I have a 4 month old girl who has never slept on her back. Everytime I put her down to sleep, she wakes up screaming. When I pick her up, she either burps and/or spits up. I've been putting her in her car seat and she sleeps great...10 hours at night! Now that she is getting older, I really don't like putting her in her car seat. Has anyone ever come across this problem?
Both of mine (ages 5 and 3), the second they were unswaddled, flipped to their stomachs. No problems. Me and all 6 of my siblings were stomach-sleepers as well.
My two year old wouldn't sleep in anything but his swing for the first 4 months of his life. Then I moved him to a crib but by then he could life his head fine and so I let him sleep on his belly. I say if she sleeps in her seat, let her!!!
Hi L. -
My daughter slept in a swing for the first 9 months. This will keep your daughter upright and children love the movement back and forth. Our pediatrician assured us that there are no problems with this and that several children sleep in swings. We transitioned my daughter to her crib four months ago with no problem at all.
L., It sounds like she might have reflux and sleeping on her back aggrevates it - I'd talk with your pediatrician about it - if that's it, the valve at the top of the stomach isn't all that developed and food leaks back into her throat when she lies flat on her back. My son had this for the first year or so, and then outgrew it, but they did give him Zantac I think. You can just let her sleep upright for comfort and not worry about it, and also they sell a wedge that keeps the head higher (there's also a thing that goes under her to keep her from rolling over and ending up down at the bottom of the incline). -S. H.
I would talk to your doctor about maybe acid reflux. I just went to a workshop on SIDS (I am a Daycare Provider), and they don't recommend babies sleep in swings or car seats, as this increases the risk for SIDS. If she is rolling over by herself to sleep on her belly, that is ok, as long as she can do it herself. I would definately discuss this with your doctor, though.
I find that a lot of babies don't like sleeping on their backs. My two slept on their tummies from about week 2 on. They were both very reflux and couldn't tollerate it. Now - I made this decision after doing some research and waying the risks... I breastfed, the baby slept in a co-sleeper, baby used a binky, no one smoked in the family... ect. So our risks were down as far as SIDS goes, and frankly, I was concerned about them gagging at night.
I know lots of people have their babies sleep in carseats... I'm not a big fan of this - In europe they recommend no more then 2 hours at a time in a carseat for spine development. Plus - a lot of times, you end up with that "flat head" issue if you use the carseat too much (and other "seats" with the same shape - like swings).
I think as a parent, you need to make your own decisions...and for my family, tummy sleeping was the answer!
Sounds like it could be acid reflux. Put a small pillow under her crib mattress to prop it up a little. Ask your doctor for more advice, too.
My oldest was great sleeping on his back. Then came our second and he hated it. So, we made the decision to have him sleep on his tummy at around 2 weeks old. I was very open with my physician and he said that he saw no problems with it as long as I was aware of the risks. He did fine, and my third is also a belly sleeper. I would not use the car seat myself, but that is individual. Just put him on his tummy and keep a good eye on him. Plus talk with your peditrician!!
Hi I went through the same thing with my daughter who is now 6 and my mom put a pillow under the sheet so it wouldnt move and cause posible suffacation that way my daughter was proped up a little like she was in the carseat. Some people may not agree with this but I didnt see it a problem and it worked! Good luck with whatever u try!
Mine are all tummy sleepers from the beginning. I do not find any risks regarding our family. I have also heard that the carseat isn't good for that length of time. Babies grow while sleeping and the spine would be a concern for me.
It sounds like she has reflux, sleeping in her car seat is fine for her or they make wedge that goes under the crib mattress to elevate it a little, also try not to lay her down for about a half an hour after eating and dont feed her to the top. most babies grow out of reflux but some require medicatiom.good luck
