Advice please... anyone on line? Baby wanting to sleep on belly!

[MammyShirl]

Had trouble making my dd go to bed tonight, normal sleep time is 8. she is teething and is 8 1/2 months old. i have noticed lately that if l lie down with her on my chest, she goes to sleep almost instantly but wakes when i put her in the cot (dont want to get her in the habit of not beingable to go to sleep alone) so tonight after trying to get her off for ages... i put her on her tummy and she smiled for awhile then fell fast asleep. she looks so peaceful and i know that when i turn her she will wake and scream. i know its not recommended for younger babies to sleep on her stomach, since birth i have always had her on her back but can you tell me if if is ok at her age - 8 1/2 months?

[popsycal]

can she roll??
i think that this is important
as soon as ds could roll he slept on his tummy.......
if she can rolll on her tummy and rolll back again
i thikn thats fine,.....am no expert though...
as soon as ds wasa confident roller he slept n his tummy as then he can roll back if he wanted to
someone will correct me if i am wrong

[Lou33]

I was going to say the same as Popsycal.

[Oakmaiden]

Trickey one to answer - the reason you are advised to put babies to sleep on their backs is to reduce the risk of cot death. The peak age for cot death is between 2-6 months. I would assume that it was unlikely to cause a problem for your daughter, because she has the strength to push her head away from the mattress and thus won't suffocate herself in it. If she can't roll over completely yet, then she will be able to soon, and then she will sleep in whatever position she chooses. I personally wouldn't worry about it too much.

[3GirlsMum]

I agree with what popsycal said. Mine were actually younger when they first went onto their tummies at bedtime. To start with you wake yourself up and turn them only to find they have turned themselves back anyway!

[MammyShirl]

hello
she can roll but does not do it that much as she never lies down in the day - always sits up. also i tuck her blankets in so she might not be able to roll. she never moves in her sleep, she is always in the exact same position.

[vivie]

Can she lift her head okay? If so, I wouldn't worry.

[MammyShirl]

just checked her now... she had her head turned too much into the mattress for my liking. think in future ill let her go off on her tummy and turn her. she didnt wake thank god!
maybe i should make her go on her tummy more ofteb to practise her rolling - she always wants to sit, guess its more interesting!!!

[popsycal]

i thikn that your instincts are rigth, mammyshirl!
i panicked the first time i went up to check on ds and found he was lying on his tummy!
if she isnt a confident roller then let her go off to sleep on her tum then turn her over when she is settled
that's what i woul dopt for
i know your worries though...i panicked when ds lay on his side for the first time!

[Evita]

My daughter slept on her tummy with her bum in the air from about 6 months and no amount of turning her over made the slightest difference. I think if they're strong enough to turn then the risk of cot death is non-existent, it's only when they can't move their head and neck that it's a risky position and even then it's always been v. rare.