she ONLY likes sleeping on her tummy!

We have found that my DD seems to only be comfortable when sleeping on her tummy. She will sleep on my chest (or DH) just fine or she will sleep on a very firm couch pillow REALLY well (of course, we only put her there when we're sitting right next to her). Sometimes she will sleep in the bouncy chair, but she tires of it really quickly. Anybody else have a baby who only seems to like his/her tummy??? We put DD in the bouncy chair at night for as long as she will last (some nights better than others) and then I ususally sleep inclined in bed or on the couch with her on my chest when she tires of the chair. I'm just super-petrified of SIDS and I don't want to leave her on her tummy unattended. Any of you found a way to make a tummy-sleeper happy on her back?

 

We have found that my DD seems to only be comfortable when sleeping on her tummy. She will sleep on my chest (or DH) just fine or she will sleep on a very firm couch pillow REALLY well (of course, we only put her there when we're sitting right next to her). Sometimes she will sleep in the bouncy chair, but she tires of it really quickly. Anybody else have a baby who only seems to like his/her tummy??? We put DD in the bouncy chair at night for as long as she will last (some nights better than others) and then I ususally sleep inclined in bed or on the couch with her on my chest when she tires of the chair. I'm just super-petrified of SIDS and I don't want to leave her on her tummy unattended. Any of you found a way to make a tummy-sleeper happy on her back?

 

My ds was the same way. It was so frustrating knowing he would sleep twice as long if I could just turn him over! I finally came to this compromise (I may get some dirty looks for this...) I would let him nap on his stomach, but put him on his back to sleep at night. My pediatrician was ok with that, and as soon as he started rolling over I let him stay on his tummy.

Reyna

 

I put John on his tummy to nap. I do check on him often though. At night, I put him on his back. I only feel comfortable doing this if I can watch him closely.

 

quote:
I would let him nap on his stomach, but put him on his back to sleep at night.

Jacob loved to sleep on his tummy when he was tiny....I did the same thing.

 

I'll admit that I'm a rule breaker, I've always slept all my kids on their tummies. They just sleep so much better. And, I worry about SIDS either way anyway.

 

Have you tried her on her side with stuff propping her so that she can't roll to her tummy? Just a thought!

I know people who let their babies sleep on their tummies if that's the only way they would sleep. It's a really tough call! Have you tried swaddling etc. I guess you could just watch her closely and make sure there's plenty of fresh air available around her face.....

I know of people who have had the worst happen and that's why I now hesitate. It used to be that if that's how they'd sleep I would say "let them sleep".....can't do that now, but you have to use your best judgment!! No matter what you do ultimately, you have support here!!

 

I'm a rule breaker too...worse than you would think! For a couple of MONTHS I had my girls on the couch on their tummies for one or two naps a day. That is the only way they would sleep for a long time. I, of course, stayed right in the living room and I have to admit I did it basically for my own sanity because I needed that break each day and they were a little less fussy with a good nap. Even worse probably is that I would end up holding one of my girls in bed at night because she would only sleep for an hour or so at a time in her crib. I was also so afraid of SIDS, and still am. I can't tell you how many people have told me they have done the same thing (put the babies on their tummies). They really do sleep better!

The good thing is my girls are now 5 months old and sleeping 10.5-12 hours per night on their backs in their cribs. Just know it gets better!

 

Norah is a belly sleeper and we let her sleep however she sees fit. While I understand the risk of SIDS, we let her sleep on our chest and on her side in the bed. Nap time, I lay her down on her belly as well. As long as the baby is not unattended while belly sleeping there is no real harm!