Not to stir up controversy, but since this was part of Carman's post for paci's or not, I was wondering what you have done as far as baby sleep positions. I thought it would be enlightening for first time moms as well.

Of course, I'm an old school mom, so I've seen/experienced how "research" has changed over the years. With my first there was no real advice on how baby should sleep, just whatever was the baby's preference was fine - no link between "crib death" as it was called back then (SIDS) and a baby's sleep position. My oldest is 22 years old. By the time my 2nd came along (5 years later); he is now 17 - the recommendation from "research" was that they should never sleep on their backs, due to the possibility of them spitting up in their sleep and choking/aspirating the vomit into their lungs and this was thought to be the primary cause of SIDS. With Ava the new "research" was that they should never be allowed to sleep on their tummies because that was what somehow caused SIDS.

I know Rachel mentioned that one of her boys would not stay on his back to sleep. Ava wasn't a back sleeper either and since I had 2 sons that survived sleeping on their tummies, I decided not to let "research" dictate how I should force my child to sleep. I am inclined to believe in SIDS being a predisposition type of syndrome. If your child is going to have that situation, there's probably not much you could do to stop it. Just my opinion. I just wanted to post this mostly for the new moms, in case you have a baby that doesn't like or won't sleep well on their back; don't worry that you will hurt your baby, by letting him/her get comfortable to sleep. Also please note that if you do decide to make sure your baby sleeps on his/her back, you want to be sure and alternate which side you have their heads turn to. This is the only way to avoid a flat spot either to one side or the other or even a flat back of the head. There are more flat headed children nowadays from back sleeping, because they are constantly on the backs of their little heads. This can be more than just a cosmetic issue for some.

Anyway, I will be allowing Presley to sleep however she is comfortable - be it on her side, her back or her tummy. What will/have the rest of you do/done?

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Oh one more thing, in the hospital, if the nurses came in and I was holding Ava sleeping facing me (which would be like tummy sleeping) they would reprimand me for not having her on her back. So don't be surprised if that happens. Just pacify them in the hospital to save yourself the grief, but remember you'll be home soon without "big brother/sister" watching over your shoulder.

Great thread, Shannon. I'm curious to read all the responses.

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Im really hoping for a back sleeper, but whatever the baby is more comfier with and sleeps better doing, Ill go with it.

I was a worried wreck with Carson back sleeping AND having bad reflux. He HATED back and side sleeping. Kept going onto his tummy. He also HATED to be wrapped up in a blanket.

Isaac was a back sleeper and he preferred his head to one side. Turning head didn't help cause he turned his head back to where it was. He does have a slight flat side to one side of his head. Dr didn't think it was worrisome back then tho.

ITA.

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Rachel
Proud Mother of 2 Boys and a Girl
Isaac David born February 24th, 2004
Carson Eli born January 18th, 2006
Kianna Rachelle born May 25th, 2008







***Just Add Baby ACD***

***Host of Baby Dust Grads***

Ava hated blankets when she was little bitty too. She would constantly kick them off. So I kept her in a sleeper, so I knew she was at least covered up that much. What's funny is now she insists on having a "blankie" to snuggle up in.

I think it's the back of the head flat spots that cause more trouble than the sides having a flatter shape. You can almost tell which babies are just left in a seat or laying all the time, rather than being held and played with, by that very flat and boxy look.
Both of your boys have a nice curve to the back of their little heads.

Carson does too now. Actually 2 blankets needed
He also isn't so much of a belly sleeper either. He is an all over sleeper now, lol.

Ava was pretty flexible. She slept ok on her back and I will try to get this one to do so as well. I have a boppy sleep positioner that is slightly inclined and has a memory foam backing to keep her from getting a flat spot. Once Ava started rolling over (around 4 months) I let her sleep on her tummy.

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Yeah, once they can roll over on their own, you're beating a dead horse to get them to stay in a position they don't want to be in. I've always heard that once they can do that, they can usually get themselves turned if they need a new position too.

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We started out with Kylie sleeping on her back. We did not give her a pillow or a blanket either and let her sleep in a sleeper sack (whatever they are called). However, she started rolling over from belly to back at 4 weeks old and a month later or so was rolling the other way. She'd start out sleeping on her back then but would often roll onto her stomach. I never panicked and I never rolled her back over. I figured if she was strong enough to roll over on her own then I didn't need to feel too nervous that she wouldn't be able to roll again if she needed to. I plan to do the same with this baby. Once he starts rolling, I will let him sleep however he wants.

