? for those that have tummy sleepers - (Ashley really gave me a scare!)

MommyToAshley wrote: For those of you that have babies that sleep on their tummies, do they turn their head to one side or the other when they sleep on their tummies?

Ashley really scared me today. She was taking her nap (on her back like she always does) but was sleeping a little longer than normal so I went to check on her. She was on her belly, face down in the matress. It scared me so much that my initial reaction was to kinda shout, "Oh My GoSH, ASHLEY"... well, she jumped and it scared her and she woke up crying! And, she was perfectly fine. Since the time Ashley was born, I have been petrified of SIDS. When I saw her there face down... well, I have never been so scared! It took a while for my heart to stop pounding and my body to stop shaking, and then when it did, I just hugged her and cried. I never want to be that scared again.

She has been rolling over in her sleep in the middle of the night, but she usually wakes up screaming and I have to go and flip her back over on her back. I guess she learned to sleep on her tummy...but is it normal for her not to turn her head to one side? I reacted so quickly that I can't remember where her arms were... she may have had them under her head, but I don't think they were...I am not sure.

MomofTay&Sam replied: OH MY M2A,
That must have been horrible! Sammy also will sleep with his face DOWN!! I do not give him the chance after seeing him to it once. He takes his nap 98% of the time in his swing. The other 1% he lays with me and once in a blue moon he falls asleep while playing in his crib. I have a camera on his crib and take the monitor where ever I go. But it's rare that he falls asleep in there. He can flip over and back just not to easy go back over. I am so sorry you had such a bad scare!!

mummyof2boyz replied: Hayden is a tummy sleeper. I have only caught him one or twice with his face down. He is usually always turning his head from side to side. But the times that I caught him I instantly turn his head. Does scare me having a tummy sleeper but that is the only way he will sleep. Although he does roll over to his back sometimes.

MommyToAshley replied: Thanks for your quick replies. My nerves have calmed a little bit now. I just got back from checking on her and she has only been in bed for about 2 hours. I think I have checked on her 4 times already! I have one of those AngelCare monitors that detects breathing, but I still worry.

Do you know if there is any way to deter them from sleeping face down or turning on their tummy at all? She is too big for those sleep positioners. It says not to use them once they can roll... well, duh, that's what they're for -- to keep them from rolling.

MomofTay&Sam replied: There is noway to keep them from rolling, they are determinded!! I have the camera set up from BrU, it's fantastic. Moves with you. I use it all the time, small camera and you place it where you want..crib. The monitor is a small tv and can be taken from room to room. I take it too the potty when Sam is playing and watch him the whole time. It's $150.00 but well worth it, you can watch your baby from anywhere in the house.

MomToMany replied: That's the way all my babies slept! If I ever tried to put them on their back, they'd wake up screaming, no matter if I swaddled them or not. I've had a few scares, but they wouldn't fall asleep any other way! I got scared every time they slept longer than usual, or they actually slept all night when they hadn't before; you can bet I was running in to check to see if they were still breathing! Of course they were, but it's still so scary! Mine automatically turned their heads to one side, and I've never seen them with their heads down.

Sorry you had such a scare!

maestra replied: Jaci always sleeps on her tummy- I was so scared when we found out that it was the only way she would sleep- after 3 nights of no sleep! Sometimes she turns her head toward the mattress- when she does that- I go and watch her, and within a minute she turns her head to the side. I've never had to turn it for her.

I know what you mean though- I am paranoid too! A friend's baby just died of SIDS a month ago. But I know that Jaci usually knows that it is not comfortable and turns her head on her own.

Hope you are feeling better!

MommyToAshley replied: She has a firm matress with tight fitting sheets... now this brings up another question. What do you all do about blankets? Ashley has become very mobile in her sleep and moves all over her crib. I wonder if I should not put her to bed with a blanket... I did find her laying on it one time. I only use the blankets that have holes in them.

Heather replied: Ali sleeps on her stomach but only started a few months ago. At first I checked on her every 5 minutes it seemed like, but now I am okay with it. We use a blanket as well...

MomofTay&Sam replied: About the blankets,
there is always that one story that makes you think. I have a friend of a friend who's 6 month old baby died in his sleep due to strangleation. (sp) The blankie was around his neck when he was found. Just one hour after she checked on him last. I am sorry to post such sadness but my son is a blankey boy and loves to snuggle, he only snuggles when we go to bed or are with him. He sleeps in our bed. He will pull the comforter over his head if he can.

Heather replied: That is such a sad story.

Kaitlin'smom replied: probably one of the reasons I dont use a loose blanket........

Mommieto2Girls replied: I hate reading about baby deaths, but they do happen and we need to take all the precaution that we can.

dhoppygirl replied: Peyton likes to sleep on his side and sometimes on his tummy. I, too, had a scare the other night. I had a meeting that went really late, so DH had already put him into bed. I went in to check on him and he was laying on his side, with his face down into one of his blankies (one with holes). His arm was at a really weird angle, so I moved it and it was cold! (He was in short sleeves)...my heart leapt and I couldn't hear him breathing, so I put my arms around his tummy and he was breathing!!! I moved him off of his blanket and covered him. I guess when DH put him in the bed, he didn't cover Peyton, he just laid him down and in his sleep he moved onto his blanket. Lately, I've been taking all but one blanket out of his crib. The one blanket I put on his tummy and legs when he is asleep (he doesn't move too much in his sleep).

gio's mommy replied: Mine did the same thing. He kept rolling over in the night and screaming. I found this great thing on line called The Sleep Safe Baby Cozy at larosababy.com. I put my guy in it and within 5 minutes he was a sleep and we never had a problem again. They can sleep on their back or roll from side to side but they can't sleep on their stomachs where they can suffocate. Puts them right out. I'm using it now on my second baby. As soon as she began scooting and rolling, I put her in it and it works great. It is SIDS approved for healthy sleeping.

MamaMartie replied: Wow that is scarey.

I put my 1st 3 babies on their tummies to sleep, but that is b/c my first one got aspiration pneumonia twice, and my 2nd was a silent spitter. She would spit up 4 hours after she ate, and I was so afraid of aspiration pnumonia. With #3 it was the only way he'd sleep. Hannah seems to prefer sleeping on her side and isn't a spitter so I don't worry about it. All 4 of them lifted at turned their heads by 2 weeks so I wasn't afraid they'd go face first into the matteress, and I've never seen them do that.

I don't know what to say about your baby though. I'd be as scared as you are, and since she is too big for one of those back/side sleeper wedges, I don't know what to suggest. Once they roll on their own what can you do? Maybe your ped would have some good ideas?

As for the blankets, all of mine have slept with light blankets in their cribs. I just put heavier sleepers on them so they don't get cold, and I make sure their lovie blankets are very thin. So far it has worked out well. You say you use blankets with "holes" Do you mean a loose weave? If it is a manufactured blanket I think that is ok, but I would worry if it is a hand made afgan type blanket. Babies can get caught in those. I had a friend who's daughter got an afagan caught around her neck at nap time. My friend found her in time, but it was scarey.

All the fears babies bring you it is amazing we're all not bald or grey. But then they smile or kiss you and all that is forgotten.

Good luck and try not to worry.