Opinions Wanted for First Time Mom!

You are doing fine.
Babies cry and some cry a lot.
It is an age old problem than will never be solved.

B. V.

I had a similar experience with my first born (she's now 6). What really helped was following the advice of Dr. Karp (http://www.thehappiestbaby.com/). The main thing is swaddling which some babies LOVE and others don't.

1. Get Happiest Baby on the Block DVD by Harvey Carp to learn five techniques to soothe the crying. And, as Katie suggests, avoid overstimulating him in these early months.
2. Try the Lactose-free, soy, whatever alternative type of formula to reduce the gas.
3. Follow all of the other SIDS protection recommendations (no blankets, toys, bumpers, use a firm mattress, perhaps even the idea of the mattress pad, as people have suggested, etc.) Don’t overheat baby. Use a sleep sack (a light-weight blanket with neck and arm holes that zips on). SIDS peaks in the winter months.
4. Put a fan in the baby’s room. Please read the latest research on SIDS: http://children.webmd.com/news/20081006/sleeping-with-fan...

The newest study out of Kaiser Permanente is showing that putting a fan in the baby’s room lowered the risk of SIDS by 72% and that this effect was more pronounced for babies who slept on their tummies. As others have posted, this article says, “one theory is that SIDS is caused by the buildup of carbon dioxide when infants with inadequate sleep arousal responses re-breathe exhaled air trapped by bedding or proximity to other sleeping family members.” The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and appears in the October issue of Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine.

If your baby won’t sleep on his back and he indeed has an inadequate sleep arousal response (which may be likely given your description of him sleeping extra soundly) then putting a fan in his room may help prevent SIDS by increasing the flow of oxygenated air around his nose and mouth.

I am appalled at the response by the person who said that it would be 100% your fault if your baby died of SIDS because you allowed him to sleep on his tummy. Since nobody is really sure what causes SIDS and tummy sleeping is only ONE of a number of risk factors, there is no way this statement could be true. An “inadequate sleep arousal response” in your baby is NOT something you can control. In addition, once your baby can roll over by himself, there will be little you can do to keep him on his back throughout the night and no one has ever suggested that parents should stay awake all night long to be ready to turn their baby back over if the baby should roll onto his tummy. I think for you, you should concentrate on easing your baby’s discomfort first by changing his diet and using Dr. Carp’s soothing techniques, then put a fan in the room to increase his air flow. Put him to sleep on his back, but don’t worry if he flips over.

I hope this helps and congratulations on your new baby. This is a very exciting time for you. Enjoy every minute of it, even the crazy, confusing times.

Hi A.,
I have done quite a bit of reading on SIDS and they have discovered that the majority of the SIDS cases are a result of toxic fumes from mattresses. Apparently the fire retardant (and other chemicals) are dangerous to breathe in. A few countries have done research on this very topic and have virtually eliminated SIDS just by using a mattress cover. If you go to: www.mercola.com and type in SIDS in the search box you will see a few articles on the subject. The one with the best explanation is called "Victory over SIDS". I believe the company that has produced the mattress wraps is called "Babe Safe", but you should also be able to find that out from the Mercola site. So, if you wrap your child's mattress, you should not have anything to worry about if your child sleeps on his stomach.

The biggest concern about placing infants on their tummies to sleep is that increases the danger of SIDS.

That said, I had one that was a reflux baby and needed to sleep on his tummy because of the sheer volume of milk he would spit up. If you have a good firm mattress under him and he sleeps in the same room as you then I don't see any problem with it - espically since he actually sleeps!

Pretty soon he will be learning how to roll over on his own anyways and my first would constantly roll over to her tummy and fall asleep. At that point you shouldn't worry and by the time they have learned to crawl the danger of SIDS is nearly non existent.

A trick I learned (cause I was clueless and exclusively breastfed all mine) from my bottle feeding siblings was to prefill the bottles with formula and then let it sit for an hour or two before feeding them to baby. Works real good for breastmilk filled bottles too! It allows for tiny microscopic bubbles to disperse before baby drinks then, which becomes a big cause of a lot of gas.

Best wishes

Hello :) I am sure you will soon be barraged with posts about how tummy sleeping raises the chance of SIDS - so hang on !!

My lil bundle was the same way about sleep but not because of gas, she just liked the tummy best so I let her sleep on her tummy. She is almost 10 months now and has switched to her back mostly but rolls back and forth when she feels like or my personal favorite knees under her with butt in the air lol.

