So, my baby is a side sleeper. I think it is basically because we cosleep and he nurses in a side lying position. If I ever put him down to sleep I put him on his back, but he does end up on his side at night in bed. In the hospital the ped that came to check on him (since ours doesn't do rounds at the hosp we delivered at) noticed he was side sleeping and gave me quite the lecture (he was very nice, but you know what I mean). I was like, okay. LOL Smile and nod kinda thing. But anyhow, he said that side sleeping was no longer considered safe by the American Pediatric whatever. So, now I wonder. Dang, I hate it when I wonder. I am usually back asleep before he is done nursing and not awake to put him on his back. Does anyone feel this is important enough of an issue to try and put him on his back? Why on earth am I feeling less confident the second time around? LOL

well the peds would have a field day with me. I put my kids on their tummys or sides-except Megyn, she was my first and I was pretty much doing everything by the book. James and Mark had/have really bad reflux and on their backs they would choke and sometimes stop breathing and gasping for breath. So on their sides at least what they were trying to get out was actually COMING out, on their tummy they hardly ever refluxed anyhow.

Im not saying TO or NOT TO put your baby on his side, nor am I saying TO or NOT TO put him on his tummy. I AM saying that I trusted my own instincts and made sure to check on my babies frequently not only because of how they were laying, but because of the scary reflux. Anyhow, I think its crazy how peds make blanket statements that NO baby should be on their side/back. I seem to remember reading that there is actual evidence that sids may be caused by a physiological difference more than sleep positioning. and since peds have no way of pin pointing which babies are more prone to sids, they just say ALL babies need to be on their back. Same thing with the 'new' Vit D reccomendations for breastfed babies. they have really no way of knowing how much sunlight each different child processes because of the variety of pigmentations, so they just say ALL babies need Vit D so that they hope to prevent rickets in the ones that are at risk.

I dont have the statistics, but Id be interested in finding out the rate of sids during the 'tummy sleep' era vs the back to sleep era. But then with the statistics, you have to account for environmental possibilities as well, did the mother smoke while pg, did the parents smoke in the home, what about alcohol, how much of an impact did that have on sids. As we all know, mothers used to smoke all the time while pg and it was thought to be okay at that time.

Ugh,ok so Im ranting a little.

What it all comes down to is your comfort level. I personally have told my ped that my baby sleeps with us, I TOTALLY expected her to challenge me on it. The only thing she did was look at dh and I both and ask if we were comfortable with it, we both said yes and she said "great!" If she had challenged me on it, you bet I would be second guessing my choice. It's tough when a medical professional causes us to question our choices, but most of the time they have ours and our babies health in mind and arent just trying to be right, same goes for us moms.

I probably havent answered your question at all LOL but if there are not any medical reasons for your child to HAVE to be on his back and in YOUR judgement its ok to have him on his side, then I say continue doing what feels like the right thing.

ditto - bad mama here!!!!! Both of my kiddos are belly sleepers and in bed with us. No one knows the "right way", yet we have all survived millions of years. Rest easy AND TRUST UB WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

nak

i have had 2 belly sleepers over here...just for the record.

I know the reason they even tell you these things is because I am sure they have seen babies die of SIDS and they just want your baby to be healthy and they are telling you what they think is best. Well, I will try not to worry too much about it.

With my first 11yro they said don't put him on his belly unless he spits up all the time, roll a blanket up behind him so he is on his side. The ped with Isabella gave me a ten min lecture on the dangers of co-sleeping and tummy sleeping. If I am not within ear-shot I put mine on their sides for the first couple months in case they spit up. Sometimes when mine were really fussy the only thing that worked was sleeping on their tummies. As soon as they are rolling though I don't worry so much about it. Do what you feel best. I can't wait to see how they should be laying in 5 yrs lol upside down maybe? lol

With my first 11yro they said don't put him on his belly unless he spits up all the time, roll a blanket up behind him so he is on his side. The ped with Isabella gave me a ten min lecture on the dangers of co-sleeping and tummy sleeping. If I am not within ear-shot I put mine on their sides for the first couple months in case they spit up. Sometimes when mine were really fussy the only thing that worked was sleeping on their tummies. As soon as they are rolling though I don't worry so much about it. Do what you feel best. I can't wait to see how they should be laying in 5 yrs lol upside down maybe? lol

:lol: Ain't that the truth!!!!

Tummy sleepers here. I have to acknowledge the risk I am taking and then choose, and that's just what we do as mothers. So, I do not vaccinate, as I accept the risk of illness over the risk of vaccine reactions; I do use carseats; our babies do sleep in our bed BETWEEN us; and when in bed alone, babies in our house go on their tummies. It is a risk I have decided to take.

One belly sleeper here. It feels a little funny sometimes...and that's when i check on him a little more. But...we all need our sleep and ds just sleeps best on his belly. what a bad mam huh- i don't even have a good medical reason like reflux - just looking for ways for us all to get the most sleep.

When I had dd the hospital would only let us put dd on her side. That was the policy. They said it was safer in case the baby has reflux. ITA. Both of my babies had it and If they were on their back they would choke and it was soooo scary. I have always put my babies down on their side. It is great for co-sleeping and nursing too. :) I used one of those infant side sleeping supports. It was great. :)

frequent side sleeper here - we both sleep better. I'll nurse him on his side and we both fall asleep. I also think that he sleeps more soundly - but no way will I let him sleep on his tummy; it totally freaks me out and I know I wouldn't be able to sleep. Don't know why it freaks me out so much, but just seeing it scares me.

But, I'm not worried about often sleeping on his side (we usually put him down on his back).

It's so scary how everytime I have a question that I'm going to post, someone else has beat me to it, lol.

I put Grace on her side because she does spit up sporadically... a lot less since I figured out she was getting to much foremilk and that she has that not quite all the way closed esophugus thingy.

But, for the last couple nights when I lay her on her side, she finds a way to be on her tummy by the next time I wake up to feed her. Figures since both of my kids sleep on their tummies at least half the night... they are squirmers... and I sleep mostly on my belly too.

Ok, I feel better now.

And, FTR, this is my third child and I still get nervous, lol.

Nelle