Am I creating a monster?(baby napping ?)

[antkim]

O.K. I have tried EVERYTHING to get Matthew to nap right. I have tried his crib, the swing, the car seat, rocking him to sleep, letting him fall asleep on his own even if he has to cry for awhile etc. All I get out of him is 30-45 minutes and he's exhausted! I should mention that he is almost 10 weeks. Today I gave in and have him on his belly right here with me on the couch. I know he is not suppose to sleep on his belly but I'm right here and he loves it. I'm just afraid that he will want to sleep that way at night. Right now he sleeps on his side because he hates his back! And he is also starting to sleep through the night. Last night he got his last bottle at 7 and didn't get up until 6:30! He did wake for awhile around 3 but he never cried so I didn't pick him up and he went back to sleep! I'm not sure if he is sleeping so well because he is so tired from not sleeping during the day or if he is just getting use to going through the night. Any opinions? Am I going to ruin his night sleeping by putting him on his belly during the day? I know I can't sleep him that way at night in his crib. HELP!
Kim

 

[Lewski709]

If the only way he will sleep is on his tummy, so be it. He is going to turn over himself soon enough. As long as though there is nothing for him to suffocate on, he should be FINE. can he lift his head? Talk to your ped if you are uncomforatble. They prefer they don't sleep on the tummy, but my ped said let him be if he rolls over on his tummy. I just ended up putting him down at 3mo on his tummy. You can even get those monitors if you are worried about SIDS now that will sound an alarm if there is NO movement over a certain period of time. Eventually, and now... he won't sleep on his back. (10mo old)

I am going to get bashed I know it.

 

[oogieboogie]

I feel for you. I had the same problem with both my kids.

I'll probably get flamed for this, but I ignored the warnings and put both my DSs on their tummy every night. They slept better and quieter, no moving around. They sleep all tucked in and apparently I read this makes them feel like they're in the womb.

That was the only way DS 5 would sleep, since he had colic until he was 6 months old. The tummy position seemed to relieve pressure on his tummy so he didn't have that nasty pain.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Mine learned to roll over very early and hasn't slept on his back since. For the first couple of weeks I kept waking up and running in their every couple of hours and repositioning him - I was so worried about SIDS. But a baby that is strong enough to roll over is also usually strong enough to lift his head.

Have you tried repositioning him after he falls asleep onto his back? Maybe you could do that without waking him up?

 

[FreshTressa]

One issue is that he may get used to sleeping on the couch and he is soon to start rolling over. Also I have read that the fumes from the foam and fire retardant in the couch (or on carpet) can contribute to SIDS, so it may not be worth the risk. Granted, the risk is still VERY small.

I totally relate to what you are going through. My son was the same way. He refused to sleep on his back with just a light blanket. I personally would keep trying different things until I found a way that he could sleep on his back. For us, that was in my arms!

Some kids sleep better in bouncy seats, car seats, swings or whatever than on their back.

Whatever you do, you are not spoiling him. When the time is right and what you are doing stops working, you can switch then. I broke all the sleep rules with my kids, and now at 5 and 6, they both sleep just fine.

 

[antkim]

As soon as I turn him on his back he wakes! He just loves his tummy. That's what I am afraid of- SIDS! He can lift and turn his head but he doesn't roll over yet. The ped. said that if he rolls onto his tummy eventually it's O.K. but he couldn't say to me it was O.K. to put him on his tummy myself. He has been sleeping for 1 1/2 hours now on the couch and looks to be in heaven! Do you think if he sleeps longer during the day he will be up more at night? I don't want to ruin that! I also hate to see him so tired during the day because he doesn't nap well. Oh what to do! LOL He's a strong little guy so I know he will be rolling over soon enough! Maybe I will look into those monitors that Lewsky mentioned.
Kim

 

[HappyMommy2]

Just wanted to say that I feel for you! I'll bet you're more exhausted than your napless baby.

