Putting baby to sleep on tummy

Becles · 9 May 2007 at 9:36AM

Since I came home from hospital, I've had very little sleep due to my baby not sleeping.

She'll drop off to sleep fine in my arms, usually laying with her tummy on my tummy. However the minute I put her down on her own in her cot, she screams the place down. I've been putting her down on her back, as per all the cot death guidlines.

It's not possible to physically hold a baby 24/7. I need time to eat, sleep, etc., which I can't do when I'm holding her all the time.

I tried putting her down on her tummy and she slept on her own yesterday evening, and I've just put her down on her tummy now while I have some breakfast and she's sleeping fine like that again. I can keep an eye on her during the day, but obviously can't at night time.

Has anyone else had a baby who prefers to sleep like this and is it ok to put them to sleep on their tummies?

I'm grateful of the rest while she is sleeping on her own, but I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to her.

Justie · 9 May 2007 at 9:41AM

it's not recommended as there is an increased risk of cot death I'm afraid.

Have you tried putting her in the pram on her back and rocking her in it? Or some other way to get her used to sleeping on her back? I know it's hard but persevere with getting her to sleep on her back.

skylight · 9 May 2007 at 9:42AM

Go with your gut instinct.

I would not put mine on stomachs, but MIL did for all her kids and they are fine now!

Is she happy on her side perhaps?? And babies do like be cuddled all the time (argh!) but have you tried a sling?? Baby can have the closeness and you can still move about and get things done.

The godsend this time round for me was to buy a bouncy chair that vibrates (and a dummy!) Ruby has been in the vibrating chair since birth and loves it becuase she is being moved about. Babies calm down when being moved as they spent the last 9 months in you being rocked about and so find it comforting.

And mine has just started crying again right now, so off for another feed........

skylight · 9 May 2007 at 9:44AM

Before I feed her, quickly, do you sleep during the daytime when she does???? Even half an hour??
Stuff housework, cooking etc. If you get her down even for the shortest time, get yourself down too.

winnie81 · 9 May 2007 at 9:52AM

All 3 of mine owuld only sleep on there tummys. Yes it is/was agains't guidelines but I tried for 3-4 weeks with each of mine to sleep on there backs and it just would not happen. I never slept well and would wake and the slightest movement they did make or if I hadn't heard them for a short while. My other kids are always up and about at night for me to see to them so we were up to check on baby too.

You must do whatever youa re comfortable with and the guidelines are there for a reason.

When number 4 is born in november i will try to get baby used to sleeping on there backs but if they won't have it like the first 3 i will let baby sleep on her tummy as i have done in the past.

I know many people will disagree with me but it suited my babys at the time and I made the choice knowing what the guidelines said. If you want to you could always get one of the sleeping monitors?

Claire x

Suey64 · 9 May 2007 at 9:59AM

Hi,

My little girl is 8 weeks old and is very similar in that she likes being tummy to tummy but I've made the choice not to leave her to sleep like that, instead I have found that she likes to be tucked in well when put down on her own and quite often will get to sleep better on her back if I slightly warm the carry cot with a hot water bottle first. By doing these things she feels tightly cuddled and still like she is getter body warmth.

I hope these give you some ideas.

Suey64

samarnesen · 9 May 2007 at 10:00AM

mine is 16 weeks now and sometimes the only way i can get her to sleep on her own is by wrapping her tightly in a blanket until she falls asleep and then loosening the blanket so she doesnt get to hot
i have got 7 kids and it has been hard but i would rather have no sleep or peace and a baby who is alive it really is more than just a recommendation it is a piece of well researched vital information

Becles · 9 May 2007 at 10:00AM

I took her out for a walk in the pram yesterday afternoon, but the minute we got home and it stopped moving, she started crying again.

I can't sleep during the day at the moment as the man next door is having building work done, so they've got a radio and power tools going all day long. By the time they go home, my older boys are in from school, so I can't sleep then either.

I've tried swaddling her, but that makes her scream worse, and I've tried tucking the blankets tight round her, but she's not keen on that either.

Putting her on her tummy during the day is ok, so at least I get to eat, but I'm scared about doing it at night time.

emmaroids · 9 May 2007 at 10:01AM

tbh if a baby is going to sleep on its tummy all you can do is let it.
my two would sleep in all positions and everything was ok, worrying yea but ok.

Suey64 · 9 May 2007 at 10:08AM

Becles,

I think our babies were seperated at birth, my little girl really is the same, whenever were are out in the car or pram she is fine but as soon as we stop she starts to cry! Even so that when i'm in Sainsburys I have to keep the trolley going or she gets grumpy!

Aside from the things I mentioned before all I can say is that we have a Fisher Prive boucer chair (kick and play, Argos) that vibrates. It didn't always work at first but now when she is sleepy we put her in the chair and lay a blanket over her and the vibration sends her to sleep, sometimes a little rocking is needed but not for long and this gives me time to do things in the day.

I'm having a good brain day today as just remembered that she also nods off to the hoover and sound of the shower occasionally as I guess these are noises she was used to when she was inside?!

Good luck

tanith · 9 May 2007 at 10:22AM

Its many years ago but my son was exactly the same and slept on his tummy till he was a toddler.... and he was fine.... in an ideal world I guess we would all prefer to follow the guidelines but I am afraid babies are fickle little people with their own preferences.....

Putting baby to sleep on tummy

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