How to Mimic Stomach Sleeping for Infant

You can take a glove and fill it with rice or beans. Then it's like a hand on the baby's belly. My son ONLY slept on his belly, because he was in the nicu and its very common for them to sleep the baby's on bellies. So when he came home its just something we did. And to the poster who said the evidence clearly states sleeping on backs, think back years ago the evidence CLEARLY stated to sleep on bellies.

All I can say is, I'm glad my kids were babies when the prevailing wisdom was that they were only supposed to sleep on their stomachs, and never on their backs.

Both of my babies ended up with acid reflux and for both of them the first signs showed up around 4-6 weeks of age. I would strongly encourage you to look up Infant GERD on the web and read about some of the symptoms. It took us several long weeks of trial and error with our first child before we figured out that this is what he had (which is actually quite common in infants). After figuring it out, and trying some various things at the doctor's suggestion, we ended up putting him on a small dose of acid reflux medicine (prevacid worked best for us, but there are others). After about a week of medicine, we had a whole new baby. :) His 'witching hour' went away completely.

With our second child, our daughter, when this started up around the same time, we knew immediately what we should try, and began doing those things. Eventually, she ended up on a mild dose of acid reflux medicine, as well, and once again, after about a week she was pretty happy most of the time.

I also want to note that while spitting up is a big symptom of infant GERD, NEITHER of my children were big spitter-uppers. I also will say that there are things you can try before resorting to medicine, because medicine in a small infant is obviously not something anyone wants to do unless other things are not working (the alternative is that the acid from baby's stomach is backing up in his/her esophagus, eroding it, and creating that painful sensation).

Your child may not have this...but like I said before, it is really common in infants, so you might just pay attention to the symptoms in case you notice any. Then let your doc know.

Another thing to note...(another can of worms to open)...people way back when used to never buckle up their children, and some of those people claim that there is no need to buckle up their (now) grandchildren, because they claim that their children were always fine. That doesn't necessarily mean that it is the best thing for the child. Since the "Back to Sleep" campaign began in 1994, which encouraged all babies to be put to sleep on their backs, the overall SIDS rates have dropped by OVER 50%. That is pretty powerful information in my personal opinion. I understand that some people choose to put their babies to sleep on their tummies, and many of those babies are just fine. I chose to put my babies to sleep on their backs, because I felt like the newest information on SIDS was pretty convincing. Once the baby is big enough to flip him/herself over to the tummy, then it's not such a big deal.

ADD: Both of my children went off acid reflux medicine around 12 months of age.

Have you tried 'wearing' her? There are lots of wraps and carriers that may make it possible to hold her upright in a practical way. Also - we do not need to rely on what moms feel in their 'heart of hearts' or what they wholeheartedly believe. Instead we have scientific evidence which CLEARLY supports placing infants on their backs to sleep.

ETA: @ Penny M - Actually THOUSANDS of infants do die of SIDS each year. Over 2000 a year currently. And that is down over 50% since before the back to sleep campaign. http://www.cdc.gov/sids/

Try a Happi Tummi (www.happitummi.com). It's an herbal wrap that you heat and wrap around her tummy. The heat and pressure help relieve gas, colic, etc.
Please, please don't just sleep her on her tummy because it's easier and others have done it and their babies didn't die. We now know of so many factors that contribute to SIDS and can easily avoid them. Back is best for sleeping.
Good luck!

Lay her on her belly. 3 of my four kids slept this way. I wholeheartedly think that SIDS cannot be prevented and some babies sleep better on their bellies....and have so since, well, forever.

All 4 of my kids slept better on their tummy..... I know, it is against the current recommendation to let them sleep on their stomach.... if you do, just be sure there isn't anything "fluffy" in the bed... no extra soft mattress, no soft fluffy bedding, no stuffed animals....

You can try holding her on your lap, tummy over your legs, or how about the football hold? Or... what about something warm, like a hot water bottle next to her tummy?

yes, she is looking for the stomach pressure.....