A month or so ago a mom had a question similar to this and a wise lady posted a response telling her to ask her mom and have her friends ask their moms if they slept on back or tummy. You will find that 90% or more of us slept on our tummies and we are all here to ask questions of eachother.

A trick to help with the gassiness is to have your child down to diaper and lay them on your (or daddy's) bare chest or give a warm bath or circle the bellybutton gently with your thumb, at least those have all worked for me when my lil angel has a gassy day - good luck.

O. :)

I agree with the other posters...my son didn't have gas issues for long, we ended up on Enfamil LactoFree and with Playtex Drop-ins...after like you TRYING EVERYTHING.

But, my little dude loved to sleep on his belly and after trying to find ways to keep him on his back, I gave up and let him sleep the way he was comfy. I just made sure his sleep area was clear of any blankets or pillows that may pose a hazard. Now, at age two he's a side sleeper and rarely goes to his tummy.

If you are taking precautions for his safety, you're fine!! Keep being an awesome Mommy!

And, enjoy your Holiday!

As long as your son can turn his head from side to side while on his tummy and you keep anything that could possibly suffocate him out of his crib, he will be fine. And of course just keep an eye on him a little more. Both my kids would somehow either squish themselves into the side or corner of the crib and would fall asleep with their faces smooshed into the crib bumper all the time. Both could rollover some at about 4 months and prefered to sleep on their tummies. Our ped said that they are fine to do so if they can move their heads from side to side while on their tummies.

Have you tried a lactose free formula? Both my kids were lactose intolerant as infants. DD would get so gas-ey with other formulas. She drank Similac Sensitive also called Lactose Free. It's the orange can. Ask your pediatrician for a sample can. They often get free samples from the manufacturers to give to new moms. That way you don't have to waste money if your son doesn't take to it. Once we got DD on it, I never had to use those gas drops again.

A.,

They say that until a baby can roll over, they should sleep on their back because of SIDS risk. However, that being said, when we were children and our parents children, they said that babies should sleep on their tummies - and we turned out fine. I would ask your pediatrician about it, but remember, you are the mother and your gut instinct is probably right - just like the formula situation. Congratulations on your new bundle and good luck!

Hi A.. Wow You're a young mommie! I'm glad you found mamasource. It sounds like you're doing a great job so far! I'm so glad i read your e-mail. My son, Noah, had the same issues. I had a really hared time geting him to nurse which resulted in him losing weight and almost winding up in the hospital! ( it was tramatic time for me and my husband to say the least!!!!) Well after lots of trial and eror what finally worked for him was soy formula and the Playtext Advent Ventaire bottle. Believe me we tried everything!!! So try it and see if it works for Bryce. I'd love to know how things work out and if you have any other questions feel free to ask. Or just to talk I'm a good listener. I am a stay at home mom, part time work at my son's school when they ask me to, and over 20 years experience working in the child care field. C. D. Long Beach CA.

You've received many responses (shame on the guilt-laden ones!!), but I had to add my two cents.
My three children were such better sleepers once they could roll to their bellies, but until they reached that point, I didn't feel comfortable letting them sleep on their bellies.

I believe the swaddling helps sooo much when they're super-young. But, we also would "prop" them up in a boppy in our co-sleeper. It worked like a charm for all three.

Once they became too wiggly, I used a wedge and would lay them on their sides--no blankets, I would just double-up their sleepers (i.e. a six-month sleeper and a nine-month sleeper over that). That way, I wasn't concerned about them being cold without a blanket.

I hope this helps.
Enjoy and try not to stress about a parent's trials.

no hes ok and your doing just fine. as long and hes turning his head side to side and you make sure his head is to the side when you go to sleep at night. my daughter never slept on her back much as a baby (even when she was in the nicu!). she developed very strong muscles in her neck sholders back and arms. she was sitting un assisted by 4 months because i insisted on the tummy time and tummy sleep. good luck!

Okay, here's the thing. With years and years of research and studies, they have found that more babies die of SIDS who sleep on their tummies than any other position. They aren't 100% sure why, but are theorizing it's the suffocation thing. This doesn't mean, obviously, that every baby who sleeps on his tummy will die of SIDS, or that those who don't sleep on their tummy won't die, either. Chances are just higher in tummy sleepers. And if I remember correctly, the concern drops way down when they reach 6 months.

