Hello!

Hi Guys, my beautiful friend with eight week old is wondering whether to sleep her baby on her tummy. She said the older members of her family say to do so, but modern teachings say NO! What to do?


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  • Not wise to do so because of safety reasons. My premmie daughter was for 8 weeks in the hospital and they always positioned her on her tummy with the cot elevated (against reflux and for better absorption of food). However she was continuously monitered.


  • I was told never ever place a baby ( no matter what age ) on their stomaches due to risk of suffocation , yet my sister in law did that during the day by watching her baby as that was the only way she could sleep . I think she had her head turn on one side , but I think it would damage to their neck . The problem is could you sit there and watch your baby for the next few hours ? So I will say NO don’t do it , ask the childhood nurse of sleeping is a problem .


  • I wouldnt for safety reasons… as they are not old enough to turn themselves over if trapped… My kids do this after they were over a year old though…


  • Again – I’d follow mums instincts. But never put Bub to sleep on her tummy. Always put her down on her back with no blankets, toys or bumpers for suffocate risk. 2 out of my 3 were and still are tummy sleepers. With my first it totally freaked me out and I’d put her back onto her back but she’d always flip back over. If her Bub has good head control and can put her head to one side then I’d say it’s ok. I know modern advice is never to tummy sleep but some bubs will do it and you’re either constantly flipping them back over, checking them every few minutes and waking them by putting them on their back. One of mine started doing this at 7 weeks. I stopped swaddling her, put her into warm baby sleeping bags, firstly with one arm out as she was used to swaddling then after a week putting her in a bag with both arms free. Even at 8 weeks they don’t have strong arms they can still roll to the side and use their arms to move if they tummy sleep. And if your friend is really worried I’d recommend investing in a video baby monitor. This way she can watch her as well as the audio.


  • The mother would know best and also the child has to be able to settle like that. As a mother of 6 , ranging from 4 to 34 have been through both schooling. You have to make sure that the child can breathe, so maybe on their side with a support to stop the child from going face down. With my oldest children I had a tea tree mattress and pillow so air was able to get to the child if face down. Do not seem to be able to get that now.


  • I’d go with mothers instinct.
    If it’s for reflux there are many other things that can be done. I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable with a baby so young sleeping on there belly.


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