Is this bad of me? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

InDueTime05 · 07-16-2005, 07:01 AM

My DD is five weeks old and refuses to sleep on her back. Literally refuses and yes a five week old can lol. I lay her on her back and she screams but as soon as I put her on her tummy she is fine and within minutes she is asleep OR she just lays there like in enjoyment. The past two nights I've put her in her crib on her stomach and she slept for a good five hours before she wanted to eat AND she is in HER bed NOT mine. I figured I'm right there. Anyway, in my bed she layed on her stomach as well but I figured I might as well get a good nights sleep too and with her in my bed I can't. I know they say to lay them on their backs but she will not. Even during the day if she falls asleep in my arms and I try to lay her on her back in her craddle she wakes up right away but if I lay her on her tummy she sleeps. Should I not be doing this? I know I have to do whatever it takes to stay sane and get rest but I don't want to be putting my DD in jeopardy.

2fst · 07-16-2005, 07:07 AM

I would say if she likes it, let her. Some one once told me that making them lay on their backs is not good anyway. Think about it, your daughter spent nine months in a curved position in your stomach. Her back was always arched over. Then all of a sudden she comes out and you put her flat on her back. That can't really feel good and it probably hurts. She is more comforted on her belly since her back is curved almost like it was in your belly.

tmarsh · 07-16-2005, 05:05 PM

For weeks my son would not sleep on his back. We were in the same situation as you. As soon as we would put him on his back, he would wake up and was just not comfortable. I spoke to the pediatrician about it and he said to keep trying. However, I finally just went ahead and put him on his stomach. He will be 11 weeks on Monday and he's been sleeping on his stomach for the past couple of weeks. I tried letting him take naps during the day on his stomach to see how he did while I was watching before I tried it at night. He isn't in his crib yet, but in his cradle in our room and not in the bed. He's been lifting and turning his head on his own practically from day 1. So, I gave in.

Some people may disagree, but there is no possible way that all kids are alike. You should do what works for you.

InDueTime05 · 07-16-2005, 09:13 PM

My DD has been turning her head since we brought her home from the hospital. I was amazed because of how well she turned her head back and forth. There was never a time that her head was down in the bed so I knew she was strong enough to turn when on her tummy. I too tried her in her craddle first while I was up in the day time so I could watch her and she was fine so these past two nights I've let her and she's been fine. I know when I was a baby my Mom was told to put me on my tummy so I'm ok I guess lol...

worried_mommy · 07-17-2005, 09:37 AM

I didn't like th idea of putting my DD on her tummy for sleeping so what I did instead was allow her to sleep in her car seat. She was always happy there, and not lying flat on her back. I let her do this untill she was almost 3mo (though she was a preemie and weighed about 7lbs at 3mo).