. I know some people are saying its ok to put your baby to sleep on her tummy. ITS NOT. Please research this and talk to your dr. Babies will not choke; if your baby spits up on her back, she will turn her head. Watch her when she is awake, and she will do this. She will do it asleep too, as it is a reflex.

One commenter said that most of us slept on our bellys and are still alive. Also that times change and so do opinions. Keep in mind that since they started the "back to sleep" campaign, less than 3500 babies die each year. It used to be OVER 6000 babies a year would die. So the only thing that is changing about that is less babies are dying. If your baby flips herself over in the middle of the night, that's ok, because that means she has the ability to wake herself up and move if she can't breathe. But I would go with the commenter who recommended changing mulitple things. If babies know that things are like "this" then they will adapt. You might have a couple of rough days, but after that it will be better. Isn't it better to have 2 or 3 rough nights than a lifetime of sorrow or regret?

Do your research!! You can look at the AAP's website, or "First Candle, SIDS alliance" or google SIDS. Talk to your dr also.

I'm sorry to get on my soapbox, but I feel VERY strongly about this. Put your baby on her back!!

Good luck!

If your daughter has good head control and is strong enough to lift her head and move it, don't worry too much. My son slept on his tummy since he was about 4 months as he kept rolling over to his tummy, even with a positioner...not much I could do about it. Our pediatrician said that on their back is best but what can you do if they keep rolling over? Have you been using a sleep positioner? They are less than $10 and may solve your problem. If not, don't lose too much sleep, she'll probably be okay.

My doctor told me that if a baby rolls over themselves to sleep on their stomach, it is probably safe for them. I would ask your doctor what he/she thinks. Another thing that helped me was a baby monitor by Bebe Sounds that has a sensor underneath your babies mattress that can sense their breathing patterns and will sound an alarm if no motion has been detected for 15 seconds. This monitor gave us many stress-free nights! You can find it at Target...a little spendy, but worth a good night's sleep. Good luck!

-B. C.

There is nothing wrong with them sleeping on their tummy. If she is most comfortable like that let here sleep too. My mother told me to elevate the bed itself. Most cribs have levelers. Just raise the top of her bed higher than the bottom of the mattress and that will keep her air passages open for when she is asleep and you won't have to worry. I had twins my 1st baby and I elevated all of my childrens mattresses and never had any trouble. She will roll when she is ready. You can also try putting a pillow or blanket on either side to make her feel more secure when she is on her back and maybe she'll sleep longer. I'd still eleveate the mattress. Kay

You might try putting her in a cradle swing. Fisher price makes them. They aren't completely on their back, but you can secure your little one in them. That's what I used for my two boys and they loved it! When they are completely flat on their backs, I think sometimes their little tummies hurt if they have bubbles. This might be something to invest in, or at least look into further.

I also have a beautiful baby girl the same age as yours. She too sleeps on her tummy. I do not see a problem with the baby sleeping on her tummy, it is soothing to them at that size.
I have read all the SIDS info and I know the risk but when your baby wont sleep on her back (like mine wont) then the sleep in general becomes more important than the position she is in. My daughter is exactly the same way and remember that SIDS is not really explainable they can only guess what the causes are and lots of research has yet to prove one way or another on sleep position. Don't worry about her if there is something wrong she'll let you know and since she is sleeping so well for you just let it be!

Hi Alisha - being a mom is hard ain't it?? We get so much advice that changes year to year - and that's from people who consider themselves authorities on the subject! Like a previous post said, there are only things we can do to minimize SIDS. My youngest hated sleeping on his back, so we put him on his side. As soon as he learned to roll over, he would consistently sleep on his tummy.

At first people said don't put them on their back because they could choke if they spit up, then it was on their side, and now the advice is on their backs. Statistics show kids who sleep with pacifiers have lower sids rates - I think overall because they sleep less soundly.

I guess all I would recommend is that if she does sleep on her tummy, put her in the crib with only a sheet on the mattress - nothing fluffy like a quilt or a comforter and dress her in warm jammies so she doesn't need a blanket.

