Anyone got a side sleeper?

[Wivi]

DS2 is 15 weeks. From about 6 or so weeks he has been a bit of a catnapper during the day (40-60 minutes) unless he is placed on his side with a rolled up towel on either side to protect him - then he'll sleep much longer and a lot better.

At night he sleeps on his back without any problems and will sleep from 7pm til 6:30-7am without a peep.

Until now I have kept trying to get him to sleep on his back during the day but I always end up rolling him onto his side at the 60 minute mark, if not before. Very occasionally I don't have to but it's very rare.

Has anyone else had this? Should I keep persisting or just get one of those safety things and let him sleep on his side during the day?

[Jesska08]

My DD2 was the same. even as a little one shed sleep much better on her side. so thats what i did. but in saying that its much safter to put him on his back, and if u persisted with that hed get used to it...


my DD is 8months old and still sleeps on her side. i didnt try the back thing, but DP alwasy put her on her back and she slept. just not as long tho

[Chickadee]

My DD was a side sleeper from around 4 months, and then when she started to roll she favoured her tummy. I looked into the 'sleep aids' that are supposed to keep them from rolling and then spoke to the SIDs organisation who said that as long as she's rolling (which means she has good head control & strength) and the cot is free of 'stuff', she'll be fine on her tummy or side.

I do agree though, that if you persist with putting them on their back they'll likely get used to it. I used a patting routine though, and it was easier with her on her side. You might help DS2 extend his sleep - I helped my DD to learn to self-settle back to sleep after 45 minutes by going in and patting/shushing her as she started to stir. After a week or two she would just go back to sleep on her own.

[MissSparkle]

DS2 was also a side sleeper. I always wrapped in n lay him on his back but he'd whinge n cry till he was twisted into a side position. We refered to it as "assuming the sleep position". When he was too little to roll I still made sure his bottom arm was out to the side to stop him in case he tried rolling over. He is 1 and still will only sleep on his side.

[Jodestar21]

Fraser was a side sleeper but we had a hammock when he was little so we knew he wouldnt be able to roll onto his tummy (and he never did). Im a big believer of going with what works.

[littlefreckle]

DD is a side sleeper and has been since day 1. In the hosp she would wiggle until she was on her side then the midwives would tell me off cause she wasnt on her back. She has always slpet in her cot on her side and will only sleep on her tummy during the day all with out the "sleeping aids" and we havent had a prob. I do have an angel care monitor with the sensor pads and that gives you a bit of piece of mind.

[Wivi]

Thanks for the replies. I have decided to just go with it - he is comfy on his side (and let's face it - who isn't?) and it is only for day naps. He is quite a windy boy which makes me wonder whether that is why he doesn't like sleeping on his back much during the day.

I checked the SIDS website and they suggested that while back is best, side sleeping is an ok alternative if that is what works for baby.

Levi is already rolling front to back anyway and isn't far off doing back to tummy. Pretty soon he'll be in control of his sleep position.