You know what, in our generation we all were put to sleep on our tummys, and look! the human race has gone on :) It is probably better to be on their backs, but you know what, a parent's sanity is important too, and if we don't get good sleep, we can't be the best parent, so you do what is best for you. Good luck, and keep up being a great parent to your little one.

All of my kids have been stomach sleepers as babies (from the minute they could turn themselves over). You have to remember that these pediatric organizations keep changing their minds...put them on their stomachs, now put them on their backs, no, wait, their stomachs, oh we were wrong, put them on their backs. Arrggggg. Babies don't read all of the rules and textbooks, so they just go with whatever feels right. I also get my kids evaluated by a pediatric chiropractor - they don't need to be adjusted all that much, but man it sure makes a difference with their comfort levels (spinal and digestive) and sleeping throughout the night since birth.

I gave my daughter PB8 (it's a probiotic that seemed to be pretty complete and work really well) - just 1/4 of a capsule or more depending on her discomfort level and within minutes she would be fine. I give my other 2 kids PB8 nearly every night to keep thier digestive system happy and their immune system up. Something I'm doing must be ok, since NONE of them have ever been on antibiotics...and my oldest is 6!

One of my friends sons only slept on his tummy. You are his Mom and you have to do what makes you the most comfortable. Trust your instincts. They are usually right.

My second son will only sleep on his tummy too. Once your child can roll over from back to front they will sleep however they want to anyway. That's generally a 3 to 4 month milestone. If it's the only way he will sleep than it is the only way he will sleep.

There is a greater chance of SIDS with stomach sleepers, but that can be decreased if you put a fan on your child, helps to move the air, and a pacifier, they are consantly sucking... The incidence of SIDS has dropped something like 90% since the back-to-sleep campain started, so stomach sleeping is definitely part of it... The researchers have discovered that there is something in the brain that doesn't let babies that pass away from SIDS realize they aren't getting enough air. If ANYONE EVER in your family had a baby that passed away from SIDS, you probably shouldn't let him sleep on his tummy without a consult with your doctor...
Hope this helps
R.

Since the "back to sleep" campaign started it decreased the SIDS rate quite significantly. So it is recommended to sleep them on their backs. Now if you ask your parents they would tell you everyting turned out fine when we slept on our tummies. It has gone back and forth alot, but we personally did not chance it. Our dd is now one and we still don't use a blanket. I highly recommend getting the dvd of Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp. It is amazing and uses swaddle techniques. Your son could be missing the womb. It will help you and him sleep. I know it was a Godsend for our family. Good luck to you.

No I don't think your doing anything wrong. As long as he moves his head back and forth and there's nothing in his crib that could block his airways...I would want a happy sleeping baby.
This is not medical advice, just mommy advice.

I am a 30yr old SAHM of 4.

Hi A.,
I went through the same exact thing except my ped. Dr. said to try the Enfamil gentlease. That seemed to do the trick with the gas issue. Then a girlfriend of mine told me to try laying him on his tummy and at that time he was only 4wks old as well. So in order to keep my sanity and my husband's at the time I tried it. My son is now 8mo old and can not be anymore happier than as if I started him out on his back. The one thing my girlfriend said was that her grandmother raised 12 children and they ALL slept on their tummies and had no problems. So there is something to be said with our mother's and grandmother's advise. Good luck and don't feel bad with your decisions. We all are in a learning process :0)

Hi A.,

There is so much to worry about when you're a new mom, isn't there? I understand your concern, but I'll tell you...I have two kids. My daughter is 5 and I kept her on her back as much as I could, but we also co-slept, so I was very aware of what she was doing in her sleep, etc. I also have a 2 year old son, and I had a co-sleeper with him so he was right next to me in his bed and he, too, slept on his belly. Babies for years have slept better on their bellies (probably you and me, too!) and it is only in recent years that there have been these concerns with SIDS. It is so important that you be rested for your son and if he isn't sleeping well, neither are you! If you feel he is well-monitored while he is asleep, I'd let him be on his stomach. My son had no problems, and is a healthy 2 year old now. Just because something is "advised" doesn't mean it is right for everyone! We have intuition for a reason, so I would suggest going with that! SIDS has a lot to do with vaccines, anyway (research that, if you want), as many children who die of SIDS die shortly after receiving their immunizations....

Hope this helps you! Blessings, and Merry Christmas!