You might also put a monitor in her room so that you can hear her slightest peep at night without having to get out of bed.

blessings on you and your family

They all sleep better on their tummies. That's why back is better for SIDS prevention; they don't get as deep. You might try sleeping her on her side for a little while to get her used to the different position. It is not quite as safe as the back but much safer than the tummy. As far as the spitting and choking while on her back, most neurologically intact babies can manage their secretions and spit ups by her age. If you are worried, elevate the head of her crib or sleep her in her car seat so her head is up. Then there will be less chance of choking.

Try swaddling to keep her asleep. I think a lot of times they don't stay asleep on their backs because it's too easy to move arms and legs and they jolt themselves awake. Another option is to use the infant car seat on the floor. her head will stay elevated and the car seat cradles her so that she can't jolt herself awake.

I think that your baby should be fine sleeping on her tummy. My son was the same way. He is now 11 months. My mother in law is an RN and I asked her about it. She said the only thing to worry about is if the baby can't lift his/her head up or move there head from side to side. It is just because infants will lay on their face and not be able to move thier head to the side. When they start rolling over you can't control the way they sleep anyway. But, If your baby has had no problems I wouldn't worry about it. Hope the advice helps and you can get some sleep. Good luck!

You are obsessed with this. Let her sleep on her tummy. I am an extremely well-informed mom, and immediately figured out that all that SIDS hype was not important compared to, let's say, car seats. All three of my children slept on their tummies. Just keep toys and pillows out of the bed.

The SIDS risk mostly applies to smoking families, filthy households, and cribs with a bunch of toys piled up. Talk to a friend who's a cop, and ask them about the state of filth they've found in SIDS households. They'll tell you that sometimes these deaths are chalked up to SIDS, but it's really suffocation, which is entirely different.

This is not an important child-rearing issue, and unfortunately, if the child has a predisposition to SIDS, there's barely anything you can do about it.

Let the child sleep! I'm guessing the risk of her dying by choking on puke is much, much, much higher than the statistical risk of SIDS.

Don't feel bad it's not your fault your child is uncomfortable on her back. I never let my daughter sleep on her tummy & she was the same way. I did 2 things to remedy the situation. #1 is for naps #2 is for at night
1. A swing is Mommy's best friend! My Mom showed me this trick and she's just now starting to out grow it (she's 6 mo). Get a non-wind up type swing and put the chair in the lowest position. This should still have a good incline on the back similar to a recliner for grown ups. When you put your baby down for naps keep a receiving blanket near by. As she falls asleep put the blanket behind her to warm it to body temp. Then when she has been for sure asleep for 5 min. gently make your way to the swing. (I found singing was a help too) Put your baby in the swing w/ receiving blanket behind so swing is now the same temp as Mommy's arms. As you transfer her she will wake a bit, keep singing! Smile if she looks at you to convey safety, and start the swing. You can keep your hand on her until she nods off completely again so she feels you there. The motion of the swing should keep her asleep if she stirs a bit & the slight incline should keep her from choking on any reflux. Make sure you STRAP YOUR BABY IN! This is important for safety especially as she starts being more mobile. Also Do not cover baby's head with the blanket in any way no swaddling, If she gets cold put a hat on her before she goes to sleep and a blanket across her legs only, or simply turn up the heat. This is a nap time only solution but it gets me 2-3 naps a day at 1-2.5 hours :)
Also I only use the swing for naps & relaxation no play or excitement to further promote a soothing environment.
2. Baby can sleep on her left side. A sleep positioner will do the trick for this, or if you are poor an old pair of nylons or a tube sock filled w/ rice. This will help keep the reflux to a minimum and not compromise the Back to sleep anti SIDS campaign. This is great for night time & if you use the rice trick you can heat it in the microwave to warm the crib in advance. (beware too much heat)

Finally, if you are not sleeping you can move the baby's bed into your room, and/or get an angle care monitor. You need sleep to be a good mommy it's important you get it, even if you nap on the floor next to the swing :) I was very SIDS and general safety paranoid as I too am a first time Mom. I sleep w/ my baby because I am so nervous about being appart from her. A co-sleeper can be a great help to get you some shut eye & not compromise your bed or baby's safety.
Good luck and hopefully you will sleep soon.
K-

When my boys were young, we had to get them some sleep positioners to avoid them getting flat heads in the back. (They would always sleep in the same position - on their back, head turned to the left). They were around $10 at Target or Walmart and help a lot with their position up until they can roll over by themselves well. Once they roll, they end up sleeping however they want to, and there's really nothing you can do for it. Good luck.