Both my kids slept on their tummy's. I agree with Stephanie, I feel in my heart of hearts that SIDS will happen no matter what direction they lay on.

Also, my son used to spit up, he gagged in front of me once, and he was on his back. That was the last of that.

You know your child, she is telling you what is best for her. However I also know that you have to feel comfortable with that.

Congratulations on your little one.

At 4 weeks our daughter could lift and turn her head. We asked her Pedi and he said she would be fine on her tummy at that point, I still watched her all during the day. But she really slept well on her tummy.

By 6 weeks, she could flip over on her own. So if she was on her back, we would come back and she would be on her tummy!

Up until that time. I placed her head up against the corner of her bassinet, with a towel in that corner. It seemed to help her feel secure.

Also her swing had a bassinet that could be attached and that also helped her sleep on her back early on.

If she likes sleeping on her tummy, let her sleep on her tummy. Just be sure to keep a close eye on her and check on her frequently. My daughter, who is now 11 months, also liked (and still likes) to sleep on her tummy. Before she learned to rollover, I didn't realize that's what she preferred since she didn't fuss too much. But once she learned to rollover, I realized that she preferred sleeping on her tummy. I would always put her down on her back, but when I came in to check on her, she would always be on her tummy. In the beginning, I freaked out every time she rolled onto her tummy so I would risk waking her just put her on her back, but as she got better at rolling over, it was impossible to keep up with her so I just let her be. Plus, I think many of us grew up sleeping on our tummies and we're okay.

My daughter was n still is a belly sleeper. I'm a firm believer to let them sleep any way they are comfortable

Let her sleep on her tummy. You can always set a timer (that's what I do) to remind you to go check on her every 15 or 20 min.

M

Sorry, but my advice is to let her sleep on her tummy. All other precautions should be taken to ensure as safe an environment as possible, like no loose blankets, etc., and pacifier if she takes one, should be given.
All my kids slept/sleep on their tummies. I learned very quickly that they sleep better, longer, and deeper that way. I took all other safety precautions like breastfeeding, not smoking., etc., and also told my pediatrician (she supported us, and showed us that the most recent research does not show that tummy sleeping alone causes SIDS). If it did, we would have had thousands of dead babies between 1920 and 1990, and we didn't.

Have you tried the woombie brand swaddler? They have a number of interesting products. Also, the magic sleep suit was great for my son but its very warm. Find it on amazon.

I agree with Becca. All babies have their cranky time. Perfectly normal. You do what will make them happy.

my very fussy very pukey baby slept on her tummy from day 1.. we put her on her back the first day home she started to puke and was choking. so over on her tummy she went.. she always slept on her tummy.. as most of us did as infants.. my second baby .. like to sleep on his back.. and slept fine on his back.. and at 6 years old.. still sleeps on his back.. every baby is different..

Although it is not recommended for babies to sleep on their tummy, many babies will only be comfortable when sleeping this way.
When he was born, my son had colic and reflux and refused to fall asleep on his back. He would just stay awake and cry for hours. I tried everything, from swaddling to co-sleeping to the cry it out method, but it only made him (and me) more exhausted, and finally I caved in. I just let him sleep on his tummy. His neck muscles were strong enough and he could turn his head both ways when sleeping on his tummy. And he instantly became a totally different baby. He slept through the night, and was happy when he woke up.
I don't believe in following strict rules when it comes to babies. What works for some might not for others (my youngest daughter hates being on her tummy). Even when doctors say Do this or don't do that, just follow your instinct and do what feels right FOR YOUR BABY!
For years (in the 70s and 80s), doctors advised parents to let their kids sleep on their tummy and never on their back. Maybe in 10 or 20 years, what is advisable now might be dismissed. Who knows? :-)

Mine also belly slept, well my last two :). Talked it over with my pediatrician and he said he couldn't officially recommend it, but he had many mothers in his practice do it. My last two were really champ sleepers :). But I also agree with another poster about checking our the reflux issue, it does tend to show up around that time. Wish you the best!