For my kids the good, regular napping came at around 5 months, after they had been sleeping through the night fairly well for a few weeks. I didn't do anything special; I think it just kind of happened on its own around that time. I did try to follow sort of a sleep--play--eat--nap schedule during the day and I think that helped (maybe).

My first kid has always been a champion sleeper and but my almost-2-year-old STILL wakes up in the night, and I did pretty much the same thing with both of them. Just goes to show they're all different!

 

[moinab]

The one thing I know for sure from my kids is that during the first 2 years of life, no sleep habits remain the same for very long. DD was very, very difficult the first 3 months. The only way she would sleep was if I was holding her upright on my shoulder (during the day) or laying on her side, next to me on the couch, with her stomach pressing against my stomach (at night). The next three months, I could put her on her back in her crib, awake, and she would fall asleep by herself and wake only once to nurse for 5 minutes in the middle of the night.

The past few months, she will only sleep on the floor next to me, and wakes up 4 - 6 times a night. Letting her cry only gets her super angry and more awake.

DS wasn't too bad, but he did go through different cycles every few months.

The first 12 weeks are usually the hardest. Hang in there, and good luck!

 

[debster812]

Antkim--

First off--NO you are not creating a monster. He is too little to form real lasting habits.

Secondly--You sound like you are really close to sleeping through the night. 7pm to 6:30am??? You will be feeling human soon enough!!! That's great.

Thirdly--If you can get him to nap with you around, on his tummy, how about giving the floor a try? I can't tell you how many times DS would just crash out on the floor, and stay put for an hour or more. We have pics, he looks passed out drunk in some of them, lol.

Sleep is such a hot topic, for everyone. I think whatever works for you guys right now, is the right decision, I would also be leery of him starting to roll soon, and doing a digger off the couch.

Good Luck to you!!! It will be fine.


edited to add I am not really as bossy as this post sounds, really!!

Debbie

 

[Minnie824]

DD has alway hated naps and now just going to sleep in general. She's 2 now. For awhile by the time she was 1, she would sleep 12-13 hours a night, asleep by 7pm. It was great! Lately, she won't fall asleep on her own. Its a struggle and she wants me there at bedtime, and has been waking up again. Problem is, now shes in a big bed, and can walk out of it and I can't ignore it. One thing I would suggest, is try to get him in the habit of falling asleep on his own somehow. I never did that with DD and I am sure going to try harder with her sister when she's born! DD now takes a nap for about 1 1/2 -2 hrs a day, after about an hour of not sitting still in her bed. I say as long as you keep an eye on him, which obviously you will , let him sleep how he sleeps. Good luck!

 

[Lewski709]

I would let him sleep. If he is strong enough to lift his head, placing him on his tummy should be no problem in the crib. You aren't spoiling him at all. AND I don't think letting him sleep during the day is going to spoil him at night. It may mean some time frame adjustments for going to bed and getting up, but he should sleep better actually. I have found if mine don't nap, they don't sleep as well at night. Why? I can't explain it, but my little one (10mo) takes one long nap, 4hrs, or two shorter naps, 2hrs. He goes to bed between 7:30-8pm and sleeps til 7-8am. Occasionally, he wakes around 10-10:30, but not so often anymore. Don't worry AntKim, it will improve and YOU aren't doing anything wrong.

 

[Lewski709]

The name of the monitor is Angel Care Baby Movement Monitor. Check it out here: http://www.dynamic-living.com/wireless_baby_monitor.htm.

Check them on ebay:http://search.ebay.com/search/searc...SortProperty=MetaEndSort&query=angelcare+baby

Good Luck....this system will ease your mind!!!

 

[TEENEE]

I have to give my 2 cents on this one. When your baby is napping it is perfectly fine to put him on his tummy. If you are concerned about SIDS put him in a port-a-crib or playpen so that he can be in the same room with you while he naps. Babies that are always on their backs end up with flat heads. In some cases it is so bad that surgery is required. Unfortunately babies don't come with a manual so it's hard to say if he is sleeping well at night because he is exhausted or if he is learning to sleep through the night. My ds started sleeping through the night at 9 weeks, my dd, I thought would never sleep through the night. I think she still wakes up during the night, she's 8 y/o. You're doing great Mom, keep up the good work.

