But he doesn't want to sleep on his back
We all know you are supposed to put your baby to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS. Well from very early on J would always turn on his side, he hated being on his back. I tried to stop him but he always managed to end up on his side. I came to terms with that and I had the little sleep positioner things to keep him from going on his stomach.
Well now he manages to end up on his stomach. He's very determined I tell ya. It freaked me out to walk into the room to see him face planted in his co-sleeper. So...if he constantly turns onto his stomach himself, then what??
Well now he manages to end up on his stomach. He's very determined I tell ya. It freaked me out to walk into the room to see him face planted in his co-sleeper. So...if he constantly turns onto his stomach himself, then what??
posted by Mama C-ta at
11:10 PM
10 Comments:
My son did the same thing--turned himself onto his stomach from about 6 months on. I have just decided to stop worrying--vigilant, ever vigilant, but worrying accomplishes little. Besides, our parents generation didn't know anything about sleeping--and look, we're all alive! I say just make sure he doesn't have blankets over his face area and then let him sleep on his stomach--if he can lift his head up really well, he should be able to turn it to the side. But...I'm pretty laid back in a way--I try to trust my instincts. What do mamas do in other parts of the world where they've never heard of SIDS? Ya know?
i was told if they could turn themselves over that you shouldn't worry. where i heard that, i'm not sure i remember so i will just shut up now LOL :)
The New York Times recently had a piece on this. It's at http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/18/health/18slee.html?ex=1131339600&en=ecc8953f6c45d0c7&ei=5070
It's called "A Quiet Revolt Against the Rules on SIDS" by Brian Braiker on 10/18/05 in case the link doesn't go through.
I was going to suggest you let him sleep on his belly. When J was abot 2 1/2 months old we started letting her sleep on her belly and she slept wonderfully from that day on. I on the other hand was scared shitless!
Pearl has recently started doing exactly that! She can roll over like crazy and lift her head fine so I don't worried about it. Is he actually sleeping facedown tho? That would worry me. She sleeps on the side of her face.
Both mine did this. I just checked on them often. That's about all you can do.
Fuzzypeach - I think that is what bothers me, he was face down...well his body was tilted a little but he had his head turned in face down. I noticed this is how he likes to sleep. If ! have him in a Mei Tai he likes to burry his face in my chest where I'm certain he can't breath. I constantly turn it to the side but he puts it right back. He's not the best rollover-er so it concerns me although he can lift his head just fine.
What he does is when going to sleep he turns his head in to suck on the mattress (see pic above), unless I have my boob in his mouth. I guess it's soothing but he refuses a pacifier or any other actual sucking device. So he is face down, body tilted to the side a little, sucking on the mattress. And then he goes to sleep like this sometimes. If I turn his head he'll stir, suck on the mattress again and fall asleep. There are times when he'll put his head back but not always! This kid is digging me an early grave!
Yikes. That would scare me too. There is conflicting advice on this issue. Dr. Sears mentions something about allowing a baby to sleep in the position that he naturally gravitates towards if nothing else you've tried works. But I think the general recommendation is if they turn on to their tummy, you are to flip them back over. But again, going back to that Dr. Sears tidbit...I'd flip J over as often as I saw him in that position and just watch him carefully during daytime naps. But you can't stay awake all night to watch him, so I'd just let him sleep how he wants to. Sans sucking mattress, that is, lol.
I always put Em and Ava both on their tummies to sleep. It's how I (and most of us) were raised, and we made it. The key thing is to just check on baby often. It was with the advent of baby monitors that people got hung up on listening for sounds that they stopped actually checking in on baby often. I also have one of those video monitors, so I literally watched them the whole time they slept. They turned face-down sometimes but I'd just go in and turn their heads. They always slept much more comfortably on their tummies (especially Em, who was a colicky, constipated preemie), so it probably just feels good to him with his current tummy troubles. That photo of him is so adorable. Happy dating and preggers anniversary! I wish you were able to celebrate as you had hoped, but at least you've got the two best gifts of all!
Excellent advice, could save lives!
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