Hello!

I have a 5 week old baby who I can only get to sleep in my arms, in car capsule/pram (even then she screams till picked up or finally falls asleep) or on her stomach in bassinet. If on back she won’t settle cries till next feed on her tummy she can sleep solidly for up to 5 hours. I don’t know what to do I’ve tried every thing at my wits end I need sleep (I have three other children and run a farm) I know the risk of SIDS. What do others think?


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  • My first daughter was the same, and it turned out she had terrible reflux that was giving her tummy pains. She got some relief by lying on her tummy, but was always in pain on her back. Have a chat to your doctor or community nurse about changing her formula or if there is a breat feeding solution to help her. They can probably tell you if her tummy is hurting poor little love!


  • Both my sons slept on their tummies from a very young age. They wouldn’t sleep on their backs. I’d get bubs checked out first for reflux and then see what your doctor suggests.


  • check with your doc! i’m sure bub is fine


  • Does bub suffer from colic or anything. As that could be a reason they like lying on the belly. It may help get wind out


  • Does your baby suffer from colic? If they do, I think laying on their belly helps, at least it did with my son, he farts like there’s no tomorrow after being on his belly! He is now 16 weeks and has been sleeping during the day on his belly for a number of weeks now, he will quite happily sleep for up to 10 hours straight at night on his back. Something else to try is Bowen Therapy, your baby may be tight in the back and it may help, it has definitely helped with my boy’s day sleeping, he would only sleep for about 45 minutes but will now sleep up to 2.5 hours :o)


  • Take her to a baby chiro. Poor bub sounds like she might have silent reflux or back/neck out from birth.
    They dont crack them like they do adults.


  • In the end I gave up trying to get one to back sleep, I just used to check on them more often and got a mat for them to sleep on that sent a alarm if breathing changed (never alarmed)


  • My son did this too until I started wrapping him after going to sleep school (although as soon as he could move he rolled over onto his tummy).


  • My son (who is now 8) used to cry on his back too. Turned out he had reflux. When they are laying down it is actually when it is the most painful. Does your baby projective vomit??
    I think you can also have silent reflux which vomiting doesn’t occur. Id speak to a (good) midwife if I were you and bring this up in the conversation.


  • All my kids were the same they all slept on there tummy aswell I just let them do it as the wouldn’t sleep any other way..


  • Maybe ask your local midwife.. I have known a few babies that no matter what you did would always sleep on their tummy.


  • Have you looked into your baby suffering from relfux, I know that this can affect the way your baby sleeps comfortably.


  • Two of my kids were like this and it drove me crazy. My GP said not to worry, but to be honest I endured the hell of putting them on their back until they were able to roll over themselves. Even then it worried me that they kept rolling to their tummies, but I couldn’t stop them by then.


  • There are gadgets that you can buy to prevent your baby from rolling over on to tummy. I forget what they’re called but most good baby shops should have them. And your midwife should no the name of the products. I hope this helps you


  • Have you asked your mid-wife? I hope you get some good answers, good luck.


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