Minti - Recent Comments on Question "Sleep habits"

Re: Sleep habits

toosh — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 22:19:52 -0700

Both my boys have slept on their sides, backs or tummy from birth. I know they say not too but I put them whichever way they would settle. Use your intuition - if you are comfortable with it then it's fine! And nobody will think bad of you!

Re: Sleep habits

Aidansmom07 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 21:32:32 -0700

The night I brought my son home from hospital (was only 4 hours after he was born as I had midwives) He rolled himself onto his side and that is how he slept until he was able to roll onto his stomach which is how he now sleeps...I dont think u are a bad mom, do what you think is best, you know your child better than anyone.

Re: Sleep habits

MWattage — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 17:30:37 -0700

Like many other moms here it seems, I put my kids on their sides for fear of them choking on their own vomit should I leave them on their backs. My little girl used to throw/burp up quite a bit, so it was especially a concern with her. SIDS is a real fear, but like someone else said - what we can do to avoid it seems to change fashion quite often.

Re: Sleep habits

Shamali — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 05:27:40 -0700

The midwives in the hospital where my girls were both born actually showed me to put bub on their side and place a rolled up nappy behind them. This was always fine until about two or three weeks by which time they found their own way. Being on their back I was always scared they would vomit and choke as it would stay in the back of their throat... on their side it just dribbles out. Just my thoughts...

Re: Sleep habits

Mandy460 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 05:15:32 -0700

I put both of my girls on their backs. I think SIDS is very scarey and there are hard facts out there to guide us to avoid cot death, so wanted to follow it. The girls backs are fine, and survival was more of a concern for me. My little one is five months and is starting to roll on her side now but i know she is strong enough to move durning the night if she needed too. Im sure no-one will think bad of you, we are all part of Minti and are here to help each other. Ultimately how you care for your baby is your decision, maybe you could research all aspects so you feel comfortable with what you decide to do.

Re: Sleep habits

lauren17 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:54:01 -0700

Hi, all mine have slept on their sides and backs. They have also been on pillows!!! Yes another SIDS bad (bad mum I am huh?!) But my children were all very windy babies so i found the pillow just helped them relax and get a bit of wind up as well. Honestly I know SIDS is scary but i believe it's safer on the side than the back, as long as you rotate the baby from left to right as their skull is still quite soft and can get a little flat on one side if constantly on that particular side.

My children have also been tummy sleepers - so whatever you decide, just don't stress yourself over it, and depending on age of baby he or she will probably roll straight over how they're comfortable anyway.

Good luck with it all.

Lauren.

Re: Sleep habits

rockclimbr4400 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:11:59 -0700

As an infant your child should be sleeping on their back, however, once they can roll over, put them on their back, but don't worry if they are in a different position once they wake up. Besides, if the baby is sleeping I wouldn't worry. Mine started sleeping on her tummy at 5 months, and has never slept better.

Re: Sleep habits

mumof2b — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:53:38 -0700

My oldest slept on his back to start with but always ended up rolling onto his side even though I wrapped him. My youngest would only settle on his side so that's way I put him down. You will find that a lot of babies only sleep on their side and no-one would ever think you were a bad Mum for doing this........

Amanda xx

Re: Sleep habits

jenaya04 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:46:15 -0700

Hiya

I know SIDS is very serious but it seems that every year its a new thing...on your back on your side, then back onto your back again. I always put my kids on their sides. I was always scared that they would vomit and choke if they were on their back. You can buy these little bolsters too to stop them rolling over onto their tummies or backs. Gave me peace of mind knowing my kids couldnt roll at all. Do whatever your child prefers!

Re: Sleep habits

cheleinkal — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:39:18 -0700

First of all, no one is going to think badly of you, so don't be scared to be yourself and be proud of your own intuition and beliefs, they make you who you are.

I put my daughter on her back and as a result because she slept with her head to one side all the time she developed a neck lean, she couldn't keep her head straight and had to do a lot of physio to fix it up. Not too many years ago on the side was the recommended way to go. They (the experts) seem to change their minds every 5 years or so. I made the mistake of mentioning this in our anti-natal class...actually I said, "Yes, whats in fashion these days for sleeping?" The Nurse was NOT amused, but I didn't care...I've been a Nanny for years and years and I have gone through on the tummy, on the side and now it's on the back.........SIDS is very real and it is very worrying, but you do need to trust your instincts and they really are still flying by the seat of their pants, nothing has been found to be a 100% SIDS proof method, so you do what you feel is right for you and your bub.

Re: Sleep habits

5kids — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:28:20 -0700

all of mine have slept on their side as this is the way the nurse put my first child in the hospital after she vomitted then when they could roll they ended up on their belly. i think it is fine just remember to change sides so that baby doesnt end up with a flat head on one side.

Re: Sleep habits

MummaBear — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:22:39 -0700

I used to put mine to sleep whichever way she would go to sleep. Not that she stayed that way for long. By 6 weeks she was rolling all over the place and i found with co-sleeping it was the only way i could be sure to turn her onto her side or back when she rolled onto her tummy. Wrapping her never worked as she would wriggle out of it so her arms were free and would not settle if she was wrapped. I think she felt restrained or something and hated to feel that way. I think if they sleep better on their side then that's fine. I would just worry about their head though as the neck may become strained if they are on their side and not on their back. But as I said, mine just wriggled and twisted all over the bed.

Re: Sleep habits

crystalmoon — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:12:58 -0700

I do not think you are a bad Mum......my daughter would only settle on her side or tummy.I know what sids recommend and I tried their way however miss B would not co-operate LOL.....We all do wot is best for our children and should not be judged for this.Hugs Crystal xx

Re: Sleep habits

Libby24 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 02:58:29 -0700

i used to put my kids on their sides or tummy.

Re: Sleep habits

llmunchkin — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 02:57:15 -0700

Jay slept on his back for about the first 8 weeks. It was super hot in Sydney, so he usually had a little onsie on and was wrapped in a muslin wrap. After that time he started to escape from the wrap and it used to end up all around his head - so we stopped using it. We made up his bed like a big boy and he was like a tiny we head sleeping at the bottom of the bed.

Although we would lie him on his back, we would find him asleep on his side, in the recovery position. We would move him to his back, during his day naps, however he started sleeping right through the night not long after that, so that was all good. At around 8 months old, he started sleeping with his knees tucked under him, sort of on his tummy - like kneeling, with his head down, and to one side. That is how he still sleeps, and even if he crashes out on the couch or the floor, this is the position he is in. If we role him over, he wakes up and gets quite cranky, he is comfortable that way.

We let him sleep how he likes because we have a sound and movement monitor in his cot. We take it every where we go, and we also use it in his portacot. If we didn't have it, I don't know what we would do - however, I never contemplated not having it. It is a great investment - don't worry about getting monitors with lights, and music and videos - how would that keep your baby alive? Twice when Jay has been really congested when he was little it has gone off - we poked him and patted him to get him breathing again - I wouldn't be without it. If you are really concerned, perhaps you should invest in one.