My Son Is Not Sleeping on His Back at Home

Both my kids were side sleepers. So...we put them on their sides. My Dr. said both her kids were stomach sleepers, so... she put them on their stomachs.

Not saying back to sleep is not best, just sometimes it just does not work.
K.

My son would not sleep on his back either and swaddling would not help! He always broke out of it and started crying because he scared himself. He was just a few months old when we put him to sleep on his belly, at the advice of my mother. He could move his head side to side pretty well. We started him on his belly at naptime when we could watch him the whole time. Then when we started it at bedtime, we put him back in his cradle that was right next to the bed so we could hear him if he needed us. Then he started only waking up once a night. He's three years old and just within the last year started to sleep on his back. He would sleep on his belly with his butt up in the air. It was cute. But that worked for us. I was very paranoid about doing it!! I'm pregnant with number 2 now and won't put this one on it's belly unless necessary. Good luck!

We've been sleeping our 4 month old on her tummy for over a month now only because she has been able to raise her head and move it from side to side without a problem. We just make sure she's in one of those Sleep Sacs over her PJs so it acts as her blanket and that nothing else is in the crib with her. She sleeps a million times better and longer on her stomach. I know that it goes against everything the doctors tell you but she just does better this way and is happier for it. It's a call you'll have to make but wanted to let you know sleeping her on her tummy worked for us since sleeping on her back wasn't working. When she was on her back we did use an incline sleeper which helped when she was really little if that's of any help.

even if your child is not rolling over yet as long as he can pick up his head he can sleep on his tummy. It is better to let everyone sleep than have everyone cranky because of instistence on back sleeping.

Just a quick note...I think of myself as one of the most paranoid moms in the world - especially when our daughter was little and we worried about SIDS. However, our little girl just did not sleep on her back and, after calling our doctor, we put her to bed on her belly. She is now 15 months and loving life (and so are we now that we get to sleep). whatever you decide will be the right thing but don't punish yourself if you can't do it perfectly. Good Luck!

At 5 months he's probably good and doesn't need to sleep on his back anymore. I've seen babies turn 180 degrees in the Miracle Blanket at 4 months so it's usually a sign that they're done. He may be going through a growth spurt. Encourage sleep when you see the signs and get ready to make another adjustment to your little man's growing!

We went through the SAME THING. I was freaking out because Jake always rolled onto his stomach. At first, I was turning him over every time I noticed it. No sleep for Mom and Dad, the monitor cranked up so I could hear him breathing. I was a wreck. Then, my doctor told me what others have said here. If he can roll over then he's strong enough to choose his sleeping position - within reason. Put him to sleep on his back and let him do what he wants after that. My son is 16 months and I still lay him down for bed on his back. He rolls over immediately, but it's a habit I got into and haven't broken.

Also, if you haven't already....do yourself a favor and still keep everything out of his crib. Obviously, SIDS is a very real issue and shouldn't be taken lightly. For some more detailed information check out this site. It states that SIDS is a risk up to age 1. Most tragedies happen up to 4 months, but still. It doesn't hurt to take a look at the precautions mentioned

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/sids.html

T.

The other advice is correct. Once they can roll over there is nothing you can do about it. There are sleep positioners to keep them on their back and it is actually discouraged by the Peditrics association as you shouldn't have anything in the crib with them.

If they can roll over and pick their heads up they are fine.

my son has been sleeping on his tummy seens he was 2 mons old its never hurt him hes now 3 years old now all most 4 will be 4 in dec and its never hurt him he still sleeps on his tommy to this day

C.

Hi C.

My son is almost 6 months and I have put him on his stomach to sleep for at least 3 months now. I was comfortable putting him on his stomach when he was able to hold his neck up, and honestly it is a good way to strengthen their neck and back muscles. Now he sleeps the best on his stomach in his crib.
We still cosleep with him typically after his night feeding,which we put him on his back.

I feel that the "scare" of SIDS is for newborn infants and not for babys who are 4-6 months old.
Why don't you try it out. Put your son to sleep and then turn him on his stomach and monitor him. You might be surprised at the results and he might sleep very well too.

L.

Mother of an adorable 6 month old boy.

With all the "back to sleep" stuff that they constantly ram into your brain, everyone forgets to tell you that they will eventually roll over and sleep on their sides or tummies! It's OK, if they're strong enough to roll over, lift up their heads &/or support weight on their arms, then they are not going to suffacate on a firm flat crib mattress.

C.,
I remember having the same problem with my daughter. One night I placed her on her stomach in bed with me. I was afraid to do this in her crib. I wanted to be right there to keep a close watch on her. Well, I didn't get much sleep [because I was watching her] but she slept like a baby should sleep. Her doctor wasn't pleased with my doing this but I explained to her how she would sleep for hours vs. 20-30 minutes.
~M

I got nervous when this started happening too. I asked the doctor and they said, once he can roll over, basically there is nothing you can do to stop it. If he is rolling over on his own, then I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Is he sleeping in your bed? Is that why you are asking about a co-sleeper? From what I have heard and experienced on my own is, the sooner you get them in their own room the better. You will sleep better and they will sleep better. We transitioned by starting with naps when I was at home, so that by the time I went back to work, he was used to the crib in his room.

Good luck!

My second daughter hated sleeping on her back, but once she was rolling over I couldn't stop her from sleeping on her tummy. I talked to my pediatrician and she said as long as she is rolling over there was nothing I can do to stop her. So from about five months on she has been a tummy sleeper. I still lay her down on her back and she always ends up on her tummy. I would talk to your doctor and see how he feels about it.

Oddly enough, I am in the very same boat. Our daughter recently learned to roll over and now only wants to sleep on her stomach. I keep rolling her back, but she is not happy about it. We have a cosleeper, but it didn't work that well for us because she didn't really like it and she seemed too long for it. If you are interested in it, email me at ____@____.com anything works for you with the back sleeping, please let me know and we will try it. Kelsey is only rolling one way so I am just pinning that side to the bumper at night and letting her sleep on her stomach for naps. Good Luck!

Jen E.

Hi C.

Try Ebay. www.ebay.com
I checked and there were 6 listed out there.

I wish you the best.

M. R