[sheri0082]

I posted a thread with my concerns of getting my little one to sleep in his crib, and this may kinda could have something to do with it, i don't know.

My little one when i lay him on the couch next to me for a nap, with me being right here of course, he falls asleep easily on hi tummy. When I try to roll him over onto his back he wakes back up and rarely will fall back to sleep. I know it is not safe for babies to sleep on their tummys but why? He sleeps so well and I never put anything soft underneath him.

[Tracey with 6]

SIDS reserch says that sleeping babies on their tummies causes a higher risk of cot death, I am sure if you perservere with putting him onhis back or side he will learn to sleep ther for you, it is up to you but I wouldn't risk my child, good luck

[JeanLynn81]

The general rule is that if he doesn't have a strong neck, and hasn't rolled over yet, its just not a good idea to leave him like that unsupervised.

When people are sleeping, obviously their muscles relax alot more. So imagine a baby, who is shaky enough when moving their heads about, has relaxed muscles.

Their brains may also not be developed enough to even send that signal to let them know to move their heads.

So, my best advice is to wait until baby is rolling over fairly strongly.

[purelegance]

all the babies in my family have slept on their tummies, but only because they turn themselves that way. We put them on their backs, if they turn -- they turn. I believe the risk lessens once they can turn themselves over. I was always told that as long as YOU start them on their back, that's all that matters.

[sheri0082]

Yeah I don't let him sleep that way at night and he doesn't sleep that way any other time except occasionally when i let him have his tummy time and he falls asleep. He just wakes up so easily when i move him or get him out of that position.

Thanks for everyones replies!

[poliscmjr]

I'm going to say something that I'm sure a lot of you won't agree with. DS has never slept on his back. In the hospital he was on his side in the basniet. When I brought him home I tried him on his back and side and he wouldn't sleep just scream and cry. I put him on his tummy and he slept great. I was worried about SIDs but he was sleeping right next to me so I would watch him a lot of the night.

When he was 3 months old I moved him into his crib (took out the bumpers of course) and he has been sleeping great on his tummy. Now at almost 7 months he is rolling but he does start out on his tummy.

My opinion you have to do what works well for you and the baby.

Good luck!

[MamaWrites]

I would definitely put your baby on his back. But you could let him sleep on his tummy while he is laying on you and you are awake during the day for a little bit. When he is really out after a while, then try placing him on his back while still on you. This might help him not to wake up, getting him a little more used to back sleeping. Of course, it takes time on your part, but you will have an excuse to just hold your child to your chest and enjoy him

[kalhayd2]

I'd NEVER put any of my children to sleep on their bellies. I'd much rather lose sleep. I've been exposed first hand to MANY mothers of babies whom died of SIDS through my support group for my DD. It's a VERY real thing and some of them have the BIGGEST regrets about belly sleeping.

Not worth it to me in the least.

Psst- K started belly sleeping around 6.5 months because she put herself to sleep that way- to this day at 14 months she is still a belly sleeper w/bum in the air.

[VinniesMommy]

I wouldn't let any of the kids sleep on their bellies unless I was right there ((laying on the couch or in bed with me)) but, I had to swaddle Scarlette until she was almost 6 months old or she wouldn't sleep on her back... good luck!

[twinzplus3]

My rule of thumb is that if they got themselves there--fine. (meaning if they rolled over in their sleep) but I wouldn't put them down that way. But we co-slept which *I believe* decreases the risk of SIDS so I wasn't overly concerned about it.