Did you put your babies to sleep on tummy or back? POLL

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Forum -> Parenting our children -> Infants

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Did you put your babies to sleep on their back or tummy?

Always on tummy

39%

[ 139 ]

Always on back

37%

[ 131 ]

For naps on tummy, for nights on back

[ 30 ]

Differently for each baby

14%

[ 49 ]

Total Votes : 349

amother

OP ↓

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 7:56 pm

I’m due soon with my third. My first 2 I put them to sleep only on their backs (for naps and nighttime) because I was nervous of the risks.

However, my babies were very difficult and hardly slept. I considered tummy sleep but didn’t have the guts to do it.

I’m hoping this baby will be easier, but I’m also curious about other people’s experiences. Is putting baby to sleep on tummy really that risky? I plan to nurse like I did my others and keep them close anyway, not in a different room.

Looking for insight and helpful ideas! Thanks.

Tiredmom3

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 8:00 pm

Talk to your pediatrician.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 8:05 pm

Tiredmom3 wrote:

Talk to your pediatrician.

Aren’t they required to say back to sleep?
Truthfully, I’m not looking for textbook medical advice. It’s constantly changing anyway and they don’t take personal circumstances into account.

I specifically want to hear from experienced moms. They’re the best resource IMO.

amother

Camellia

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 8:08 pm

I was nervous in the beginning. Kept him in infant seat for the first month. Then put him on his tummy. He wouldn't sleep on his back. Loved the tummy

amother

NeonPurple

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 8:09 pm

The first few months definitely on the back. After that whichever way your baby prefers is safest.

amother

Aconite ↓

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 8:12 pm

They get stronger neck muscles sooner when kept on their tummy

shprintz1

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 8:23 pm

Until their head control is good back but pretty quickly tummy once they’re strong enough

amother

Oleander

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 8:31 pm

Back until they have good neck control and can roll over, then however that baby sleeps best. Also since that’s when you shouldn’t swaddle anymore, sleeping on their tummy can help them not startle and wake up.

amother

Vanilla

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 8:31 pm

Once they turn onto their stomach I let them sleep on it because they usually prefer it. Only one child slept on her back past 3 months and she was still being swaddled. Loosely but swaddled. That's also my child with hf autism though...

amother

Honey ↓

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 8:34 pm

Always back. I’d rather a fussy baby than a dead one

amother

Oxfordblue

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 8:36 pm

I put to sleep on tummy, but make sure not to tell Dr. About it.

giftedmom ↓

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 8:37 pm

Always tummy once they start rolling over they make themselves comfortable

amother

Mint

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 8:41 pm

amother OP wrote:

Yes. They're required to say back to sleep.
I always put my kids on tummy. If your nervous you can try side but if you research you'll see most of the theories regarding back to sleep being a danger don't have solid proof.
They say sids rate significantly decreased when baby's were put to sleep on their back. However, at the same time in utero testing increased so there was a higher percentage of sick baby's that were able to be treated based on in utero findings.
There is also the danger of a baby choking on spit up when sleeping on their back. But for some reason that gets pushed to the back burner

amother

Seashell

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 8:43 pm

When I was in the hospital after giving birth to my oldest I asked the nurse what the best position for him was. I told her I was concerned about him getting a flat head so she said as long as his head is completely turned on its side it's fine for him to be on his stomach/side.
I rolled up swaddle blankets to prop him up with.
Babies who are back sleepers MUST have tummy time or they will get flat heads.
I've been working with babies for almost 10 years and I see this alot.
I have seen some babies with such flat heads that they eventually needed to wear a helmet.

amother

Cyclamen

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 8:48 pm

Voted tummy but for the first few days I perch them on their sides with a rolled blanket, as I've seen is routine in the NICU.

(And yes, my babies all use blankets too. Little ones tucking their bodies in, not anywhere or anyway that would be a suffocation hazard.)

amother

↑ Honey ↓

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 8:50 pm

amother Cyclamen wrote:

In the NICU they have 1:1 nursing. Someone is watching them at all Times. That’s not the same as a home setting where everyone is sleeping.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 9:12 pm

For those that put to sleep on their tummy, do you just disregard what the medical world advises? Or have you done your own research?

I’m really considering putting my baby to sleep on tummy right away… I don’t want to deal with the endless stress of trying to get baby to sleep for hours on their back only to wake up 7 minutes later, which is my previous experience.

amother

NeonOrange

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 9:21 pm

I voted tummy but I don’t do it from day one. I start at about a month or so when I feel like they really lift their head properly. Also I never give a blanket in their crib.

amother

Cerulean

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 9:23 pm

amother Mint wrote:

I read an article about this that talked about how the same time that they pushed the whole back to sleep campaign they also stopped having babies sleep with blankets and bumpers.
They also found that in polling most mothers will lie, just like some mothers above said, to the pediatrician and to pollsters about whether they put the babies to sleep on the back or not.

So the numbers were off.

Personally I did put my later kids to sleep on their side and when I saw that they were able to move their heads I would put them on their stomach. Usually that was within 2 weeks or so.

amother

Celeste

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 9:28 pm

I put mine to sleep on their tummy almost from day one. At first I do only naps so I can keep an eye on them, and I slant the mattress of the bassinet so their head is slightly higher than their tush. Once they’re about 1-2mo and I can see they have good head control even in their sleep, I put them on their belly overnight as well.
I had the discussion w a pediatrician and got put down for it obviously, but after doing my own research and trusting my gut I don’t care anymore. Also, the doctors love to yell at ppl who put babies to sleep on their stomach and then marvel at the great core strength and nice round head shapes lol

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