A.,

I have two little girls...almost three and 18 months. I put both my kids on the tummies to sleep at night from the time I brought them home from the hospital. Both of them had great head control as well. IF you are really worried - you can always place your baby on her side with blanket rolled up in front of and behind her to support. We tried this as well. I was uneasy at first too, but I realized that the "suggestions and reccomendations" for SIDS change every now and then. You have to remember to do what you feel most comfortable with. For us - it was nice to get 7-9 hours straight until they started sleeping 12 hours at 3 1/2 months - on their tummies!!

All I can suggest is not to change only one thing. Don't just try rolling her to her back. I would try as many things different as I could:
face her a different direction. Move/change her mobile. Use a new fragrance in the room. Move the crib to change the kind of light it gets. Move/change the toys/animals/bumper on the crib.

I'd be willing to bet that if you changed as many things at once that you could she would be more accepting of the one change you are trying to instill. Babies thrive on habit and routine. When things were "that" way she could sleep on her tummy. When things are "this" way, she must sleep on her back.

Good luck...

If you baby is sleeping ok on her belly then let sleeping baby sleep. My daughter was teh same way and if you child is doing fine on their belly let them and get some sleep yourself!

S.

I have 2 healthy girls who were stomach babies, I forced their pediatrian to tell me it was alright & we all slept much better! Good luck!

Have you tried letting her sleep on her side, as a comprimise. She may do better that way. Or put her down in her car seat. That way she is up if she throws up, and it is a little more cozy, like sleeping on her tummy.

does your daughter have reflux (spits up alot)? Reflux babies tend to do better on their tummies. If so, maybe the doctor could prescribe an acid blocker so your baby won't get heartburn while she lays on her back. This may help her feel more comfertable on her back.

Though, if your daughter has enough head control, you shouldn't have to worry about having her sleep on her tummy. I would just make sure that she sleeps on a harder matress and to get any loose things away, like toys, excess blankets, or even pillows so she will not suffocate. Also, if she sleeps in a crib try to place her in the center of the crib and not against the side bars to also keep her from suffocating. good luck!

Just another quick note. I understand and appreciate the fear of SIDS. My daughter was a preemie and had many apnea spells in the ICU. I was terrified to take her home!! She did not sleep well in any position, so I had her sleeping on her tummy on my chest for the first couple of months.
Babies do NEED to be on their tummies - whether at night or during the day when you can watch closely. It is really, truly important for their physical development so they can learn to roll over, lift up their head and shoulders,crawl, etc. We found that out the hard way. Though I suspect that most full term babies are strong enough to find their way to these milestones one way or another. In our case, we had to go through lots of therapy to help our kiddo.

I am also a military wife and understand all to well about needing as much rest as you can get, especially when you've just had a new baby. I would recommend that you let her sleep on her tummy, but make sure that there's not much extra in her crib. Try getting her one of those quilted footie night outfits so that you don't have to worry about having a blanket in her crib that she can get tangled in, and make sure her decorative bumper is secured tightly. Also, if she's sleeping on her tummy, then she won't need a pillow, though really babies don't need pillows at all no matter what position they sleep in.

Have you tried putting her on her side to sleep? Both of my kids preferred sleeping tummy down on our chests, but when they were in their cribs they did great on their sides. You can get little bumpers that prevent her from rolling over rather cheaply at either Wal-Mart or Target, and it adds peace of mind....the baby is neither on her back where she can choke on her own spit-up, and she's not on her tummy (although it's easier for her to move her head on her tummy than if she's on her back.

Best of Luck!!!

I can understand your worry about SIDS, and yet you had also had the very experience I worried about with the choking on spit-up while on the back, it doesn't make sense to me to have a baby on their back. Have you tried her on her side? Could you wedge a tightly rolled up towel by her front? Main thing is to not use blankets or pillows, but use blanket-sleepers, blanket material used to zip them up in a bag with sleeves. Good luck

hi! my 10 week old baby is the same way...she will not sleep soundly unless she is on her belly and i have just come to terms with it! she sleeps better, and thus so do I. she has great head control and is able to lift her head and turn it from side to side. just use your common sense , and make sure there is no clutter in the crib. don't fret it...once your baby is able to roll on her own (in a month or so) she will be on her belly anyway. its not worth the struggle to force her on her back unil then.