A.,
This is a question for the pediatrician. My first son always slept on his back. But my 2 month old sleeps on his tummy. There are warnings against it, so you should ask a professional and not base your choice on people's opinions.
Good luck!

I was a tummy sleeper (before tummy sleeping was taboo). My husband was a tummy sleeper. My son (who is now 6) was always more comfortable sleeping on his stomach. We all survived infancy with no ill effects. If your child is comfortable and happy, let him be. I'm sure you have already done the responsible things, like not putting fluffy pillows into his crib with him.

My pediatrician did not have a problem with the tummy sleeping, and my son learned to roll over about about 4 1/2 months because he had developed stronger muscles by pushing himself up and around his bed. He's a healthy, well-adjusted, normal child... in spite of all the tummy sleeping horror stories.

Hi A., I am a Sleep Consultant and Parenting Coach. There is a very real danger to having babies sleep on their stomachs for exactly the reason you describe. The babies sleep so soundly and they do not wake up if their oxygen supply is compromised. Babies with an undiagnosed heart or breathing condition are especially at risk but you wouldn't know it until it's too late. In my 20 years of experience I have concluded that most "colicky" babies are simply overstimulated and over tired. When a baby is exposed to too much noise, lights, people...it is very overstimulating and makes it difficult to sleep, and nurse. The best thing you can do to help your baby is to keep him in a quiet, calm environment and don't bombard him with too many toys, going on too many errands, having too much company... At his age, even one trip to the grocery store can be too much for his sensitive system. He will gradually grow out of this but in the meantime it is your job to protect him and keep him safe. Put him on his back, it may be harder for a couple of days but he WILL fall asleep. Good Luck
K. Smith
www.theindependentchild.com

Sounds like you're doing just fine. The thing with tummy sleeping/SIDS is definitely something you should always keep in mind but 90% of the adults alive today, as infants, slept on their tummies...Doctors used to recommend it! My mom always put my first son to sleep on his tummy, against my will, and soon I realized that as long as I was near enough to hear if anything was amiss, he did just fine! He lived through it quite nicely and I must say SLEPT long and happy that way!

Follow your instincts!!! Doctors only see your child for 5 minutes at a time and diagnose according to a TEXT BOOK. You know your baby best.

some kids just sleep better on ther bellies. my 20 month old learned to flip from his back to his belly at 7 wks and it was over. i spent a couple of weeks constantly flipping him back over, but in a few minutes he was on his belly again. i finally gave up and figured if he could get to his belly he could get back to his back if he needed to. just make sure there are no blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, etc. in his crib because of SIDS. only use the crib sheet and make sure it is tight fitting, not loose around his face at all. if you're still worried, you can get a bed alarm that will sound if her doesn't move (OR BREATH!) for 10 seconds. otherwise, just let him be. my 6 year old daughter slept on her back with no problems, so i was stumped with my son. but each kid is different, so you have to learn to adjust :)

The fact of the matter is that mommies have been putting babies on their tummies since the beginning of time. Yes, there is a small risk of SIDS, but if he takes a pacifier, then that would reduce his risk a little. They do have those sensors that you can buy that detects if the baby stops moving (breathing) They cost a little bit of money, but it may give you some comfort. The pad (sensor) is placed under the mattress. I didn't put my little girl on her tummy unless she was taking a nap. Night time she was on her back. Good luck to you and congrats on your new baby.

Hey A.,
My second daughter had bad gas the first 4 months of her life and nothing I did did much! I finally tried the Dr.Browns bottles and that seemed to work or she finally just grew out of it. Just massage his little tummy and I am sure he will grow out of it! Good luck!

In addition to all the great responses...
My daughter had real BAD gas problems as a baby and it made her cry and in pain. She did not have colic, but was just very sensitive and she rarely farted.

What we used, was "Hyland's Colic Tabs." It is NOT just for colic, but for any baby that has gas or digestion problems. And it helps to soothe them etc. You can even find it on amazon.com or your natural food store.

If you go to www.amazon.com you can also see reviews of it.

Here is a description of it:
"Temporarily relieves the symptoms of colic and gas Discomforts caused by irritating food, feeding to quickly, swallowing air and similar conditions during teething, colds and other minor upset periods in children.Colic Tablets is a homeopathic formula providing soothing relief for babies suffering from mild indigestion and sudden gas pains".

We would also rub, in gentle circular motions, my daughter's tummy... this helps to get the gas out.

