I know babies are supposed to sleep on their backs but...

last night it was so hot in our house and I didn not want to swaddle ds. He's 8 weeks tomorrow and he needs to be swaddled or else he wakes himself up. I've been letting him nap on his belly b/c he sleeps a lot and I don't want him to get a flat head. Anyway, he's in a cosleeper so I let him sleep on his belly last night. I was up all night checking on him. I think he would have slept longer but I finally flipped him to his back @ 3 am and he woke up I guess my question is, do any of you let your babies sleep on their bellies? My mom is always saying how we all did and are okay.

Re: I know babies are supposed to sleep on their backs but...

My mom says the same thing.

At that age (8 weeks) I did not let her sleep on her belly...only her back. I was afraid because everyone kept telling me to keep her on her back so I did.

Now (almost 11 months) she gets the best sleep on her belly. I notice she sleeps longer when on her belly or side than on her back.

Re: I know babies are supposed to sleep on their backs but...

Well not on her belly, but she would ONLY sleep on her side at that age.
That was it- she would not sleep on her back.
So I let her sleep on her side in the rock n play sleeper.
She was fine- I'd just make sure her face wasn't pressed up against anything and her nose and mouth were clear

Re: I know babies are supposed to sleep on their backs but...

At that age he was swaddled too, so he was sleeping on his back. By the time he was 4 months old he was no longer swaddled and was rolling. Now he sleeps on his tummy or side and hardly ever his back. You need to do what is best for you.

Re: I know babies are supposed to sleep on their backs but...

If he's sleeping well on his belly you could get the Angel Care Monitors that would monitor his breathing all night. How's his head/neck control?

Re: I know babies are supposed to sleep on their backs but...

My DS is 9 months old and sleeps on his belly now, but I personally would have been too nervous to put him to sleep on his tummy at that age.

I know everyone says that's how we all slept when we were babies, but our moms didn't know what we know about it now.

I'm also the parent of a child who had torticollis, ended up with flat head and needed a helmet for 4 months and I STILL wouldn't put a child to sleep on their stomach unless they put themselves there.

I know every parent needs to do what's right for their child, but just wanted to give a different perspective.

Please don't flame!

Re: I know babies are supposed to sleep on their backs but...

Both of my boys have been belly sleepers from early on.

I put DS1 on his belly at 8 weeks - he had torticollis which tends to go hand-in-hand with flat head (but not always of course) and without a doubt I believe that the reason he never had a flat head nor need for a helmet was because he was a belly sleeper.

DS2 started sleeping on his belly at 2 weeks.

But I confident in my decision to belly sleep. I have educated myself on how to sleep my children on their bellies and how to determine when they are able to do so.


We do what works best for our families. If it scares you too much then I firmly believe you should not allow it. If you are comfortable doing it then I strongly suggest you look into the proper way to do it.

Message edited 5/25/2011 12:26:16 PM.