I didn't read through the other responses, so someone may have already suggested this, but there is a type of monitor that you put under the sheet that sets off an alarm if the baby stops breathing. This may help you relax and sleep better. Also, if she is starting to roll over already, you don't have much control over how she sleeps anymore...she will naturally go to the position that she finds most comfortable (her tummy).

I think the lying on tummy thing is hype. Kids have lain on their tummies forever. I think SIDS has a lot to do with vacccinations. When Japan postponed vaccinating until kids were two, their SIDS rates dropped dramatically like 80 or 90 percent. So if you are vaccinating, for a cuople days after, you might want to watch her more closely or sleep her on her back. The thought is that the vaccination causes a little convulsion or something, and their face turns on the mattress and so they smother. And just think, you won't have a baby with a flat head.
L.

I was adamant about my first child sleeping on his back, but this go around, well this one is stubborn too. We're at 8 months now and he's never had a problem. My neice has 4 kids who all slept on their tummy's, they were very colicey (sp?) and that was the only way they'd sleep thru the nite. My Mom and sisters who are much older said we were all raised that way and we're fine.. I know it's not best but sometimes I think you just have to go with the flow. Maybe you can get a video monitor, that's what I did. Atleast I don't have to completely wake my body up to check on him and I hear everything like he's sleeping next to me. Course the bright light took some getting use to, but it was worth it. Good luck!

At 5 weeks I turned my first son onto his tummy and he finally slept for longer periods without startling himself awake. I was scared to with him because of all that I'd heard, but asked an older mom from church who had a child die from SIDS. She said her son was 5 months, could roll over and was on his back when they found him. Sleeping on his back would not have prevented his unexplained death. All 3 of my boys slept on their tummies and we all got much needed rest! I always tried to dress them warmly and use thin blankets tucked under their armpits. The sleep sacks are nice, too. Hope this helps!

I think you are fine. A lot of my friends babies would only sleep on their tummies. Just make sure the mattress is firm and there are no covers around her head. We did all sleep on our tummies when we were babies and we were fine. My baby only sleeps on his back and now his head is flat and he needs to wear a helmut. It's all relative. Your baby sounds like an amazing sleeper. Just relax and check on her periodically. I think you sound lucky!

Hi,

I am a mother of 4. I was so tired of the technical advice limiting my abilities as a mom. One year they told us to put our babies on their tummies. Another time they said only on their backs. Do what works best for your baby! Babies know what is good for their bodies. Some of our kids slept on their tummies and some slept on their backs. The important thing is they slept and I did too! If researchers could really pinpoint the cause of SIDS, there wouldn't be such back and forth debates. Trust in yourself and your baby. Things will work out for the best.

Best wishes,
H.

Hi! I am a mother of 7 all of them hating to sleep on their backs until they were ready (anywhere between 4-6 months;side note they are all healthy teenagers & have a high IQ) lol. My husband and I came up with the technique of rolling up a baby blanket or towel lengthwise and placing it behind the baby's back when we would lay them down. We placed the towel down first and then laid the baby snuggly against it first on the right side and the next time on the left (or left then right, whatever worked). This was comfortable for the baby and the laws of gravity helped the baby not to choke on spit-up as well as allowing the head to form evenly instead of always being in one position. When the baby was rolling away from the support for about a week, and we saw her sleeping on her back,tummy, side, we knew she didn't need it anymore and removed it.
When the baby had any congestion, we would elevate the head of her crib mattress at a slight incline so as to open her airways and make breathing a little easier for her as well as laying her on her side with the rolled up towel, (until she was old enough to throw the support over the railing)lol, but we still elevated her mattress until the congestion was over.
I hope this helps. Babies know what is comfortable for them but these two precautions helped us a parents to feel more secure about our children's safety and well being.
Enjoy your Precious One and don't worry about her sleeping on her back. Soon she will be rolling all over her bed!
Mama K

I am the proud mom of 4 great kids and all of them slept on their tummies. I know we hear all of the scary stuff about SIDS and I believe that it is definitely a danger, but I did not want my kids having flat heads and I needed my sleep too! I think there is a risk either way. If you have them on their backs and they spit up, they're going to choke on it, so I decided for me it was better to let them get their rest than force them to lay on their backs and not sleep very well. If the tummy scares you too much try propping her up on her side with a rolled up blanket against her back. That way you can switch sides so you don't have the flat head problem and she won't choke on her spit up. I think that as a mom you have great intuition, so do what you feel is best. Hopefully I could help you a little! Good luck!
-D. O.