Good luck,
Susan

No my sonb sleeped on his tummy since he was 2 weeks old. that was how he wanted to sleep so I left it alone. Your doing fine just keep up the good work and he is old enough to start having control of hios head a neck he should be fine.

Both DS and DD slept 90% on tummies. Just as others wrote, just make sure nothing is around to bury or cover their head. I also had an exceptionally gassy DD and found that having her sleep on her left side (propped by one of those triangle baby pillows) worked just as well.

Y'know, when we were babies, our moms were told to let us sleep on our bellies. Then in the 1990's it was recommended to have babies sleep on their sides. I ALWAYS put my first to sleep on her back (Never would have dreamed of putting her on her belly - and I was horrified to learn that some other moms let their kids sleep on their tummies) but with my second, she slept so much better on her tummy, so that is what I did. You can read all about the SIDS risks, and make your decision. I think he is probably past the high risk age, since he is getting stronger every day and can probably push himself up a little bit. Just keep toys and blankets away from him.

Hi A.,

No one thought twice about putting babies to sleep on their tummies 20+ years ago--I know my mom put us to sleep that way--but now tummy-sleeping is considered a no-no for newborns because it increases the chances for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, among other things, which is why even disposable diapers have "Back to Sleep" printed on them. I'd discuss this with your pediatrician, if I were you. Perhaps the two of you can come up with some good solutions to your baby's sleeping issues. You certainly don't want to fight with your husband over stuff like this, and sleep is good for the whole family--so have a chat with your doctor. I'm sure it will help!

Good luck to you! Merry Christmas!

My son kept waking up after 15 minutes of sleep when he was on his back. I talked to some moms' group friends about it, and they all admitted to letting their kids sleep on their tummies. Noah has slept on his belly every night and for every nap since he was 4 weeks old.
HOWEVER: Nobody in our house smokes, he's sleeping on a firm surface with a snug sheet, his bed doesn't have any extra blankets or stuffed animals in it, and we make sure he doesn't get too hot. He was also able to turn his head from one side to the other when we started.

A.:)
Congratulations on that beautiful little boy! Back in the day when I had little ones, long time ago when there were dinosaurs on the earth, just ask any of my kids (lol!) we always put our babies to sleep on their tummies or their sides, and they'd roll onto their tummies! Only when they were in a car carrier or in our arms did they sleep on their backs. Times change, and so do the ideas the docs have about what is right for our little ones. They think maybe SIDS is affected by how they sleep, but we put them on their tummies so if the urped, they would't swallow or choke on it. If Bryce sleeps on his tummy and won't sleep on his back, try his side occasionally, but don't worry about it!

BTW, I have 5 kids who survived tummy sleep!
A.
Working At Home to Live a Healthy Life
http://www.WomensDreamTeam.com/Angel

The pendulum swings back and forth on this issue about every 20 years.

The danger of sleeping on a tummy is suffocation by mechanics (shoving their face into the bed/blankets/cushions/etc.

The danger of sleeping on a back is suffocation by aspiration (vomiting and inhaling it).

Suffocation (or brain damage) either way...wheee. So the one "right" way doesn't really exist...just the popular way. The reason that the pendulum swings back and forth on this is that SIDS and suffocation happen. With BOTH methods.

If you've got a tummy sleeper here are the precautions that we known by "everyone" back when it was what doctors had mums doing:

- A FIRM mattress (with no padding on top of it)
- NO
...pillows
...blankets
...soft toys
...etc.
Essentially NOTHING in the crib but baby.
- A zip up sleeper that is weather appropriate (remember, no blankets)
- When you lay them down (obviously) turn their little head to one side, and check on them frequently to make sure that their head IS on it's side. (You still have to check on back sleepers as frequently...to make sure that they don't have any signs of having spit up and inhaled it.)

Most babies can adjust to sleeping either way. Some are hard cases and ONLY will sleep on either their tummy or back. If you've got a hard case (and it sounds like it), just make sure you're taking the appropriate precautions. That's all we can do.

* * *

Btw....on the gas issue. My own son had to be burped for a MINIMUM of 20-30 minutes. He would have a series of small burps, sometimes with a big one at the end. I've met VERY few mothers who have had babies who have needed to be burped longer then just a few pats to a few minutes. If you aren't doing marathon burping already, you might give it a try.

