I was totally excited for Ella to roll over from her back to her tummy...but now it's causing a new concern. Ella apparently prefers to sleep on her tummy, facing straight down into the mattress. I admit that it's truly got my concerned.
Today's research tells us to have babies sleep on their backs. I know that our mothers' generation instructed moms to have their babies sleep on their bellies, and my supervisor said that she was instructed to have her girls (now teens) sleep on their sides. I realize that plenty of people have turned out okay when not sleeping on their backs, but I also understand that "back is best".
I put Ella down on her back every night, and she'll fall asleep that way. But by the time I finish prepping her bottles and diapers for the next day, she has rolled over and is sleeping peacefully on her side or belly. I try to roll her back over to her back, but she gets fussy and immediately rolls over to her belly again. On Saturday night, this "she rolls-I roll-she rolls-I roll" routine went on for about an hour before I finally gave up and "compromised" that her head was sufficiently turned to the side.
Everyone has said that if she can roll over, then she's old enough/smart enough/strong enough/developed enough to do what she needs to do. My very-dear friend (the pediatrician who is working on a masters degree in Public Health) recently presented a paper on how keeping a fan going in an infant's room can drastically reduce the risk of SIDS, so we have done that. We also took off the bumpers and don't have any other blankets or stuffed animals in the crib. So I trust that we have done all that we can to make it a safe space for her. But I can't help but feel like I did throughout the pregnancy when I was just praying that God would keep her heart beating--except for now I'm praying that He keeps her breathing throughout the night.
This isn't the first time I've worried about her, and I know it sure won't be the last. This morning, I found myself just wanting to fast-forward through the next month or so until she is old enough to safely sleep on her tummy without any concerns, but I know that's not the answer either. All I can do is trust God...and check on her multiple times throughout the night.
We were blessed yesterday with the chance to visit with some good friends who moved about two years ago. My husband and I really appreciate their friendship, and it was great to be able to introduce them to Ella.
We went through this, too. It's scary! I would see W on his belly and run into his room and check his breathing. I usually would make sure the area in front of his face was clear and then go back to bed. It took me a while to accept that he would be ok. And he is.
ReplyDeleteI know its not advised to do this, but my little guy has been a tummy sleeper from day one. He never slept well on his back as an infant. But he is nearly two now and I still put my hand on his chest or back every night before I to go sleep, just to make sure its rising and falling with his breathing. Its a mommy thing.
ReplyDeleteAddy started doing this around 6 months & at first I was a wreck too. But I just kept an eye on her & never turned her back over. We still talk about how disturbing it is though. They just like to keep us on our toes!
ReplyDeleteI could have written this blog post a few months ago! Once she rolled she hasn't slept on her back since! You will get more used to it. Now she often sleeps with her knees pulled under her and her butt sticking in the air! It always makes me laugh!
ReplyDeleteDon't "fast-forward" any of it. Enjoy the enjoyable, and endure the worrisome...and pray a lot.
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