11 Week Old Just Won't Sleep on Her Back!

I read all the comments that were posted. First of all - you know her best. If she sleeps better in a carseat - why not - she's getting the sleep she needs. She's in a good position so she doesn't have reflux and the gas and cozy! I know kids who slept like that for a long time. You have to be sure that she isn't being propped into a position where her head can't really move from side to side though.

My dgtr probably would have slept better on her belly, but I never did let her. I know lots of moms did (like your two other posts) - but I just couldn't sleep at night with the thought that something could happen - but I'm a bit neurotic too! LOL But don't forget that you only tried it one night so far. Keep up with the routine and she may fall into it over the next couple days But, again, you know her best, swing, car seat - who cares - she's sleeping and she'll grow better with rest. Anyone who stands by the cry it out method would have nailed me to the wall for how I used to get my dgtr to sleep - but she then slept, it worked and we were both well rested.

J.,

Try putting her in the crib without the sleep positioner. I completely understand wanting to get her squared away before you return to work, but sometimes change comes slowly and too much change (new child care routine, less Mom and a new bed) may be too much for her.

Good luck!

Hi J.. Sleeping positions are so contriversal. Honestly, my kids (three boys now 12, 13, and 15) were out of their bassinett withing 4-6 weeks because they were two big for it and kept waking themselves up when they would hit the sides. I remember me complaining to my older sister who already had three kids when I had my first, that Caleb wouldn't sleep well at all in the crib. She rocked him to sleep that nite, and put him in his crib ....on his stomach!! I know, I was nervous the whole night, going in and checking to make sure he was breathing. He slept thru the night from then on!!! Seems every year, these doctors keep changing their mind about how a baby should sleep on their backs or not. I put my children on their stomachs when they were about 10 weeks, and they slept wonderfully. Of course I checked on them alot when they were young till at least about 6 months when I knew they would be rolling and moving around in their crib anyway. I know some readers are gonna freak out at me and insist that every baby on their stomach will stop breathing but that's not true. You might also want to check her ears and maybe for acid reflux which for some reason is really common in babies these days. Because she obviously is more comfortable in an upright position. Good Luck, I remember what life was like , up all day with no sleep, trying to take care of everyone and the house. I hope things work out.

Could it be that the reason she won't sleep on her back is because of the gas problems? Maybe she has acid reflux or something and is uncomfortable in a laying down position, but feels better in an upright position. Are you breastfeeding or using formula? Have you thought of switching formula (if you are using it) or changing your bottles?

HI J.,

I can definetely sympathize with you. When my son was a baby, he would not sleep on his back until about 5 months of age. He basically slept in his swing or car seat or wjen I nursed him. Just try to be patient. Keep laying her in her crib. This too will pass! Although you're probably not getting much sleep. Take care and good luck!

She is probably starting to deal with reflux. I think that was about the age my sons started with it too and same symptoms. While she is probably more comfortable in the car seat because she is propped up, it still isn't the BEST option because the infant seats tend to scrunch them in their bellies. Our ped told us to use one of those gliders where the baby is kind of propped up but it's more like a mini bassinett and to not lay him down within the first 20 minutes after eating. He also suggested just raising the head part of his crib. My son did not need meds...just these few adjustments. HTH.

L.

If she wantw to sleep on her belly let her. It is better
than car seats and swings. Personally, I don't know
how these babies can sleep on their backs. They do not
look comfortable at all.

Have you tried swaddling her (I used the SwaddleMe- it's easier!)? It offers some of the security and coziness of being tucked into a swing/car seat. My son was able to sleep really well in his crib and on his back from the beginning. Good luck!

While everyone tells you that babies should only sleep on their back, a lot of babies actually prefer to sleep on their stomach or side. That's not such a bad thing. You should let her sleep in whatever position is comfortable for her. If you are worried about suffocation (which is an extremely rare occurence despite what the media feeds you), then you can get a motion censor monitor.
Remember that with babies things tend to change every few weeks. Just as soon as you get used them doing something (like sleeping through the night), things change and they start a different routine. The point is you can train a baby to do things by applying just a little patience. So, start putting your daughter in the crib instead of car seats or swings every time she takes a nap or at night. She may cry and complain, but she needs to get used this new enviornment (and she will!). You want to make sure she is swaddled, so she doesn't wave her arms/legs too much and wake herself up.
I don't know what the "sleep positioner" is, but your probably don't need one. My daughter never used such a device, and has been sleeping on her side or belly from the beginning. Also, remember that even when babies fall asleep on their belly or side, they will most likely turn to their back at some point, as that's the most calming position for them. But you have to let your daughter learn to get there on her own.

hope this helps! Most importantly don't ger yourself worried, as your anxiety will reflect on the baby.
Good luck!

It sounds like she sleeps best at an incline. She might be uncomfortable flat on her back due to indigestion. They sell sleep positioners for the crib that you put under the mattress (or you can just roll up a blanket and put it under her mattress). Good Luck! :)

they use to make wedges and then the child is placed on his/her side.
you can try that, but if the baby is wiggly, it may not matter. if the baby is more comfortable on her back, then let her be.

I know this is taboo, but I wanted to share with you that both my kids prefer sleeping on their stomachs.

Shortly after we brought our children home from the hospital, they both preferred to sleep on their stomachs. My son, who is now 3 years old, would sleep through the night on his belly. My pediatrician was appalled and made me keep him on his back. But he didn't like it, he would cry. Luckily, we were in a small condo at the time and our bedroom was very close to his nursery. I would let him sleep on his belly but I would watch him often and constantly check on him. About 19 month ago, I had my daughter and shortly after I brought her home from the hospital same thing. she prefers to sleep on her belly. Now that it was the second time around, I wasn't sweating it as much. I don't put anything else in the crib, no blanket, no pillows. Just the child in a fleece one-piece pajama (with a thin pajama underneath) in the crib.