:)

My son loved to sleep on his tummy too, but please be careful because it can be a SIDS risk. I thought I should tell you since I have heard that many times. Might be good just to look into it. REsearch seems to change all the time with SIDS. And you know what, babies just cry a lot - they don't necessarily sleep well, and they are hard to keep happy sometimes - it just comes with the territory. Good thing is, all phases come to an end quickly. Enjoy your precious son!

You are doing great. Let your baby sleep! I have had 4 healthy tummy sleepers.

I have 4 kids. My second daughter would only sleep on her tummy. If you tried to put her on her back or side she screamed and screamed - not whimpered or cried, but really screamed. If we put her on her tummy, she fell asleep immediately. She was that way from the moment she was born. When a person feels that strongly about something, you're not going to change their mind! So, we let her be comfortable and let her sleep on her tummy. She never developed any problems or issues.

You're not really putting him at risk, don't worry. It's good to be careful, and to take advantage of all the great safety features our parents didn't have, but you don't need to panic. When I was a kid, (born in the '60s) most cars didn't have seat belts, there was no such thing as a car seat, nobody made bike helmets and the slats on cribs were much farther apart (and nobody even thought about what position a baby should sleep in). I know that sounds as long ago as having no electricity or indoor plumbing, :D, but it wasn't. Your son will always face the dangers humans face, but you sound like a very careful, watchful mom, so he'll be well protected.

3 of my 4 slept on their tummy. the only one that didn't was born premature. If he's able to lift his head & turn it, I wouldn't worry about it.

When my daughter was born - the "in" thing was to have the baby sleep on their sides with this pillow thing propping them up. Like a good new mother I tried it. The darn pillow thingy would slip out and she would be on her tummy.

Since I slept on my tummy, and she seemed happiest that way I threw out the pillow wedge thingy and just wrapped in warm jammies and put her to bed on her tummy. No blanket no stuffed animal, just her in bed. I checked her every 2 hours to make sure she was still breathing...She's 10 years old now... so I say if he's comfortable that way go for it.

Hello, A.,

Will you take a look at:

www.mercola.com

When there do a search on infant formulas.

I can help you further after you have reviewed this information. You may go to www.thedoctorwithin.com to learn even more.

Thank you for reaching out!

T.

www.myliveearth.net/T.

You need to do what works best for your kid and family. They say having the baby sleep on his tummy increases the chances of SIDs... but they also say it can be caused by a hundred other things. Keep an eye on him and use a baby monitor so you know he's safe and have a great nights sleep.

Hi A.,

Congratulations on being a new mom! It's so exciting but scary at the same time.

Both of my children, now 18 and 28, slept on their tummy's. My belief is with the introduction of thousands of synthetic chemicals over the last 20 or so years and at least 3 times more vaccinations being given to our babies now then when I was a baby in the late 50's, that SIDS is more closely related to these than to a baby simply sleeping on their tummy.

www.mercola.com is an excellent source. He is a Dr. and has many articles you'll find helpful, including baby formula info, dangers of vaccinations, etc.

I found this link to the site of Dr. John R. Lee, MD. In this article he discusses the link between matresses made with chemicals and what to do to make your babies mattress safer and also he talks alittle about vaccinations in relation to SIDS. The article is called...A Possible Explanation for SIDs... Could chemicals in mattresses combined with fungus cause crib death? by Holland Franklin and the link to the article is... http://www.johnleemd.com/store/art_sids.html

I also have a video you can watch that introduces leading scientists and toxicologists and their concern over environmental exposures for babies and adults...It's at: www.sharethecause.com/T.

Dr. Lee speaks about making your baby's mattress chemical free, but you also should think about the chemicals you are exposing yourself and baby to through cleaning, laundry and personal care products, including those for babies and small children. Scientific Body Burden studies show that a newborn comes into this world with over 200 synthetic chemicals already in their systems.

We have to watch out for ourselves.

The best of health for the both of you.

T.

I have three sons and the only one who ever had anything that resembled colic was the one who is lactose intolerant. Poor guy, we didn't figure it out until he was about 2 1/2. He used to have the loudest farts. It was funny and kind of embarrassing (in stores people would look at me like it was too loud to be a baby!) but it caused him a lot of grief. Try switching to soy formula or the lactose-free variety. As far as the tummy sleeping, if the gas is resolved, try the back sleeping again. It is just safer. I am not an alarmist, but the figures don't lie. If, and only if the back sleeping doesn't work, you could always put him to sleep on his tummy then at night, before you go to sleep, role him onto his side or back. If that wakes him up, then you just keep doing what you are doing and hope for the best. Be vigilant, but don't beat yourself up for it. As moms, we can only do what we can handle, and in order to handle anything well we need our sleep too!

