Is it totally risky to put baby to sleep on her belly?

Philippines
June 20, 2012 10:05pm CST
My 3week old baby seems to show signs of colic, and finds it hard to sleep at some time of the day. I found out that colic has something to do with gas in their tummy, so I tried to put her to sleep on her belly, and it really did work for her. The pressure on her tummy may have given her a soothing feeling and helped her fall asleep comfortably. I also read that this sleeping position puts baby at risk of SIDS, so I only do that when Im awake so I can make sure she can breathe well. However, Im still a but worried that there may be other factors of this sleeping position that could still be dangerous to my newborn. Are there other things I need to put in mind? Or, should I totally not put her to sleep that way?
6 responses
@ShyBear88 (59261)
• Sterling, Virginia
21 Jun 12
Doctors say not but I think it's okay. As long as she comfortable it's fine. My daughter always slept on her stomach from the moment I brought her home and she still does at 17 months old. She is still a live. There is no safe sleeping position for a baby till after 6 months old each month the risk of them stop breathing in there sleep gets less and less. What I did was checked in on my daughter every hour or so. If you want you can always lay her on the side next to you at night time this some times helps them sleep on there back and make mothers feel better. I wouldn't worry about it because it'll just stress you out which then will make your daughters colic worse.
@ShyBear88 (59261)
• Sterling, Virginia
1 Jul 12
No matter how a child sleeps under the age of year they are always at the risk of SIDS the risk go down with each month that pass. Normally by 6 months you are out of the woods. You kind of with a pregnancy most all miscarriage happen in the first 6 to 8 weeks of pregnancy the same concept goes with babies and SIDS. Back when my mom had me and my brothers in the 80's they said laying a baby on the back was bad now it's the stomach. There is no really good way but there are things that they have proven to help lower the risks like having a fan on when a baby sleeps this forces there brain to remember to breath in and out since they are use to not having to breath on there own we did it for them. Pacifiers as well but I would only give that to a baby that wants it if they don't want it it's okay. Of course always fallow the rules about no pillows or toys in the crib for the first year or so or bassinet and if your co-sleep that is also a risk to SIDS or a parent rolling over on to the child. Really its better to go with your gut and if your baby looks okay then they are okay. Both my nephew and my daughter slept on the stomach the whole first year of there life. My daughter still lays on her stomach won't go to sleep on her back at all unless she falls a sleep in your arms, the car and the bouncy chair but she doesn't sleep as long on her back as she does on her stomach. Also I've noticed that if there is something of mommies that smells like her babies tend to sleep better and some times a bit longer. They tend to fuss less when going to sleep or falling sleep. I don't even read forms any more about baby's and baby safty. I go with what I feel is okay. Things like medication I would talk to my daughter ped or other mothers about because there are some things that aren't taken off the market that is really bad for babies. Some things aren't FDA approved or some times things are put online to start up a fuss. So don't fallow anything you find online unless it says at the end of the URL .gov or .edu because a lot of people only say half of the truth and most of the time it's a lie. As they say mama knows best.
• Philippines
4 Jul 12
Well, you can never go wrong with taking the experts' advices, although, mother's instincts could also matter. For an O.C. mom like me, and a worry-freak, at times, I would go the safe side, and take doctor's advice, especially at the early stage. And, as I go comfortable trying other means, I would, with continued observation and monitoring. I would also take other mom's suggestions, especially those that I know have good experience with babies or kids.
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
21 Jun 12
There are other factors that make babies hard to get sleep. After feeding you need to let them burp by lying on their tummy and gentle caressing their back. After burping, you can return them in normal position. You are right it is risky to let them sleep on thei tummy because of suffocation.
• Philippines
29 Jun 12
Sometimes, baby doesnt burp easily. I have to change positions just to get her to burp and sometimes I have to wait for about 20-30 minutes. But, if i just put her on her tummy right away, it helps her burp easily and sleep well.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
21 Jun 12
I have 2 kids (13 and 2), they were both stomach sleepers. I wouldn't worry about SIDS unless it runs in your family. More and more studies are showing outside factors and genetics are the real cause of SIDS, not how kids sleep. If she is happy on her stomach, let her sleep that way as long as she has no pillows, bedding, ect in the bed she could accidentally suffocate on. Personally, I way always worried about my kids spitting up and suffocating while sleeping on their backs. Side note: have you tried changing your diet? Gassy foods - broccoli for example - will cause the baby discomfort.
• Philippines
29 Jun 12
If its genetics, then I guess chances are slim for my kids. Still, we have to take precautionary measures like you mentioned above. I only put her to sleep on her belly at day time, though, when Im awake and I can check up on her frequently. As for my diet, I'm not so sure which food type are gassy, but I'll look it up. Thanks.
@Labrat (210)
21 Jun 12
I think it depends on the person you talk to. The parents I know sometimes say its ok but some say its not okay. The general pattern I have found is that those that are on their first child are very cautious and do everything by the book, but those parents who have had a few children and therefore previous experience tend to know when to be cautious and when to do what experience has shown them.
• Philippines
29 Jun 12
My mother, made us sleep on our tummies when we were babies, and all 3 of us are still alive and have our own babies, now. I think this whole sleeping position cautions started recently. But, during our time, 80's and older, there were not much strict advices about it. My mother even suggested that I do the same so my baby could sleep more soundly.
@TheIzers (680)
21 Jun 12
My baby has sensitive tummy too and the pediatrician suggested us not to put baby sleep on her tummy, instead we burb her for 15-20 minutes everytime she finished feeding. It helps her sleep better, the colic causes fussiness too, you might want to give her water grip when your baby fussiness is getting worse and keeping her from sleep.
@swapmind (355)
• Australia
21 Jun 12
yep for a newborn baby sleeping position matters a lot.making a baby sleep on tummy sometimes turn dangerous because at that age baby is unable to roll but at a later stage it is still safe.The utmost important thing is baby should be under constant supervision.
• Philippines
29 Jun 12
My baby is amazingly able to turn her head in a comfotable position all on her own, whenever I turn her to sleep on her tummy. But of course, extra precaution still matters.