I would recommend swaddling for your daughter. She may make up because she moves her arms and legs and the jerking wakes her. If she is swaddled she will not be able to wake. You could also try letting her sleep on her side. I am not sure what the experts say about this way of sleeping any more. When I had my daughter, I started her sleeping on her side, I had something on her back and front to keep her from rolling. Just make sure you alternate sides so she won't develp a flat spot on her head. After a few weeks on her side, I learned my daughter slept better on her tummy. She was colicy and rarely napped for more than 30 minutes. I was stressed and tired, I gave in and let her sleep on her tummy. Like you I loved the long stretches. I am not saying that is what you should do, I am just telling you "it worked for me". Good luck, it's not easy being a new mom!

Alisha,

Many babies need something touching their bellies to help soothe them. What better way than to lay them on their bellies...unfortunately, it's not safe to let them sleep like that. Try propping her on her side with a stuffed animal or rolled blanket up against her. You may also try swaddling her before putting her to bed on her back...this way her entire body is being "hugged", including her tummy. She might sleep better that way, rather than on her tummy. Just a thought. I found with my nieces that rolling them on their tummy (even in your arms) stimulates a soothe reflex in them. Good Luck!

The swing is a good way to get here used to sleeping on her back again..

I had the same problem with my first child. And for a long time I allowed her childcare provider let her sleep on her tummy and I also held my #2 child on my chest. Until, for the first, the Dr. told me absolutely not. And the second the Dr. told me of a patient of hers that died on the chest of her mother. I stopped that quickly too. I think we parents are too quick to get much needed sleep. Get someone to help so you can take a nap or nap when she does. Getting back on her back may save her life. I would hate for me or anyone I know not do it and find out the hard way that we should have kept the child on their backs.

I have a 6 1/2 month old baby boy. For the first three months he would only sleep in his link a doos chair. It propped him up made him feel supported. I slept with it next to my bed. The other benefit was that if he stirred but I knew he wasn't hungry I could just reach down and gently bounnce him back to sleep. Now he sleeps in his crib, but he still likes to be propped up so I have a wedge pillow for him.

You know what. The same thing happened to me. My baby would NOT sleep on his back. He had great head control too... SO.. I let him sleep on his belly. He is 11 months old and still sleeps on his belly. I just made sure that he had plenty of ventilation - no bumpers, and if necessary, netting on the sides of his bed. OR, you can try sleeping your baby more upright... like in a bouncy chair or in a swing while so little. I've heard that is not a big deal either and it doesn't stay that way forever- the won't always have to sleep in a swing. I was really worried about SIDS, but then I just figured that if it was going to happen, it might just happen no matter what. I know that they have said that it increases the risk, but my mother is just the same... she slept all of her 6 kids on their tummies and we were all just fine. When you get to the point of sleep deprivation, sometimes you just go against the books. But I was nervous and always checking on him. But we turned out okay. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Dear A.,
It can be difficult to decide what is best for your baby. The information I received when I was first was having my babies was it was OK to lay them on their tummies. When they were newborns I would wedge them on their side- then later would have them sleep on their tummies. All nine of my children have slept on their tummies with their bottoms in the air- (they were so cute). I kept a close eye on them and kept the bedding to a minimum i.e. sheets were tight on the mattress and couldn't get bunched up in their face and no extra blankets to get pulled over their heads etc.

I would recommend that you consult with your Pediatrician and the local Health Dept. to see what the current suggestions are. You can also look on the web for the most recent post from the Pediatric Assoc. I was under the impression that "Back to sleep" was a good campaign, but there was other evidence that may show that after a certain time, it was "OK" to have them on their tummies.

If you decided to lay her on her back, bundle her and see if that makes a difference.