Hi! I would'nt worry! My baby has always slept on her side or tummy-since day one. She never slept well on her back. I know the main comcern here would be sids, which is a scary thing. I never had a problem. My baby was VERY gassy as well, and when i would put her on her tummy, it helped everything pass. You are doing a great job, you know what your baby needs more then anyone else. Congrats!

Hi this is my first time on this website......so i'm a new comer but I read about your concern and I might have an answer. My son is now ten but I had the same problem when he was an infant and it took me me two months about to figure out what was going on. He is lactose intolerant so when he was a baby and my dad would come over and hold him for hours and pat his back to try and give me a relief from his crying.... he said "K. he can't have lactose that's why he's crying.... it is giving him gas". And that was it. Whew what a change once we figured it out. Still to this day if my son has milk etc.. his tummy is full of gas. I hope this helps you. Good luck!

K.

There is nothing wrong with him sleeping on his tummy all 3 of my kids slept that way. They sleep beeter on their tummy's, and there is no proof that that is what causes crib death, the 2 people I have meet that this happened too they weren't on their tummy's, one was on a grandma's bed on their side with the pillows at his back, the other was in a baby car seat and died on the way home from shopping.

Your baby can lift his head and sleeps better leave him alone, most of us all slept on our tummy's and were still here. Your a great mom. J.

Hi A.,
Babies have a 13 times greater risk of dying from SIDS when put to sleep on their tummies... check out this link and read the dangers for yourself. Bryce is still in the prime age for SIDS... 2-6 months. I would definitely persevere with back sleep. The reason he sleeps so well on his tummy is because he is breathing in carbon dioxide from his expired air instead of oxygen. Check out this link http://www.guardian-sleeper.com/sids-general-information-...
Wishing you success,
C. :-)
www.guardiansleeper.com

try gripe water it helped my niece

Hey A.,
Crib death, or SIDS, has been linked to a type of fume from crib matresses. Please visit this site: http://www.babysake.com/ . There is a special matress cover that prevents the fumes from reaching the baby and the insidence of SIDS from parents using this cover has all but been stopped. I ordered it for my youngest daughter and will order it for my oldest daughter who is expecting again.
Also, I put babies on their tummies across my legs with their heads past my knees, holding up their head of course, after they eat and rub their backs to relieve them and then put them down on their backs. This has always helped a lot. Hope this helps you.
Merry Christmas,
V.

YES you are doing the wrong thing letting your baby sleep on his tummy. The reason your baby is sleeping so soundly is he is breathing in his expelled air which is carbon dioxide. Your baby has a 13 times greater chance of dying from SIDS laying on this tummy. Taking 2500 babies each year in the U.S. SIDS is the number one killer of infants 1 month to 10 months.
There is a lot of info out there. One website is www.guardiansleeper.com which has a lot of great info on it and links to medical sites.
I could go on all day on this but the website has all the info.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE place your baby on his back to sleep. Sorry to be so passionate and blunt on this subject but having done the reasearch I have a great understanding of this.
The attitude of "My baby was fine so yours will be also" is SO WRONG! No one can tell if a baby is predisposed to SIDS.
Since the launch of the 'Back To Sleep Campaign' in 93 the SIDS rate has dropped by 50%. I think the statistics speak for themselves.

Austin's mom

Hi A.,
You are not doing anything wrong. You know, me, my two sisters, always slept on our tummys. My girls also would role over or sleep on their sides. I think because of some rare cases, and possibly from parents who do drink excessively, or take drugs or whatever, that all of the "bad" things that happen to babies happen because of these things that people are doing to themselves. Thus, pregnant woman shouldn't drink, etc. Women in Europe drink, but not excessively, etc. Babies seem to be just fine there. But, here you have people that do drink WAY to much, etc. That is why there are warnings. I had a margarita when I was pregnant, unknowingly, and she came out fine. But wow, the fear that I had....or with my second and I was on an inhaler due to being very sick. I got right off it when I found out and she was just fine too. I think all of these "precautions" are for the people who just did not grow up in a great family environment and didn't know any better, or they were, well, you get my drift, I hope. Don't worry, your child will be fine. Just keep an eye on him and love him!