Sleeping - Springfield,MA

The "experts" say that it is safe for them to sleep on their tummies when they are able to roll over. I had the same problem with my 6 month old. He hated sleeping on his back. Consider one of those positioning wedges that they sell and try to compromise with her sleeping on her side. I personally used a recieving blanket to keep Wally on his side. Hope this helps.

She will be alright if she can lift her head if she is on her belly. As long as she does not lay face down she is okay. My baby only slept well on his belly at that age.

Here is an article on Sleeping Through the Night/Middle of the Night Feeding:

Getting Baby to Sleep Through the Night: All babies will fall asleep eventually. Some just need a little more help than others.
By Barbara Solomon

Pulling Baby out of the Crib
Up to the time he was 10 months old, my son David had always been a good sleeper. Then my family moved into a new house, and all of a sudden, all bets were off. He began waking two, sometimes three times a night. I was sure he was just unsettled by the change and would return to his old ways soon. But after we tried every trick in the book only to suffer more sleepless nights, we caved in. One night when he called out, I scooped him up and brought him into our bed. We all slept soundly, and I was feeling pretty good -- until I spoke with a friend later that morning.

"Don't you know that you've opened a can of worms?" she scolded. "Now you'll never get him back into his crib!"

Picturing endless sleepless nights ahead, I panicked, and it's no wonder. Getting a baby to sleep consistently through the night can seem like the ultimate unattainable goal. But after I spent just a few nights leaving my son in his crib when he cried for me and gently encouraging him -- "You're okay, David, just go back to sleep!" -- from the hallway, he quickly resumed his old sleep habits. And experts say that with some patience and effort, most parents will be able to solve their child's sleeping problems, too.

The Impossible Dream
During the first weeks of life, you can't expect a baby to sleep through the night. In fact, there is no typical sleeping pattern for newborns; the only thing you can count on is that they sleep around the clock for varying periods, ranging from a few minutes to a few hours. So why can't they sleep consistently for long periods? Blame it all on biology. An immature brain is the primary reason.

"People have a genetic timing mechanism in their brain that controls sleep, and it takes time for that mechanism to develop," explains Marc Weissbluth, MD, professor of clinical pediatrics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago, and author of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child (Ballantine, 1999). "Think of it like eye color: Babies are born with a genetic predisposition to a certain eye color, but it takes time for that color to be expressed."

A need to feed is another factor. Many experts believe that newborn babies have to eat frequently, particularly breastfed babies: There's no way to tell how much a breastfed baby is eating at each feeding, so breastfeeding mothers may be more likely to fully awaken a stirring baby to feed.

Bottlefed babies, on the other hand, may sleep for longer periods because formula takes longer to digest and leaves baby feeling fuller longer. "But babies who have birth defects and are fed continuously by tube for the first several weeks of life show the same process of sleep maturation as other babies," notes Dr. Weissbluth. He believes that ultimately, "Sleep comes from the brain, not the stomach."

Regardless of studies and experts, until she is at least 6 weeks old, a newborn baby will undoubtedly wake several times during the night. Around the 6-week mark, many babies show subtle signs of organizing their sleep. They may get drowsy at 6 or 7 p.m. and may sleep at night for consecutive blocks of four hours or more.

At about 3 months, most can adhere to a sleep schedule that includes a morning nap, an afternoon nap, and two or more longer blocks of sleep at night. According to a poll of primary caregivers by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), a nonprofit organization, by 9 months some 70 to 80 percent of babies are sleeping a straight 9 to 12 hours every night.

That's great news -- unless yours is one of the 20 to 30 percent of babies who don't sleep so well. "My son was a horrible sleeper!" recalls Lisa Henahan of Peachtree City, Georgia. "Until he was 15 months, he would sleep for an hour and a half and then wake for an hour -- all night long!"

If your nights sound similar, rest assured, these tips can help parents solve a range of stubborn sleep problems.

Sleep Tight, Baby
To exhausted parents it seems that there are as many sleep issues as there are children. But most babies fall into the following categories:

"My 2-month-old son sleeps all day and is up all night."
A common phenomenon during the early weeks of life, day-night reversals often clear up with a little time and a lot of daylight. Try exposing your baby to bright light or sunshine in the morning hours and keep the lights dim in the evening. It also helps to move your baby to a busy part of the house throughout the day, play with him during the daytime, and wake him for daytime feedings.

