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CuriousG 
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Raumati South
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 Topic: Tummy Sleeping
Posted: 06 December 2009 at 6:37pm |
So I have discovered that my son loves to sleep on his stomach. He sleeps like an angel and it really helps his wind as well.
However, there is so many people against tummy sleeping and I am a little ignorant about it.
What are the cons and possible problems ie related to SIDS? How many other people have had their babies sleep on their tummy without incident? MIL slept all her babies like that and they are fine - it was the norm back then but I am not sure why not now..
Any advice would be good...
TIA! 
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cuppatea
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Joined: 05 February 2007
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Posted: 06 December 2009 at 6:39pm |
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I'm not sure how it increases the chances of SIDS I just know that it does.
Have you tried side sleeping him? or if you really wanted to tummy sleep I think I would invest in a movement monitor.
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LG
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Joined: 31 March 2007
Location: Northland
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Posted: 06 December 2009 at 7:12pm |
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At about 4 weeks we found Kaelin was a much better sleeper when on her tummy and helped with her wind too, my MW suggested we try her on her tummy. I got an angel care monitor off trade me because i was scared about SIDS too. Im the same as cuppatea - not sure how it increases it either but i think it might have something to do with overheating and not being able to lift their heads or roll over yet????
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mollycat
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Posted: 06 December 2009 at 8:30pm |
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At about 6.5 weeks, I was at my wits end with my son. He has fairly severe reflux and from about 3 weeks when it kicked in until 6.5 weeks, he literally would NOT sleep if put on his back. He would scream and scream and scream. This meant he was on me the entire day and most of the night. In desperation one morning, I put him on his tummy and ran to the bathroom. Low and behold, he fell asleep like that and slept for 2 hours - the longest he'd ever taken a nap. I talked to my GP and he said it was fine to trial sleeping him on his tummy for day naps as I would be right there.
The main fear seems to be that babies sleep more deeply while on their stomachs so may not realise they are in trouble before it is too late and young babies may not have enough strength in their heads and necks to turn their head from side to side without it getting stuck in the middle and suffocating.
I have slept Ryan on his tummy during the day since 6.5 weeks and at night since he was about 13 weeks. When we started I would literally peek in on him every 2 to 3 minutes, when he stopped making any noise, when he made a weird noise - basically all the time. As time when by and I could see how strong he was I didn't check on him as much. When I felt confident that he was too strong to "get stuck" face down, I decided to sleep him on his tummy at night. He still wakes during the night but now it is usually 1-2 times instead of the 10-20 he had been doing.
My advice to you would be to perhaps try sleeping him on his tummy during the day when you can check on him all the time and sleeping him on his side at night until you are comfortable with his strength and you are no longer worried about it. And like the others suggest - perhaps get a movement monitor if you are really concerned.
I personally think there is minimal risk if you have a firm mattress with little else in the cot, a strong healthy baby, and no other risk factors for SIDS (smoking, prem baby, etc).
ETA: I should say that yes - I am aware that the studies show that SIDS has decreased since babies were switched to back sleeping. However, there is always a risk with virtually everything in life. It is up to you to decide what you are comfortable with.
Edited by mollycat
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oscarboo
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Posted: 06 December 2009 at 8:39pm |
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We have been tummy sleeping here since about 6 months. Before that we side slept her with a wedge as she didn't settle very well on her back and would wake up upset during the night. I admit I did check her a few times the first night she slept on her tummy but know now that she is fine. Sometimes you have to do what is needed for bubs to get a good sleep
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AandCsmum
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Posted: 06 December 2009 at 8:54pm |
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I have discovered now I have a tummy sleeper. Takes after Mum I guess, but he will put himself into a tummy position.
I 2nd the idea of a movement monitor to allay your fears
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Kel
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12
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angel4
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Posted: 06 December 2009 at 9:50pm |
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I am another one that had a baby with severe reflux. Being on his back caused him so much pain, nappy changing was a nightmare let alone trying to get him to sleep on his back. The only way i could get him to sleep was on me. Then one day i was sitting with him on my chest (on his tummy) and i thought i wonder if he would stay asleep if i transfered him to the floor. He stayed asleep!!! For a while i only slept him like that during the day when i was pottering around so that i could keep an eye on him. I noticed that he always put his head to the side so felt confident that he would be fine. We did have a movement monitor on his bassinet though so that was a reassurance and he was in our room too.
For us it was either sleep him on his tummy (how he was comfortable) or put him on his back which caused him so so much pain. I felt it was safer to have him on his tummy than to sleep with him on my chest (i was exhausted).
Note also he is now 15months and still sleeps on his tummy.
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Tummy Sleeping
