4 1/2 month old baby rolling onto tummy in his cot

[melwood]

Hi, my 4 1/2 month old baby keeps rolling onto his tummy in his cot. He doesn't sleep on his tummy, he just wakes up with his head lifted and then cries. I have to keep going in and rolling him back over and resettling but he just keeps turning over and getting distressed minutes after.

I wouldn't be as concerned if he just fell asleep on his tummy, but he doesn't seem to like it. I've had a look online to find antiroll positioners but can't find anything suitable.

I don't know what to do.... I've got him in his pram carry cot for now as he's too big for his moses basket and we're getting pretty sleep deprived now!

It's a phase - it will last a few days, maybe a couple of weeks, until he learns to roll back again. Sorry :) But at least you know it won't be for too long!

hi there,

DS used to do this at about that age/a bit older. Im afraid its something we just had to cope with! He did it for a couple of months max, mainly early evening so it wasnt too bad, but like you i went in to find him on his tummy with his head up, crying as he couldnt roll back on his own. I too looked into sleep positioners but the idea of 'making' him lay in a certain position seemed to me to be a likely way of annoying him even more!

So, just one to ride out i guess - be assured once they start liking being on their tummy things will settle - DS now ALWAYS sleeps on his tummy :-)

Safety Sleep
Keeps them on their back when small, and down, asleep when older (they wake up, think Oh, still here then, and go back to sleep). Once they work out how to undo the velcro, safety pin it shut. Also good for stopping them slumping down the bed if they need to sleep on a steep incline.
Why don't people use these in the UK?

Don't generally go for strapping children down in this country I guess.

Rolling over and learning to settle on their front is developmental. It won't last long and he'll soon either roll onto his back by himself or settle on his front.
In the meantime you'll just need to flip him back and re-settle him.

Agree it's just a phase, it lasted one or two weeks for DS. He is now 6 months old and sleeps mostly on his tummy. Just make sure he has plenty of time to practice rolling during the day, and as frustrating as it is keep rolling him onto his back if needed. It will pass, rolling is a huge developmental milestone and becomes compulsive until they really get the hang of it.

As for positioners, DS would have been so frustrated, he hates anything that restrains him (even swaddling when he was tiny). It will pass.

Hey, having exactly same with 23 week DD, she has been doing this for aout 4 or 5 weeks now, as soon as we put her down she rolls onto her belly has a look around and then starts fussing after a few minutes because she is stuck!

BUT the last week or so she has been (eventually!) falling asleep on her tummy and actually seems to sleep much better (ie.longer!) like that.

I guess they are just practising a new skill at every opportunity and will eventually learn to roll back over again - as others have said just go with it at the moment.

Thanks ladies. It has been about 3 weeks so far, so guess I just need to be more patient.

Mimmee - How did your baby learn to sleep on her front? What did you do? What does she do?

I've tried to stay in the room and watch to see if he can settle himself on his front but he is just so frustrated and cries that I can't bear to leave him like that.

I have seen him roll both ways during tummy time, but it takes him aaaaages.

I'm also having the same problem w/ my 5.5 month old, who's been doing this for about 3 weeks now. Twice he fell asleep on his tummy during nap times, though he usually whinges until we turn him over. It's so funny yet frustrating! Happy to know it will soon pass.

melwood I do exactly the same as you - just keep going in if she's distressed and roll her back over. She'll usually flip straight back to her front like your DS and eventually tire herself out I guess and go to sleep.

The first week or so she started rolling it could take over an hour for her to settle but she seems to have just got used to it now and settles a lot more quickly (most of the time!).

I also find that leaving her on her tummy and not turning her back over, but rubbing or patting her on her back instead can work just to calm her down and soothe her - it's trial and error i suppose