5 month old - Sleeping on tummy

[Sullwah]

One of my 5 mo twins is now turning onto his tummy in the night.

I have tried gently moving him to his back but it always wakes him and then I have to spend the next 15 mins calming him down and then he usually only settles when I move him onto his front.

Please tell me that its ok for him to sleep on his front.

I guess I know that it is - in anycase dont know how I would prevent him from doing this. But just need some re-assurance that he is not going to suffocate in the night!!

Thanks,

[NormaStanleyFletcher]

I think it is fine once they can turn over themselves. And there is not much you can do about it then anyway

[Pheebe]

Do you use a grobag? If not that might stop him turning if you're worried but at 5 months he'll be fine

[Mungarra]

My 3 children all started sleeping on their tummies as soon as they could roll over by themselves - at around 5 months. They slept better as well.

I think it's fine so long as they're able to do it themselves.

[MabelMay]

He'll be fine. My ds1 started rolling over just before 4mo and from that point on slept on his stomach. I, like you, kept trying to turn him back the first few times but this just upset and woke him. If they are strong enough to turn over, they are strong enough to turn their heads from side to side so in no danger of suffocating.
THey look so cute too. With their bums in the air!

[BellaBear]

My GP said that as long as they can turn themselves over (either way) it is fine for them to sleep on their front

[MuffinMclay]

My 5 mo is doing this too. He's in a grobag, but that makes no difference to his mobility.

[Travellerintime]

My ds has done this since he was 4.5 months. I spoke to HV in a panic and she said not to worry, just make sure he doesn't get too hot. I use a grobag to make sure he didn't get caught up in covers etc.

[KT14]

DS1 happily slept on his back and still does, DS2 wanted to be on his tummy from day one, wouldn't sleep lying in a car seat or buggy and we gave in when he was just a couple of weeks old. If we put him on his back he woke every hour all night.
I asked the HV for advice and although she couldn't officially tell me to put him on his front, off the record she said it would be fine - he was able to lift his head from very early on and could turn it from side to side as he slept.
I actually ended up taking him for some cranial osteopathy with a fantastic lady who said she thought he had some residual birth trauma which was making his head sensitive, hence the desire to sleep on his tummy. He's fine now, although he still prefers to sleep on his front.

[Sullwah]

Thanks - I feel much better about it now. Just needed some words of reassurance!

[positiveparentscouk]

i think after 4 months as long as baby is doing it himself then its not a problem. Before then i think the risk of sids is higher.