How many of you put your babies to sleep on their stomachs vs backs?

[Anonymous]

Just an informal poll. Since the big push for back to sleep wasn't until the mid '90s, I was wondering if the majority of you put your babies to sleep on their stomachs? Did they sleep better than siblings placed on their backs? Did you also have lots of things in their crib?

I am a soon to be FTM, and am terrified of SIDS. I thought hearing from experienced parents who did the "cardinal" SIDS sin and still had kids who thrived would help ease my mind. Not that you're under any obligation . How old are your kids and were they put to sleep on their back or front? Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just an informal poll. Since the big push for back to sleep wasn't until the mid '90s, I was wondering if the majority of you put your babies to sleep on their stomachs? Did they sleep better than siblings placed on their backs? Did you also have lots of things in their crib?

I am a soon to be FTM, and am terrified of SIDS. I thought hearing from experienced parents who did the "cardinal" SIDS sin and still had kids who thrived would help ease my mind. Not that you're under any obligation . How old are your kids and were they put to sleep on their back or front? Thanks!!

I'm not sure I really understand your post. You are a FTM, your baby isn't even born, so it's not like he/she's already struggling with sleep. You find the thought of SIDS terrifying. Then why are you thinking about putting your baby down on their back?

My mom put me to sleep on my stomach, and all of my siblings too. It's just what they did in those days. And fortunately, we all survived. But there's no question that babies put to sleep on their stomach are more likely to die. My anecdata doesn't change that.

[Anonymous]

Back. Every single time. I don't mess around with SIDS.

[Anonymous]

I put my child on his stomach to sleep, about half of the time. My child is now 6 years old. We also used a blanket, not a thin sheet.

[Anonymous]

I put mine on his back. Most of my friends who had kids in the mid to late 2000s used sleep positioners which have all been recalled.
I was also terrified of SIDS. At 4 months, my son started rolling onto his stomach and sleeping like that. The first night or two I literally stood over his crib and rolled him back. He'd immediately roll to his tummy. I actually tried to think of a contraption that could make him sleep on his back. My mom told me that I was crazy.
I don't think there is anything that can be done to prevent true SIDS. Just keep blankets, stuffed animals, toys, pillows and bumpers out of the crib.

[Anonymous]

After three months of my child sleeping on me because being put on her back caused crying fits, I put her on her stomach. No problems sleeping after that. She is now six years old. My second child preferred her side. I watched them like hawks to ensure they were breathing.

[Anonymous]

My son far preferred to sleep on his stomach. So I'd start him off there, and flip him when he was asleep.

He started rolling over by himself really early. Once he could do that, I let him be.

[Anonymous]

My older three slept on their stomachs because we were told that babies who are put to sleep on their backs risked spitting up and then dying when they couldn't clear their airways.

My younger two slept on their backs because we were told that stomach sleeping increased the risk of SIDS.

I am not a pediatrician. I follow the guidance of those who know more than I do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back. Every single time. I don't mess around with SIDS.

+1 for both kids until they could roll by themselves. So, about 3-4 months

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]
I was also terrified of SIDS. At 4 months, my son started rolling onto his stomach and sleeping like that. The first night or two I literally stood over his crib and rolled him back. He'd immediately roll to his tummy. I actually tried to think of a contraption that could make him sleep on his back. My mom told me that I was crazy.
[/quote]

This exactly except DS was 6 months. DH ended up sleeping in the nursery for a few nights bc he was so worried. We still put him down on his back at 8.5 months, but he immediately rolls onto his belly. We don't have any other SIDS risk factors though, so I try to relax about it. Our ped isn't concerned.

With all that said, please be careful! SIDS is a real risk and you should follow all the guidelines, especially for a newborn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I put mine on his back. Most of my friends who had kids in the mid to late 2000s used sleep positioners which have all been recalled.
I was also terrified of SIDS. At 4 months, my son started rolling onto his stomach and sleeping like that. The first night or two I literally stood over his crib and rolled him back. He'd immediately roll to his tummy. I actually tried to think of a contraption that could make him sleep on his back. My mom told me that I was crazy.
I don't think there is anything that can be done to prevent true SIDS. Just keep blankets, stuffed animals, toys, pillows and bumpers out of the crib.

I think new crib mattress are full of toxic fumes, and they want to reduce the baby's intake of this fumes, hence back to sleep.

[Anonymous]

My babies were born in 2007 and 2010. They both slept on their stomachs. They hated being on their backs but slept very well on their stomachs. I was not worried about SIDS.

[Anonymous]

Mine were born in the 90's, and I followed the advice at the time and put them to sleep on their backs. A child in my neighborhood at the time died of SIDS, and I was glad that I'd followed the doctor's advice instead of my mother's.

[Anonymous]

OP, it does not matter what anyone else did or does. These anecdotes don't mean as much as the stats. IT IS DANGEROUS.
Now getting back to the 1970s. My friend's brother died of SIDS. A beautiful large baby boy with thick blonde hair, I will never forget him. That family never recovered. The mother had a "replacement" baby, then took to drinking, then divorce, then she died.
The surviving kids are really messed up. NOT WORTH IT.
I am a mother who woke up night after night for my son who had head control from birth and I still did not let him sleep on his tummy. He much preferred the tummy position but I wasn't taking any chances.