God Bless,
H. B.

How about putting her on her side. I roll up a blanket and use it support her back so that she can sleep on her side and it works great. I just rotate sides each night so their head doesn't get flat on one side! This will work for at least a couple of months until they just move on their own anyway!

The person that wrote about SIDS and said that babies won't "choke" is ill-informed. Anyone can aspirate vomit and if there is another factor of which you are unaware, e.g. exceptionally deep sleep due to illness or other factor, that increases the risk. However, if you have a baby monitor or the baby sleeps in your room and you awaken easily, as most mothers, and some fathers, do, it's not as much of a concern. Using props to slightly elevate the baby's trunk, or to tip it up on its side a little, will also help.

And don't just "hope for the best" as some people have suggested. That's just nieve! As always, your pediatrician, if you have a good one, is also a wealth of information on these subjects.

Try swaddling with an oversize receiving blanket and laying her on her side with triangle props. The reason that she loves being on her tummy is because it makes her tummy feel full. You could also try to feed her a little more and make sure she is fuller when you put her down to sleep. Oh by the way whenever grandma comes to visit expect the visit to be wonderful, but the following two weeks (after the constant holding and tending to her every need) to be awful as baby comes down off the spoiling. It happens to all of them!

SIDS is not caused by suffocating or anything like that. Look up the recent studies that say that SIDS is caused by a lack of seritonin (a hormone in the brain) in the baby's brain (a brain defect not caused by anything outside the child). It gave me tonz of relief that I finally know that I can't cause SIDS. Let that baby sleep on her tummy!!! Yay!!!

Check out the website www.askdrsears.com and search for SIDS. There are several really helpful and informative articles there -- including one Q/A specifically on stomach sleeping and SIDS. Sears wrote a very informative book on SIDS you might want to read. Dr. Jay Gordon (www.drjaygordon.com) also is a great reference sits.... Good luck!

Hello A., I recommend sleeping with your baby next to you in a child-proofed bed set up or co-sleeper, or at least having her in the room with you. (For more information on setting this up you can read "The No Cry Sleep Solution," by Elizabeth Pantley, anything by Dr. Sears, or about Attachment Parenting practices. Co-sleeping is the norm around the globe.) This way you can experiment with how you want your baby to sleep and you can sleep while staying in tune to her needs.

Trust yourself. ~T.

Let her sleep on her stomach then. If you are losing sleep and nothing else seems to help, maybe get a baby monitor that has a camera and you can watch what your baby is doing. So then you can just look at the monitor and listen for her breathing from your bed instead of having to get up and go checking on her all the time. Trust you instincts. Your baby will let you know what is best sometimes.

I wouldn't worry about letting the baby sleep on her tummy. When we had our first son the rules were to have them sleep on their side and we either used one of those wedge things or had him propped up against rolled up blankets. When we had our 2nd child the rule became sleeping on the back. He HATED it. He had a very sensitive tummy and would urp a lot so I was hesitant to let him sleep face down but as you know you are so tired you will try anything. First time we tried he slept better and he was just a happier baby. Same thing with our 3rd he was not a back sleeper and preferred his tummy. I think you just have to do what you feel comfortable with and if the baby sleeps better then everyone is happier. Good luck and try to get as much rest for yourself.

My baby had the same problem - would never sleep on back- only slept well on tummy. I think that once they are able to roll over, you can't really control it anyway. Let the baby sleep and you sleep. and pray everything will be fine and I'm sure it will be.

Hi A.!
I have a fifteen month old, which is my first child, so I've naturally been a little paranoid about all the new mom stuff, especially SIDS. But at the same time, once he reached about 8 weeks, I could see that his head was flattening a little from being on his back all the time. I found a GREAT product at Babies R Us that I still use today (since they say SIDS is a risk until 2 yrs): it's called the Angel Care movement sensor baby monitor (runs about $75-$99). It's a sound monitor, but it also has a sensor pad that you put under the crib or bassinet mattress that detects motion. If there is no motion for 20 seconds (no breathing)an alarm sounds. You can adjust the sensitivity, which may take a little trial and error, but we only had a few false alarms when he started moving around more and would scoot up to one side of his crib away from the sensor. This product is one of the best I've ever found. It's always great when they start sleeping through the night, but even better when Mom can, too! And i noticed that my son slept much more soundly on his tummy. Best of luck and blessings to your and your family--and THANK YOU to your husband for serving in the military and defending our freedom!

