The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) has many helpful tips for peventing SIDS, but with all the rules, I am having trouble getting Olivia to stay asleep. She has been sleeping sretches averaging 5 hours, but sometimes longer, but only because I am swaddling her (but VERY tightly and carefully).
During the first few weeks, I dreaded trying to get her to sleep at night. Afterall, how can you get a newborn to bed when a)they have to be on their backs when most babies prefer their side or stomach, and b)you can't use any blankets? I brought up these questions to our pediatrician and he said I could swaddle her tightly, just as they do in the hospital. However, the AAP warns against bundling babies, which to me, is synonomous with swaddling.
Therefore, I am wondering, how do you put your babies under a year old to sleep? Do you just use "feet" pajamas (you know, the ones that look like a body suit)? Do you swaddle? Do you think your baby is warm enough? I have a friend who is a doctor and he said after a month of trying to get their son to sleep following the AAP recommendations, he finally gave up and put his son on his tummy and it worked.
I'd really like to know . . .
Posted by Hannah at June 6, 2006 01:16 PMI know what they say, and they're probably right, but my children slept on their tummies, and slept early and long.
I guess I wouldn't do that now, but it sure is a more comfortable way to sleep.
Doctors surely do make a lot of rules these days. And if you don't like the current rules, just wait till the next generation. They'll change again.
Posted by: cassie-b at June 6, 2006 01:32 PMUp until a couple weeks ago - we still swaddled my little one (14 months old!!!) for her afternoon nap. We always got a good nap from her swaddled up. She slept swaddled all the time up to 5 months old.
When she is swaddled she is always warm enough - sometimes I even run the ceiling fan so she doesn't get too hot. I remember when she was *tiny* she woke up soaking wet with sweat.
I never wanted the kids to go to sleep on their belly until they were able to get on their belly. I was a paranoid mommy I guess.
Sleep really is elusive the first couple months. I still haven't had a good night's sleep in 3 years..ugh - I know i'm not a good poster child for sleep or for making you feel better I'm sure!!
Melissa
Posted by: Melissa at June 6, 2006 01:58 PMMy first daughter rolled over at 2 months and I would find her on her stomach when she woke up. Totally freaked me out! The doctor said that unless I was going to stand there all night turning her to her back then it should be okay. She slept for hours once she was on her tummy. My 3 month old still prefers to be swaddled- I tried to not do it, but she wakes up. She sleeps through the night and I am not going to mess with that. I have seen these blankets you put them in that don't cover their arms, just their bodies and legs. The zip up the front. That way they keep warm and the blankets are not up around their face. I love www.onestepahead.com- I think they have those blankets and other stuff that might help Olivia sleep :) Good Luck! Whatever you do will be fine.
Posted by: Amanda at June 6, 2006 02:35 PMWe swaddled until at least 4 months old. A sound machine can help too, it recreates the white noise she heard in the womb. (I bought a $10 alarm clock that had the noises on it.) If she gets too warm swaddled you can leave her in just a diaper and then swaddle her.
Posted by: amelia at June 6, 2006 05:18 PMI'm not a parent, but even I sleep better swaddled up. ;)
Posted by: Laura at June 6, 2006 06:44 PMI put Ava in her crib on her side with a blanket behind her back and a light one over her. She sleeps quite soundly like that. She wont' let me swaddle her anymore, her arms have to be free. :)
Posted by: Emmakirst at June 6, 2006 10:32 PMWhen Zander still slept in his crib, I put him to sleep on his tummy. Also the only way I could get him to sleep. I had an Angelcare monitor that would monitor his breathing.
Now that he is co-sleeping with us, he sleeps on his back
It's so funny that you ask that today. Several of us were discussing at playgroup today that we put our babies on their tummies to sleep. It was like our dirty little secret. My feeling is that it's worse for a baby's health to not sleep than to sleep on the tummy. So, we compromised and put MrMan on his belly in the daytime when he was more likely to wake up (and we could watch him), but usually put him on his back at night. At night, we would put him in a zippered bunting. I'm planning to make him a summer version one of these days.
In a few months, you won't need to worry about it, as Olivia will be more mobile and will decide for herself how she wants to sleep. MrMan likes to sleep on his side now.
We always put Lucas on his back to sleep when he was a newborn, but when he started rolling over, there really wasn't much that we could do. He LOVES sleeping on his tummy! Olivia will find the position that's best for her, I think. I constantly worry about SIDS, too. We'd always put Lucas into a sleeper ... footed PJs. No blanket. He didn't really like to be swaddled after a while. Now, he sleeps on top of his blanket ~ he cuddles with it [and his remote control, LOL!]. :)
Posted by: Lisanne at June 7, 2006 10:56 AMLuckily, Lila doesn't seem to like sleeping on her tummy. I always put her on her back, but I did read that side sleeping was fine for SIDS prevention. She doesn't like being swaddled anymore, because she moves her arms constantly. I bought a baby sleep sack/wearable blanket and that seems to keep her plenty warm. I got it at Babies R Us, and it's made by Gerber. It's sleeveless and zips up the front; you just put it over whatever they're wearing to bed. Honestly, I'm not sure that anyone truly knows what is up with SIDS. I think it's all just their best guess. As much as I was against it before I had her, Lila ends up sleeping with me half the time anyway. I've gotten over feeling bad about it. Actually, I read an article I got from Target.com about how it can be healthy....I'll email it to you. Oh, and I read that pacifiers have recently been found to prevent SIDS too.
Posted by: Chas at June 7, 2006 01:29 PMWe use a sleep positioner--especially when he outgrew his co-sleeper and moved to his Big Boy crib. I read a lot about sleep positioners being a waste of money, but when Henry first came home, he was so tiny. And prone to side/belly sleeping. It's been 11 weeks, and so far I think the positioner is worth the $20.
As for warmth, we received several Hala Sleep Sacks as gifts. We dressed Henry is a pair of feety jimmy-jams and then put him in the sleep sack.
And YAY for binky, too!