I went back to work full time after my first child and only had 12 weeks maternity leave. I totally understand, it is so stressful. My son cried every day that I dropped him off at the daycare, then I would cry driving myself to work. argh. I do NOT miss those days. I am home with both of them now. Phew.

Good luck to you on your adjustment, back to work, it will be fine. Best wishes!

Maybe she is most comfortable sleeping on her tummy?...my son was that way - he just coudln't sleep on his back the way the girls could...all babies are different...

Best wishes...good luck with your return to work!

J.

All 3 of my kids never liked sleeping on their backs. I think they dont feel secure with their face/body out in the open. Remember....they were in a nice warm fetal position all those months in the womb. I started putting them on their bellies around 3 wks & they slept so much better. My kids also had reflux which it helped as well.

We went through the same thing. My daughter (now 16 months old) did not like to sleep on her back at all! At times, she too, would sleep in her car seat and it seemed like she always slept much better there. However, we know they can't sleep in their car seat every night. What worked for us is having her sleep with a sleep positioner ON HER SIDE. She slept much better. Once we moved her to her crib, at 4 months, we realized the sleep positioner was too small (she always wanted out), so we had her sleep on her stomach. Yes, as you know, you have to be sure not to use any blankets or have any stuffed animals in the crib at the time and you have to be extra cautious, but they do sleep better.

The other thing that helped her was switching her to Soy formula. She was better all the way around. Took better naps (longer and less frequent) and less spitting up. It turned out it was better for her, she was less gassy. But talk to your pediatrician about that.

Good luck!

J.,
I am a mom of three ages 8, 6 and 19 months. All three of my kids spent the first few weeks sleeping in their caresats because they were spitter uppers and I was too scared to let them lay flat on their backs. I am sure I will be slandered for this one, but here it goes. While I was home with them on leave I would let them nap in the same room as me on their bellies. Once I was comfortable with this I let them sleep on their bellies. All three of them survived!!! lol. If she has gas issues she might be more comfortable on her belly, plus that position allows they to get their little butt in the air and it actually helps the gas pass. Over the next week, give it a try, as you get more comfortable with it let her do it a little longer everytime. If she likes the confinment of the swing, she might feel confined if she is on her belly. Try it yourself, if you lay on your back you are "open", if you lay on your belly you feel more confined. Let her try it, it might make your lide a lot easier.
Another reason for me to be slandered. As for the last comment you got tellling you not to tell the daycare provider that she likes to sleep in the swing and seat, ignore it. I am run a home daycare and little secrets like that make a world of difference. Your daughter is going to be out of sorts from not being with you, the last thing you want is for her to be uncomfortable sleeping. I look forward to doing for the babies whatever their moms do for them. I have had babies that liked to be rocked to sleep and I liked that I was able to continue that for them at my house. the transition from mom to daycare is stressful enough for an infant, son't make it harder. Also as a daycare provider there is nothing worse than not being able to comfort a child. If the swing is your baby's seat of choice let her have it. She will start sitting in a few months and learn that the swing is no longer her thing. Giver her the chance to learn it on her own. I do understand that the swing at nighttime is not ideal, but if you can get her down to only napping in it during the day I would let it ride! Good Luck!!!

HEY! WELL HONEY SHE IS SO USED TO THOSE SWINGS AND CAR SEATS! NOW SHE'S (lol) spoiled in a sense and adapted to it. Girl nip it in the bud now while you can. Babies learn and are reinforced by their parents. My advice: manipulate her with the mobile toys at nap/bedtime. give her a routine. That way she's on her back and enforce it girl you can do it. And make sure the childcare provider reinforces the same guidelines you have for bedtime/nap time. Good luck! P.S. Don't tell her your swing/carseat secrets to your child care provider! She may use the techniques herself ok? Good luck!!

Hi J.
My daughter now almost 17 months was the same way. She slept on me or in her swing only. So when she was 9 wks I got sick of having very few hours of sleep. One afternoon at nap time I tired putting her on her tummy. She slept for 3 hours I thought it was a a blessing. I called my doctor he said at nap time it is okay but at night you can't watch her. My husband and I decided we would take turns checking on her at night from 11wks she slept from 10pm to 7am on her tummy. She still is a tummy sleepier. I am pregnant with our second and I will do this again.
Good luck!
L.

I have a 13 week old who is going through the same problem. awful sleeper in her crib, wonderful sleeper in her swing (even without it moving!)...and it is so hard to go from getting good sleep to getting no sleep, again, especially in the face of returning to work soon! We are very honest with our pediatrician, who knows she is a swing sleeper because of her horrible spitting and inability to console herself when it happens while she is lying flat. He told us to keep trying to lie our baby in the crib, but if unsuccessful, real sleep training and bad habits are broken best at about 4 months. Having said this, i know this offers no real advice, but just know that this will be able to be broken, at a time is is more age appropriate. our pediatrician is wonderful, has a great reputation, and is so honest. i trust him fully, so maybe this will offer some reassurance to you to! Hang in there, we can do this!

Hi there J., My 9 month old had the same thing when she was an infant. I use to put her on her sides when she sleept in her sleep positioner. I asked my pediatrion if it was okay. He said it was fine to do and by the time they are 6 months old it will get better. You can also put a rolled up blanket behind them. They say they need to be on thier backs but if they are older and are strong enough to lift thier little heads up, they should be fine on thier sides.The other benifit to sleeping on thier sides is they won't get a flat spot, and make sure you alternate sides. My daughter sleeps on her back all the time now. Good luck! J. SAHM with 2girls almost 3 and 9month old anda incredible husband and father.