That's how my kids are, so they sleep on their stomach. Go through all of it with your doctor if you're really concerned, but you know your child best (which our pediatrician totally respects, which I love!!)
Besides, once they start rolling you have no control over how they sleep-- if they want to be on their stomachs that's where they'll end up!

My son at 8 weeks wiggled out of his back sleeper positioner thing and was on his tummy. I freaked! The Dr just giggled and said, if he is strong enough to get on his tummy then he is strong enough not to suffocate himself. He told me you cannot force a child on his or her back and it is a comfort zone and their strength. Make sure there is no other bedding, bumpers or animals or anything in her crib, a nice firm sheet on a nice firm mattress and she should be fine. I didn't even put a blanket on my son when he was on his tummy, just layered his clothing at night to keep him warm. Don't worry, it is normal and she is just an early bloomer. She will be walking before you know it! :)

Wow! You have gotten a lot of advice! I would agree with the majority in saying that sometimes that is just the position a baby prefers! I had one that cried and cried on her back or side, but my mom suggested trying her tummy and she went right to sleep! It was like a miracle for me! It's funny to think about how just a generation or so ago it was "wrong" to lay a baby on his or her back! Something else I heard (and this may just be a vicious rumor), but the "Back to Sleep" campaign was given a ton of money by a parent whose child died from SIDS, and a ton of marketing has been produced as a result. The large amount of exposure makes parents think this is a widespread epidemic, but it's really very rare and like others have said - there are usually some other factors. My biggest suggestion is not to stress! You definitely need rest!

My daughter would only sleep on her tummy, it caused me such worry. I spent the first month of her life sleping on the couch with her on my chest, because thats the only way i could sleep with her on her tumy. But i found an AWESOME baby monotor at really helped me sleep! Its a movement monotor that a sensor goes under the matress and will sound an alarm if the baby stops breathing. I think its called an Angel Care movement monotor. There was alot of studies which showed that yes sleeping on their back reduces SIDS, but it also slowsdevelopment in oher areas, because the baby gets less tummy time. Hope this helps!

My oldest slept in her carseat for the first several months for the same reason. It worked wonderfully well and gave us some much-needed rest. Then we gradually moved her to sleeping on her side, propped up with a blanket behind her. Finally we slipped her to her back from the side position and introduced her to the joy and comfort of sleeping on her back.

Hi A.,

I don't think it's a problem to let babies sleep on their tummy if they are sleeping on a hard surface. I think the problem is when the surface is cushy and they can't lift their head out enough to breathe or if the material is fuzzy and they breathe it in. If your little girl has a strong neck, she should be fine. I have 5 children and they all slept on their tummy, or their side.

One thing I did was to use one of those orthopedic pillows and put the baby on their side in that so they were cuddled in there and stayed on their side. I don't know if I am explaining it clearly, but it worked for me.

Hi, I am a pediatric chiropractor, SIDS is most likely caused from trauma to the base of the skull at birth. Sleeping on their tummy with their head in extreme rotation puts stress on this trauma area. If your baby has been sleeping like this for weeks she is probably ou tof the woods. Also you can get cervical pillows that have an indentation in the middle. Babies fit very well in these pillows, you can take the her and fit her to a pillow before you buy it. With these pillows you can put her to sleep on her side with her belly resting on the raised edge. She has pressure on her belly without the risk.

I have a 4 year old and a 9 month old baby, both of which slept on their tummy and they are both fine. They both started sleeping through the night earlier than other babies I knew, which was so nice for me. I could handle things better because I was more rested as well. I really don't see a problem with it. If your baby is starting to roll, she will move to where she wants to be anyways, no matter what you do. Having a tight fitting sheet and not a lot of other things in the crib with her can help with your worries of sids, but I think she will be fine. I would enjoy the sleep you get. It is hard not to worry about your baby, especially the first one, i think.