 

[BedKnobbery2]

With my first, we were very vigilant about sleeping him on his back because of the SIDS issue. However, for the first six weeks of his life, he NEVER slept more than 2 hours at a stretch; since I was breast-feeding momma consequently, neither did I. I was near delusional with lack of sleep. One afternoon, my ex-husband was laying on the couch with DS laying on his belly on top of him. He fell asleep and slept for 4 hours for the first time in his life. I spoke with his doctor about it, and she said that he was obviously a belly-sleeper by nature, and that it was more important for both he and I to get a decent night's sleep. The first night we slept him on his belly, he slept through the night. I didn't--I compulsively checked on him constantly out of fear, but once we got used to it, it was wonderful for me to finally get some rest!

I say speak with your doctor about it and see what he or she says. You might have a natural belly sleeper, too!

 

[peg2001]

I just had to post! All the experts now advocate "Back to Sleep" because it does reduce the incidence of SIDS. However, none of them are willing to admit up front that most babies sleep better on their tummies.

We compromised and let our babies nap on their tummies while we were in the same room. At night, we propped them on their sides until they were able to roll over by themselves.

Young babies sleep BETTER at night if they have had enough rest during the day. Otherwise, they get overtired and seem to wake more often.

I don't think it is a coincidence that both my babies started sleeping through the night once they weaned from breastfeeding (one at 9 months and one at 12 months). I do understand sleep deprivation!

Good luck and do what is best for you and your family.
Peggy

 

[antkim]

Well 2 1/4 later he woke from his nap and ONLY because I turned him onto his back! He had such a good sleep. I know I won't be able to keep him on the couch when he begins to roll but for now I guess it will do! We'll see how he sleeps tonight after having such a great nap today. I will keep him on his side for now at night- he seems to do fine then. Hope he doesn't get too used to his belly during the day! I forgot how complicated babies are! LOL Boy they are a lot of work and worry! Wouldn't have it any other way though! Thanks for all the advice and I'll let you know how he does tonight!
Kim

 

[Melora]

I always worried too, but NONE of my kids slept unless they were on their tummies. EVER!

My concern when they WERE on their back was what if they coughed up and breathed it in or choked on it? I always wonder why no one ever worried about THAT. My doc said "Wellllllllllllll... I suppose it could happen, but right now we are advocating Back to Sleep so its up to you how you put him down..whatever you REALLY feel comfortable with."

Since no one slept on their backs, I let them sleep how they felt comfortable (usually their side) until they could roll which was around 3 months.

 

[Pamlur]

When my children were babies, it was REQUIRED that you put them on their stomachs to sleep (it was the spitting up and inhaling it thing). Now it's opposite. I guess when my grandchildren have babies, the "experts" will be back to stomach sleeping.

My daughter had her third baby two years ago next month. She had always been very dedicated to making sure her babies slept on their sides. Until this one. All three are strong-willed, but the little one let Mommy know from day one that she would be sleeping on her tummy or nobody was going to sleep at all. At almost 2, she still sleeps that way.

Sometimes, there isn't any other way.

 

[4greatboys]

All of my boys slept on their tummies. With my first 2 they told you to have them sleep that way. With the last 2 they just slept so much better.

 

[skuttle]

My DS is 5.5 months old and has been sleeping on his belly for the past couple of months. I always put DS on his back to sleep, but once he started rolling over, he always slept on his belly...it would take him less than 5 minutes to roll over onto his belly. I talked to his ped about it and she said all I can do is roll him over one last time before going to bed...she said I can't get up every hour to check on him. He has slept A LOT better since he started sleeping on his belly. I still get nervous in the mornings when I wake up before him and don't hear him. If that's how your baby sleeps, let him sleep...when my mom had me, she was told I had to sleep on my belly for fear of choking while sleeping on my back.