Is sleeping on the side safe?

DS is showing a real preferrence for sleeping on his side. If I put him down on this back he will without a doubt wake. He is easy enough to resettle though so I just try again. If I put him down on his side he will not even make a peep.

I've tried putting him down on his side and moving him onto his back after 10 mins but he gets really upset and we have to start from the begining.

So is side sleeping ok from a SIDS perspective? There is plenty to tell you not to let them sleep on their tummies, and plenty to say back sleeping is best but not much about side sleeping. I do have one of those sleep positioner things that I can use to make sure he doesn't roll onto his tummy. Oh and I have an Angelcare monitor.

TIA
Spring

I'm sure Sears wrote in one of his books that back or side is fine. I'm not sure on the official SIDS line, however. I would think as long as their face is clear it would be ok.

Personally, if he likes his side better I would go with that.

Hi Spring,

I'm no expert but I thought the key to avoiding SIDS was more about making sure the airflow around them was sufficient? I know how you feel, DD2 has always been a fan of sleeping on her side and now she can roll she loves sleeping on her tummy. It is freaking me out a little too TBH.

If you are really worried, I'd give the sleep positioner thing a go I think. And you have the monitor too for a backup to give you a bit more peace of mind. Otherwise I'd probably just go with the side sleeping, we cosleep because that also makes me feel a bit better, although I know that's not for everyone.

All the best xo

Hi Spring, I recall the mchn telling me that SIDS say back only, not side. But, I have slept both of mine on their sides, and that used to be the acceptable way to sleep them, twent or thirty years ago.

I think megsmum hit the nail onthe head- it's the airfl;ow that's a concern, to make sure they don't squash up against something and restrict their airflow, or create a little pocket of carbon monoxide with their exhalations. I you follow the other SIDS reccom's, ie- nothing in the cot but bubs- then that becomes less of a concern.

Have you considred using the roll thing with him side sleeping? It would probably prevent him inching himself round in the cot, iykwim, and make it safer.

thanks for the tips ladies.

It makes sense that it's more about the air flow and temp in the bassinette. We don't have anything in there with him and I'm happy to use the sleep positioner thing. It just seems he is so much happier on his side.

I'm a bit torn about what to do really.

Spring xx

Hi Spring Angel

Here is a link to a thread posted by another member a couple of months ago. There is a post from Rach2281 right at the end that you may find helpful - https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...-sleeping.html

All 4 of mine have slept on the side....all with the same stop roll thingy.....just made sure the stop roll was around there mid, rather than up near their face....HTH

All of mine have/do sleep on their sides

Spring - DD2 would only sleep on her side. I used an anti roll cushion and I had the monitor on all the time. I used to move her onto her back when she was in deep sleep or overnight. Moving her to her back only worked whilst she was swaddled.

I know SIDS don't advocate sleeping on the side.

Spring, when I had L nearly 9 yrs ago, they always put him on his side to sleep - and you would use the other side for the next sleep. 20mths later when I had E the 'recommendation' was for back sleeping. Now when I asked about this they said it was because on their back their airway was kept clear and if they possetted it would go past their windpipe and go straight down the back of their throat, bypassing a choking episode with the airway being blocked off. Whereas on their side there is a minute risk of choking on their vomit. Now personally I think that if you have a bubs who sleeps better on their side than on their back then you should do that so long as it is within your comfort zone. I really couldn't see how that much could have changed in that 20mths between my 2 being born and I always just slept them in the position they were most comfortable in.

I really appreciate the info ladies.

He slept 3 hours this arvo on his side but TBH I was so nervous the entire time. I think I might sleep him on his side during the day while I can keep and eye on him but keep him on his back at night.

Spring xx

my DS was a side sleeper. he had fairly bad reflux - and i found for him that if he vomited in his sleep that on his side it would just pour out, but on his back he'd choke on it 0_0 even now he wont sleep on his back (unless co-sleeping) but do what your mummy instinct tells you. to make sure DS didnt roll over i used to put him in the recovery position with a sheet tucked firmly eather side of him to help stop the rolling, once he started to roll on his own but struggled to roll back again i rolled up a small face washer and tucked it in under his arm/against his chest, stopping him from rolling onto his face. but even now (at almost 12 months old) he'd rather sleep on his side.

Back is best and safest by SIDs recommendations. If you can avoid unsupervised side sleeping then that's the safest.

If his airway was an issue, think about which side his head is turned. Can his head be positioned to a side? This will still help with anything he brings up.

Side sleeping is fine when your child can be supervised, eg day sleeping.

Our little bloke likes to bring up his feeds and is a head to the side sleeper (which we are fixing with osteo) and he just trickles.

The sleep positioner is a good idea, perhaps a slight elevation with a towel from shoulder to hips might alleviate the grizzling?

We are finding most of DS's sleeping preferences are related to his in utero positioning!

When DS (and DD for that matter) was taken to the nursery in the hospital, he would nearly always come back on his side. He too seemed to settle better that way.

I put him on his side (alternating sides) until he kept rolling to his back. Now he will only sleep on his back.

Spring - both of mine are preferential tummy sleepers :rolleyes: so they were not happy about back sleeping until they could change their own position.

If he sleeps better on his side then I would do that during the day (and did) and keep trying the back sleeping at night. Side positioner and monitor is a great idea. Having said that, we co-slept and they side slept facing me most of the time. We just swapped sides for feeding.