A: Angelisa, it sounds like you feel caught between the different recommendations of your doctors. In fact, this has been a hotly debated topic among the experts.

For the past 15 years it's been recommended that healthy babies under 12 months of age be put to sleep on their backs to reduce the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Studies have found that when healthy babies are put to sleep on their backs, they breathe better and are less likely to suffocate. This recommendation has cut the rate of SIDS in half in the United States.

The recommendation is different, however, for babies such as yours with medical problems like gastroesophageal reflux. Although some doctors still recommend that babies with reflux sleep on their backs, others recommend that they sleep on their stomachs since reflux is often reduced with prone sleeping.

Since there is a small risk with either position—baby could vomit and choke on his back or smother on his tummy—you need your doctors to help you weigh the risks and decide which is safest for your baby. Your own observations that your baby vomits and chokes on his back but sleeps well on his tummy probably indicate that your baby does best on his tummy. And since he's still on the apnea monitor, the alarm will sound if he has problems breathing.

Be sure to also follow all the other recommendations to prevent SIDS. Put your baby to sleep on a firm crib mattress rather than a down comforter, sheepskin or waterbed. Remove blankets, pillows and stuffed animals, which could smother your baby. Don't overheat the room and don't smoke in the house.

You shouldn't feel ashamed about your dilemma. Talk with your pediatrician about it and explain your observations of your baby and the specialist's recommendations. Everyone wants what's best for your baby. Encourage the two doctors to talk with each other if there are any questions.