Then, keep your interactions with him quiet and subdued at night. As babies approach the age of 6 weeks, they begin to respond more to environmental cues, so it helps to have a bedtime routine such as a bath and a song. It may take several weeks, and a baby this young still probably won't sleep through the night, but he may consolidate his sleep into two large blocks at night.

"My 7-month-old daughter won't sleep through the night. Why?"
From around 6 months on, a baby should be able to make it through the night without a middle-of-the-night feeding and without waking his parents. But that doesn't mean he's sleeping all those hours. The term "sleeping through the night" is misleading, points out Lawrence Balter, PhD, professor of applied psychology at New York University, in New York, and editor of Parenthood in America: An Encyclopedia (ABC-CLIO, 2000). "All people -- including babies -- wake and put themselves back to sleep several times a night without realizing it," he says. "That's something babies need to learn to do."

Some kids learn on their own; others need a little help. There are several ways to teach your baby to soothe himself to sleep. Most of them involve listening to some crying. So how do you stay focused amid the tears? Remember that crying isn't going to harm your baby. And the reward -- a good night's sleep for all -- is worth a few teary nights.

The Ferber Method
"My neighbor has recommended the Ferber method to help my 6-month-old sleep through the night. What is it?"
This method was developed by pediatric sleep expert Richard Ferber, MD, author of Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems (Simon & Schuster, 1986). He advises parents to check periodically on their baby when she awakens at night. Here's a sketch of how it works: On the first night, when you hear your baby cry, you go in, give her a reassuring pat, and then leave. If she's crying 5 minutes later, you repeat the process, but this time you wait 10 minutes before going in, increasing the time in five-minute increments. The second night, you start at 10 minutes. Dr. Ferber's system has worked for many families.

"We're trying the Ferber method for my 7-month-old, but I can't stand the crying. Is there another, less drastic way to sleep-train my baby?"
There are also ways of making gradual changes within the routine you already have, notes Jodi Mindell, PhD, associate director of the Sleep Disorders Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and author of Sleeping Through the Night (HarperCollins, 1997). If you've been putting your baby to sleep by rocking her in a chair, for example, start by just sitting in the chair together. "Then choose the next step -- putting your baby in his crib and holding his hand.

"A few days later, you can sit three feet away from your child's bed," Mindell says. Within a few weeks, you should be able to work yourself out of the bedroom.

"We've tried the Ferber method. My 6-month-old becomes enraged every time we go in to soothe him. Any suggestions?"
Some children respond better to a cold-turkey approach. If your baby cries, you don't go in her room (some parents call reassuringly from the hall). This is not for the faint of heart, and, as Balter points out, is better for younger babies. An 8-month-old may be able to sit or stand in her crib, which makes it hard for her to settle down if her calls aren't answered.

More Sleep Issues
"My 9-month-old insists on a 3 a.m. feeding. How can I get her to give it up?"
For many parents, a final obstacle to an uninterrupted night is that middle-of-the-night feeding. If your baby no longer needs to be fed at night (check with your pediatrician to be sure), simply stop giving him the bottle or breast when he calls for it. Alternatively, you can use a sequence of progressive steps, which might include offering him diluted formula or breast milk for a few nights and then gradually replacing it with water. He may not find it as appealing as milk, and, subsequently, won't cry for it.

"My 10-month-old son used to sleep through the night, but lately he's been waking up all the time."
Chances are, there's been some change, however subtle, in your child's routine. Everything from a vacation to an illness to an overnight guest can disrupt a young child's sleep schedule and cause her to awaken and need comforting. Some parents report that developmental milestones, such as learning to walk or use the potty, can also upset sleep patterns.

"When a child takes a developmental leap forward, neurons are firing and there are probably connections being made in the brain," says Mindell. "It's no wonder their sleep is disrupted." Most babies are also keen on practicing their new skills; when they wake in the night, sleep takes second place to getting up on all fours or babbling.

At times like this, you may need to repeat old steps, such as sitting in your baby's room for a few nights and gradually working your way back out. But don't despair; experts say children with established good sleep patterns will return to them pretty quickly.