I think the thing about SIDS is there is not enough evidence or whatever to know exactly what causes it. I think the things they recommend are more precautions that they hope will work but I don't think anything is conclusive 100% at this point. The research on it changes so often too. I don't think it's bad to follow the recommendations as long as you keep in mind that nothing is 100% and you don't make yourself panic over every little thing. That was my motto last time and it worked out pretty well I think. I wasn't as paranoid as I might have been otherwise. I followed the recommendations mostly but with a little variety, so to speak. Besides, things that they recommend today may be something that they completely advise against 5 years from now. That has happened many times already.

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Tasha & Scott (11/27/99)
Proud parents of:
Kylie Noel (5/5/05) & Cohen Blake (6/18/08)

Isabella slept on her back because that is waht they told me was the right thing to do. However i think she would have been a better sleeper if I allowed her to sleep on her tummy. She slept really well on her tummy. However when she learned to roll over she never slept on her tummy. I assume I will try this baby on his back, but if he sleeps better on his tummy or has any sort of reflux problem.....I have no problem with him sleeping on his tummy.

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Katie slept on her back for 6 weeks in her bassinet. She was severely colicky and so once she moved over to the crib tummy sleeping was survival for us!!! We invested in an Angel Care monitor (just in case) and honestly I never worried about it for one second. If hanging her by her toes helped her colic...that's how she would have slept! lol! This baby I think we'll tummy sleep after the bassinet stint...but only with the Angel monitor

note: if you get the Angel monitor you should know that something like a fan blowing or the washing machine vibrations from another room can make the alarm think it's a baby breathing. I got Katie out once and forgot to turn off the monitor and the alarm didn`t go off. The fan in her room was barely blowing on the very tip of the cribs dust ruffle but it was enough for the Angel system to think it was breathing. It`s very sensitive!

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Once my babies can turn themselves over, I don't see a big issue with positioning. Until that point, mine have been content sleeping in the "wedge" positioner next to me...or, more commonly, they're ON me (tummy to tummy or in the crook of my arm with me on my back or side). Obviously this won't be an issue with a homebirth this time, but I'd honestly have zero respect for a nurse that reprimanded me (mom of four...going on five...thriving kiddos - haha!) for holding my babe tummy to tummy while s/he slept. But then I know that's just ridiculous! There's nothing like holding your own sleeping baby up against your chest like that. I've done it with all of mine and I think we both got the best...most content...sleep that way.

Funny about the blankets - my small babies tend to like being swaddled. My preschooler (Kiley) attached herself to a velour blankie as a baby...it's now in shreds and lovingly named, "Bob." My toddler, who coincidentally just laid down for a nap, hates blankets all of a sudden - wants nothing to do with them...it drives me crazy to think about her getting chilled after she goes to sleep. I try to sneak in and cover her, but she is typically a very light sleeper. My DH laughs at me and says, "She's asleep...she's fine!" But I remember waking up chilly as a little girl sometimes so that thought/image is always on my mind.

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I was paranoid with Zoie, she slept in the crook of my arm on her back for the first 4months! MY sholder was so sore! When we finally moved we were able to get her in a crib and let her sleep however she wanted. JSYK I didn't let ANYONE touch her for the first few days (even poor dh had a hard time getting me to let him have her LOL) and she wasn't allowed around kids LOL, I was a young first time mommy

With Magi, she hated sleeping on her back! I would swaddle her and put her in the sleep positioner on her side until she could roll on her own then she slept however she wanted to.

With Xander (really bad reflux-even still) he was swaddled, in a sleep positioner on an incline on his back or sides until he could sit up on his own LOL - I tend to be a little over protective of him too

I think I will do the same with Avy, she will be swaddled and in a sleep positioner on an incline on her back or sides until she can roll over or has good head controle, Just because it makes me feel better LOL

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Angelina had terrible reflux and would only sleep in about 1/2 hour increments if put on her back in the bassinet or crib so she slept in her swing until we got the Amby bed at 9 weeks...at which point she started sleeping through the night!
So this time I am not messing around...we are using the Amby bed right away (although I have been considering getting one of those co-sleepers to see how it would work out in order to try and make night breastfeeding easier).
When she really started to want to move around too much for the Amby bed (around 6 months) she easily transitioned to the crib at that point.

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Ashley slept on her back at first and soon after she decided she liked sleeping on her side. I didn't think it was a big deal.

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Dawn



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