If an infant is going to die of SIDs you will not know it and you will be helpless to stop it-medically proven info. So stop worrying about whether your precious baby is on her back, side or tummy to sleep. Let her sleep the way it works for her. Enjoy each moment you have with her and trust God's path for her. By the way I have two healthy teenage girls that both slept on their tummies and one of them was a puker. She never choke or inhaled any vomit. Humans do have some instinctive skills left if we allow them to exercise them. There are a lot of things in life to be concerned about, but if we take everything too seriously we will never enjoy the beauty of the simple moments with our children. Enjoy your baby girl and let her grow up without others dictating what you should or should not be doing for her - trust yourself - your well-being will be her best resource.
:-)

A.,
I think your baby is probably ok. Have tried putting her on her side? My daughter was a sidelyer no matter how much we put her on her back, she always rolled to her side and slept that way (starting from birth). Our Pediatrician told us that if that's how she sleeps then let her sleep that way. The main thing is that you try her on her back first and then if that doesn't work, go ahead and put her on her tummy. If you're still concerned, talk to your pediatrician for suggestions.
Good Luck!
S.S.

Hello, I am a mother of two boys. Both who slept on there tummy's from the day they arrived home. My only advice is let your baby sleep how she wants especially if you are getting sleep too!!!

My 2nd advice is...A very loose bumper (which allows breathing between mattress and bumper), a single sheet over the mattress, and that should be the only thing in bed with her for a while...

Your sleep is so important, if you are getting sleep do what makes her comfortable..

Good Luck!!

Hello A.,

You might want to consider buying the Angelcare Deluxe Movement Monitor. This monitor will detect if there is no movement for more than 20 seconds and an alarm will sound. It costs about $130.00, and there are also some different brands out there. I hope you get some sleep soon.

A.

That is actually the natural way for babies to sleep. When my mom was having babies they hadn't even heard of putting babies to sleep on their backs. The 'back to sleep' campaign claims they reduced sids by 30% but I'm not sure I believe it. They don't even know what causes sids in the first place. If it worries you that much prop yourself on a pillow and have your baby sleep on your chest while you sleep. Then you will know if your baby isn't breathing.

My son slept on is tummy until he was old enough to turn over. All my friends kids have slept on their tummys too! SIDS is a serious thing, but read the study! The kids who died of SIDS had a pre-disposition to it - a family history, etc. Don't worry so much - your mom is right, I bet even your Pediatrician was a tummy sleeper.. :)

I have four children (ages: 7, 6, 4, 1.5 yrs)and all of them slept on their tummies from the minute they were born. You have to make the decision for yourself as to what you think is best. I didn't worry about SIDS, but that is my personality. My children were all fine, but you need to be comfortable with your decision. Hope this offers some support. I don't think you are a bad mom because your baby sleeps on her tummy. If you think about it, your baby is rolling and will eventually end up in all sorts of positions anyway. Best of luck deciding.

Hi A.-

I wanted to present a different view than some of the other responses. A friend of mine lost her baby boy to SIDS last August and I can tell you, there is no predisposition, only things you can do to reduce SIDS--like not smoking, breastfeeding and having them sleep on their backs. They don't know why, but they know it does have an effect. SIDS is still extremely rare and unlikely, so you'll have to do what you feel is best. I became more comfortable with her sleeping on her tummy when she could roll over to her back--showing the strength to move away if something restricted her breathing. Trust your gut on this one. Talk to your pediatrician or check out a great resource, askdrsears.com. They definitely see this question a lot. Best of luck!

You could try a sleep wedge that has a slight angle and has sides on it. Put her partially on her side and tummy and the wedge will hold her. The angle helps too because when babies are put down on a flat surface from being held the automatic response from the brain is to think they are falling and it wakes baby up to protect it. A wedge helps so much!

You can buy sleep wedges for your baby to sleep between and maybe start off by putting her on her side. The wedges will keep her from rolling onto her back or stomach. Also, it will help if you are swaddling her. (Not sure if you are doing that or not.)

Most babies are more secure and comfortable sleeping on their stomachs! I don't think it probably has anything to do with a habit that might have been introduced by your Mom. I have raised 9 children, all but one of them slept on their tummies and would NOT rest comfortable on their back! If a baby has normal strength,they will do whatever is needed to lift and turn their heads to get air, and you will hear them. I believe that some day we will hear the medical world say that this SIDS problem does not come from a healthy and strong baby laying on their tummy.