"How can I get my 8-month-old to go to sleep at the same time every night?"
If your baby isn't sleepy at the same time every night, her daytime sleep routine may need tweaking. "Make sure to wake her at the same time each morning, keep naptimes consistent, and avoid letting baby nap after 4 p.m. A reasonable bedtime for a baby this age is around 7 or 7:30 p.m. If she wakes from a nap at 5:30, she's not going to be sleepy enough to go to bed then," says Mindell.

One strategy to avoid, however, is shortening her naps in the hope that this will make her sleepier at night. The fact is, overtired children have a hard time falling asleep. And evidence shows that babies aren't getting enough sleep as it is. Many experts recommend that infants ages 3 to 11 months get 14 to 15 hours of sleep daily, but according to the NSF poll, most babies get fewer than 13 hours.

Even if you've succeeded in creating a great sleeper, remember that every child occasionally has wakeful periods. When this happens, reassure yourself that you're not going to be sleepless forever. Says Peggy Nona, a Rochester, Minnesota, mother with two school-age girls, "I used to worry about getting them to bed at night; now I worry about getting them out in the morning!"

Barbara Solomon is a mother of three and a writer in Scarsdale, New York.

Originally published in American Baby magazine, July 2004.

In addition to that....

A local parenting coach wrote this:

I know that Dr. Ferber is less strict than he used to be about getting kids to sleep. However, his techniques are still very useful for kids that have actually taught themselves to stay up and/or to demand/expect a parent to be with them until they actually fall asleep. Also watch one of the Nanny TV shows for examples of being firm yet loving with setting limits.

Briefly, the basic idea is that you (1) stop paying any attention to your child after their bedtime--no hugs, kisses, stories and no yelling either. Just make believe they are little critters that you are putting back where they belong. and then, if necessary (2) let them cry themselves to sleep. Also, and actually first, develop a bedtime routine and STICK TO IT! Letting them cry is very hard, and against some people's principles. What we did when my daughter was little (she is now 21) was put her to bed with the musical mobile playing. If she was still crying when the music stopped (less than 5 minutes) we would go in to her. This happened very rarely. I felt that a short period of crying was not a trauma and having her go to sleep on her own was a learned response. It worked and we had very few bedtime hassles.

Good luck,

Marion
Coach and parent
Marion C. Bloch, Psy. D.
____@____.com
www.mayaresources.com

It seems like most people agree with tummy sleep being ok, and I just thought I would re-inforce that! My son (now 8 months) started rolling over at 2 months old. At 3 months, he started sleeping on his tummy. I would put him to sleep on his back, and minutes later he would have rolled over to his tummy. Like the other new moms out there, I was alarmed and called the pediatrician!! She told me that as long as he was able to roll himself, there was really nothing I could do and not to worry. Sometimes you just have to let nature take its course! He's a happy, healthy little man who just happens to be a tummy sleeper! Good luck!

My Dr told me not to let my baby sleep on her belly until she could roll over regularly. Try laying her down on a blanket and pulling the blanket out from under her to turn her over. It worked for my 7 month old. Good luck.

you may want to try rolling a recieving blanket into a tube and taping it (so it wont unroll) and when you lay her on her tummy tuck it (or a small teddy bear) under one of her sides, with her arm draping over it. As long as it isn't too close to her face it will keep her from laying flat on her belly. Then when it's time to turn her over it's easier to put a hand beneath her without disturbing. Then just hold the teddy or blanket against her as you move her, so that she still feels as if she is still in contact with the bed. I had this problem with my son. This worked. A little shushing and I was sure to tuck him back in and he never knew the difference.

Hello C.,
My daughter is almost 5 months old. She too will only sleep on her tummy. I have tried side sleepers and the ones to keep them on their back. They did not work for me. My peditrician said to make sure she was on sheets with nothing near her face and to tuck the blankets in around her. They want to make sure the baby can move its head from side to side without anything near their face.
I'd talk to your baby's doctor to see if they have any other suggestions.
My daughter has slept on her tummy since I brought her home from the hospital. She was a Preemie and spent the first two months of her life in the NICU. Her doctor said that is probably on the reasons she likes sleeping on her tummy. They move the babies from side to side and back to front every 3 hours.
Hope this helps
A.

