Well, we all know that saying "back to sleep, tummy to play". I have always followed our doctor's advice and that of the numerous baby books I have. But most of you also know that since Tyler started teething he will not nap, no matter what I try. Believe me, I've tried it all. Letting him cry, putting him down after he falls asleep, putting him in there 30 minutes before naptime when he's drowsy, putting him down after giving him tylenol, letting him try to nap in his swing, all while trying to keep some semblance of consistency so he doesn't lose his mind...I've done it all.
Yesterday my Grandma said to me, "You know, we always put our kids to sleep on their tummies and they sure slept well." I have told her before that I wasn't willing to try that because of the supposed SIDS risk. But yesterday I was willing to try anything after struggling for a total of 3 hours. So I decided to give it a shot just for naptime. And I promised myself that I would watch him like a hawk and keep the monitor turned up to hear his breathing.
Well wouldn't you know it, he fell asleep almost instantly yesterday on his tummy. And today instead of struggling through several nap attempts over the course of three hours, I just put him on his tummy first and he fell right to sleep. Not to mention, yesterday he took a two hour nap instead of the normal one hour nap on his back. I guess I figure if Heavenly Father is going to take him from SIDS or any other way, it will happen no matter which way Tyler sleeps. He's in his crib with no blankets, no toys, no pacifier and there's nothing to hurt him in there. And since my mom put me to bed on my stomach and so did generations before her, I can't really see why it is so terrible to do it myself.
Tyler doesn't have any problems going to sleep at night, so I am still putting him to sleep on his back at night. He sleeps through the night that way, so at least for the 8 - 10 hour stretch I am "following the rules". But for my sanity I just have to put him on his tummy for naptime. And look, isn't he so cute?
Yesterday my Grandma said to me, "You know, we always put our kids to sleep on their tummies and they sure slept well." I have told her before that I wasn't willing to try that because of the supposed SIDS risk. But yesterday I was willing to try anything after struggling for a total of 3 hours. So I decided to give it a shot just for naptime. And I promised myself that I would watch him like a hawk and keep the monitor turned up to hear his breathing.
Well wouldn't you know it, he fell asleep almost instantly yesterday on his tummy. And today instead of struggling through several nap attempts over the course of three hours, I just put him on his tummy first and he fell right to sleep. Not to mention, yesterday he took a two hour nap instead of the normal one hour nap on his back. I guess I figure if Heavenly Father is going to take him from SIDS or any other way, it will happen no matter which way Tyler sleeps. He's in his crib with no blankets, no toys, no pacifier and there's nothing to hurt him in there. And since my mom put me to bed on my stomach and so did generations before her, I can't really see why it is so terrible to do it myself.
Tyler doesn't have any problems going to sleep at night, so I am still putting him to sleep on his back at night. He sleeps through the night that way, so at least for the 8 - 10 hour stretch I am "following the rules". But for my sanity I just have to put him on his tummy for naptime. And look, isn't he so cute?
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