What Would You Do In This Situation??

[jenboo]

I had a new DCG start last week. She is 3 months old and ive had her brother since he was 4 months old.
Dcg is on a great schedule! Two 2 hour naps a day, sleeps through the night..gets put in bed awake so she falls asleep on her own...scheduled feedings. A dream baby....BUT.....dun dun dun
She doesn't sleep on her back.
She sleeps on her stomach at home. This is only week two so I know it is going to take time but I feel so sad for her!
She is so exhausted right now! She has been crying for 2 hours off and on. Her voice is getting really raspy...I'm stuck because I am not comfortable with her crying so much at such a young age (especially because I know it is because she is tired) but there is nothing i can do. When she gets this exhausted, I run out of ideas. If I hold her, she falls asleep, if I put her in the swing she falls sleep, if we try to do tummy time she falls asleep. If i put her in the crib she screams. Since I am licensed, she can only sleep in a crib on her back.

Any tips for the transition? If i could just let her sleep on her tummy, she would be asleep in 30 sec and sleep for her whole nap time. Every one I talk to just tells me to break the regulations but I don't want to do that.

[grandmom]

Tell the mom is she wants her child to succeed in care, she must sleep on her back at home.

[Blackcat31]

Does your state allow a parent to sign a waiver?

In my state (not sure about currently) we are allowed to have parents sign a form (I think it's called a parent directive) that states that their child DOES sleep on their tummy and that they are giving the provider permission to do the same.

I know parents can't give you permission to do the wrong thing but I don't view this as the "wrong thing"....just a "not the safest thing"...kwim?

[SilverSabre25]

Can she roll on her own?

Can mom get a signed medical release saying it's okay?

From everything I've studied, babies are safest when allowed to sleep in the position to which they are accustomed/most comfortable, i.e a baby is in more danger when being flipped suddenly to back when they are accustomed to sleeping on their tummy, than if they stayed on their tummy, if you follow that.

Failing either of those, try a nice, tight swaddle and a pacifier with white noise.

[nannyde]

Ridiculous that she was put in child care when she can only sleep in a dangerous position. Tell the parents to get her flat on her back immediately. If she has yo scream herself hoarse then so be it. A crying baby is an alive baby.

Did you tell them in the interview she must sleep on her back without motion? In my state a baby must sleep on their back in a playpen or crib. No holding them, no slings, no rocker, no belly.

Thank goodness for that reg. It takes the rock to sleep and sling option off the table. Im so grateful for it.

[SilverSabre25]

I know parents can't give you permission to do the wrong thing but I don't view this as the "wrong thing"....just a "not the safest thing"...kwim?

I wish I could remember the source....but I know it wasn't something frufru. I have read that studies indicate that babies naturally prefer the position that is safest for them as an individual and that suddenly changing or forcing a change (such as being switched to on their back at daycare, or even on their tummy at daycare if they back-sleep at home) puts them in MORE danger than they would be in otherwise. So, a baby that is happiest on their tummy may in fact be safest there, all other things (sleeping surface, room temp, medical conditions, etc) being equal.

My daughter has been a side sleeper literally since she was born (would roll onto her side to sleep even in the hospital).

[jenboo]

She cant roll over yet. Brother was the same way (tummy sleeper) but i nannied him so I could allow him to sleep anyway he wanted. I just feel like im torturing her since she will sleep no problem on her tummy but I can't let her do that.
Im not sure if there is a waiver here (besides a dr signing one for a medical reason).
I forgot to tell them until a couple weeks before she started (no interview since I already was caring for her brother).
They actually weren't planning on coming back after she was born because of the commute (30 min one way) but after a bunch of interviews they said I spoiled them. They can't find anything they like (nanny or home daycare)...SO they travel 2 hours a day total out of their way to drop off/pick up the kids)... I know it shouldn't be my problem but they are a great family!! If my child was sleeping through the night and taking two naps a day, I wouldn't want to change anything and end up with them screaming and not sleeping anymore.
Just wondering if there is anything I can do to help her transition better...I have tried the swaddle blankets/ sleep sacks but they dont make a difference.