I believe when a baby can roll over on their own it is safe to let them stay on their tummy. We all know that SID's in lower because of the back to sleep campaign and that is great. However, no one knows their baby better than you. You need to do what your gut tells you; it is not normally wrong! Have you asked your pediatrician? Does your baby have signs of colic that makes it so the heat on her tummy is soothing? Good luck. T.

C.,
Once my daugther learn how to turn over that was it for her sleeping on her back. But I still put her down to sleep on her back, but by morning time she is on her stomach and she loves it. At first I was a little parnoid, but talking to other mothers kinda ease my mind a little about letting her sleep on her stomach. I will say that 3 months it's a little early for her to be sleeping on her stomach. My little girl didn't start until she was 4 or 5 months. I hope I answer you question.

hi C.,
my son is 5 days shy of being three months and ever since he was a week old hes been sleeping on his belly. my sister in law put him to bed on his back and she said he kept crying and squirming and then she remebered i said he sleeps well on his belly so she turned him onto his belly and he passed right out.i just make sure he is on a flat surface meaning no blankets can buldge up in his face. i think sleeping on his belly actually helps him to sleep straight through the night. 7:00 pm- 8:15am.

well she can sleep on tummy now .i let my babies sleep the way wanted to. and they sleep allnight long

i C. my name is S. i am 27 yr old a single mother of a 12 month old little girl. i live in worcester and let me tell u my daughter was the same way she loved sleeping on her belly since the hospital and i let her u need to do what u think is right and if ur comfortable with it till this day that is the way my daughter sleeps and im happy

Hi C.... congrats first of all! :)
Is she rolling over yet? Once they are able to roll over on there own is when you have no control of her preference. I learned this first hand... as soon as he was able to roll over, he preferred his tummy to sleep. I was nervous and checked on him SEVERAL times during the night, but he was happier.
Have a great day! :)

SIDS has been dramatically cut by the back to sleep program. I would not take a chance that one of mine might have died if she had been on her tummy. Only when they can turn themselves over is it safe to put them on their backs. As far as them not developing correctly, that is why tummy time is so important. Also, babies sleep cycles are not like ours. They have light sleep first and then deep sleep. Make sure she is in deep sleep brfore turning.

congratulations on the new baby!!!!! I may get a lot of flack for this, but, both of my girls slept on their tummys from about 3 months on. I know that they are "supposed" to sleep on their backs but sometimes you have to ignore the "experts". I think they can drive a new mother crazy!!! They did me. I would just check on them a lot. The "experts" waver so much that sometimes you just have to figure out what is best for you and your baby. Good luck.

I am in agreence witht he whole "Back to Sleep", but a baby knows what is more comfortable. I put my 1st daughter on her belly, and she didn't sleep unless she was on her back, my 2nd I put on her back, and she didn't sleep unless on her tummy. My 2nd daughter would get so stuffy sleeping on her back, so I didn't put her on her back anymore. The #1 thing talk to your Doctor about it first, #2) MAKE SURE THERE ARE NOOOOOOOO OBJECTS TO GET IN THE BABY'S WAY ( no fringy blankets, no toy's, crib protector's are tied securely etc.) and get a good night's sleep. If you haven't tried it yet, maybe the reason the baby won't sleep on her back is she to get's stuffy. If you feel more comfy with her on her back try taking a pillow ( one of yours) folding it in two, lifting the crib matteress, putting the pillow UNDER the matteress so the matteress is at an incline.

Hi C.,
Congratulations on your little one! I think you should follow your instincts. If your baby is a good size and healthy and there is nothing else in the crib, why not let her sleep on her tummy? My daughter started sleeping on her tummy at 2 weeks (and she's 5 months now). She was happier being on her tummy and that makes all of us happier!
Good luck!
S.

Dear C.,
I'm 24years old first time mother and my daughter, now 10 months, would only sleep on her tummy. I would try to put her on her back, but she would wake up or not sleep for very long on her back. The only problem with it is the risk of SIDS. I would turn the baby monitor up very loud and sleep with it next to my head, so I could hear her to make sure she was ok. Now she only sleeps on her tummy, its her favorite position and she it worked out ok for me. Good Luck
Jenn