Personally, I'm not sure what my view is for sleeping only on backs... I have read some research but not enough..its always changing. what isn't safe now will probably be safe in a couple years.

[hwichlaz]

I'd start teaching her how to roll over. Once she's rolling over, you can put her down on her back and she'll switch herself. Most are doing it by 4 months, so you're almost there.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

All that I have read seems to indicate that it is due to the sleeping surface not them smothering that causes them to die on their belly. Kids on reused mattresses had a much higher rate of SIDS in their cribs. There is a company that sells mattress covers in another country and none of the tummy sleeping infants on them have died of SIDS.

http://babymattresscovers.com

[jenboo]

All that I have read seems to indicate that it is due to the sleeping surface not them smothering that causes them to die on their belly. Kids on reused mattresses had a much higher rate of SIDS in their cribs. There is a company that sells mattress covers in another country and none of the tummy sleeping infants on them have died of SIDS.

http://babymattresscovers.com

thats very interesting!

[Cat Herder]

I can't believe in this day and age a parent would be so irresponsible as to TEACH their infant to sleep on their belly.

How else would a non-mobile infant "prefer" to sleep on their belly.

Once the child can safely roll over on it's own, with neck muscles strong enough to reposition if needed, then it would be acceptable. Until then, It is nothing more than a selfish adult choice.

No cry parenting at it's worst.

[nannyde]

I can't believe in this day and age a parent would be so irresponsible as to TEACH their infant to sleep on their belly.

How else would a non-mobile infant "prefer" to sleep on their belly.

Once the child can safely roll over on it's own, with neck muscles strong enough to reposition if needed, then it would be acceptable. Until then, It is nothing more than a selfish adult choice.

No cry parenting at it's worst.

It is.

A waiver doesn't help. A waiver means that the child has to be right next to you at all times they are sleeping. Just because a Doc says the kid can belly sleep (which I would find incredibly odd if one did) it still doesn't keep the liability away if the kid dies. If they are sleeping in an unsafe position you have to watch EVERY rise and fall of their chest. No amount of money would get me to take on that liability.

[Blackcat31]

It is.

A waiver doesn't help. A waiver means that the child has to be right next to you at all times they are sleeping. Just because a Doc says the kid can belly sleep (which I would find incredibly odd if one did) it still doesn't keep the liability away if the kid dies. If they are sleeping in an unsafe position you have to watch EVERY rise and fall of their chest. No amount of money would get me to take on that liability.

This is what the Parent Sleep Directive for our state looks like

http://www.co.anoka.mn.us/v1_departments/div-human-services/dept-css-mh/child-care-licensing/pdf/frmParentDirectiveforInfantSleepPosition.pdf

I honestly cannot remember but I want to say that some counties are no longer allowing this.

The form does require a doctor to sign it.

Personally, I've never had a parent request this or give me one but we used to have to include the form in all enrollment packets for parents.

[Cradle2crayons]

It is.

A waiver doesn't help. A waiver means that the child has to be right next to you at all times they are sleeping. Just because a Doc says the kid can belly sleep (which I would find incredibly odd if one did) it still doesn't keep the liability away if the kid dies. If they are sleeping in an unsafe position you have to watch EVERY rise and fall of their chest. No amount of money would get me to take on that liability.

My daughters doctor recommended tummy sleeping for her from just a few weeks old... There was a certain contraption we used to prop her.

The reasoning was because of aspiration.

Here, in NICU, babies are placed on their tummies and when they get home, they scream on their backs.

OP, I would check with licensing on a waiver in case that's an option.

[FCCarmyprovider]

Military regs don't allow any child under 12 months on their tummy bc of SIDS. The best solution I have found is just speak with the parent about the risk of SIDS and the statistics of how much more likely it is for baby to die of SIDS in dc. I just had my annual safety training and I did not like the numbers they showed me. Better on her back than have something happen to her.
good luck