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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Quick question re:babies sleeping on their tummies?

15 replies

Doodledumdums · 22/06/2013 22:37

My DS is 5 and a half months old, and until today he has always slept on his back. However, today I put him down for two naps, and both times when I went to check on him, he had rolled on to his front to sleep? I have also just been to check on him this evening, and he is lying on his front again. It seems like he has just discovered that front sleeping is possible, and now he wants to do it! But I am a bit worried that it isn't a good idea? I know that SIDS advice says always on their backs, but as he is almost 6 months, is this still relevant to him? I keep rolling him back over, which makes me feel a bit mean as it disturbs him!

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 22/06/2013 22:41

Can he roll back by himself dum?

fififrog · 22/06/2013 22:41

You will drive yourself mad trying to roll him back. I tried that tactic for two months. Can he roll both ways yet in the day? If not, prepare yourself for a bit of night waking as he gets stuck!

Original poster

Doodledumdums · 22/06/2013 22:47

No unfortunately he rolls onto his front and can't roll back again! I think this is why i'm worried as he can't roll back and stop himself suffocating. His head control is perfect, so he can turn his head to the side, but i'm worried that if he is tired he may just plant his face on the mattress and then not be able to breathe properly?

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ChippingInWiredOnCoffee · 22/06/2013 22:52

They pretty much all go through this stage!

Once they start rolling themselves there is nothing you can, or need, to do - he'll be fine and will let you know if he's not.

Spend time in the day getting him to roll onto his back by himself so that he can.

sedgieloo · 22/06/2013 22:58

Can you clear the cot of any other items. Use sleeping bags if not already and ensure baby doesn't get too warm. There is probably little else you can do but to continue to put him on his back when settling to sleep.

I do not suppose anyone can answer your questions. Cause of SIDS Is unknown. Supine position greatly reduces the risk. The advice remains until a year iirc. But instances of SIDS are greatly reduced after 6 months. My 8 month old is a front sleeper. His mattress is firm. I removed the sheepskin he had been using to be safe/r

Original poster

Doodledumdums · 22/06/2013 23:46

Thanks for all of your replies :-) I will remove everything from the cot. I just checked and he is on his front again, fighting a losing battle I think! I hate the idea that he is stuck, but I guess you are right and he will let me know if he needs help. At least I hope he does! I've just moved him from a crib to a cotbed, so he has got loads more room than he did a couple of weeks ago which is probably not helping the situation!

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TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 22/06/2013 23:51

I thought if they could roll on their front themselves, they could roll back (and therefore get themselves out of trouble)? DS slept on front (his choice) from 4 months. I agree with the other advice you've been given though, to ensure he is safe in other ways - not overheating etc.

RobotElephant · 22/06/2013 23:53

At this stage we tucked the grobag into the bottom of the cot. He still had plenty of room in it, but it just made it that bit harder to roll over. By the time he was strong enough to pull it out he was rolling both ways.

Original poster

Doodledumdums · 22/06/2013 23:57

He can only roll from back to front at the moment and hasn't yet mastered rolling from front to back, so I don't think he could get himself out of trouble other than turning his head to the side.

He is now on his side...new position to worry about yet again!

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Original poster

Doodledumdums · 23/06/2013 00:00

Oh that's a good idea robot. He isn't in his grobag tonight because it feels really hot in the nursery, but if he is back in it tomorrow then I will give it a go

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RobotElephant · 23/06/2013 14:37

We wedged it down the end with a rolled up towel or blanket. If you do that you'll need to safety pin or tie it so it can't come unravelled though.

Meringue33 · 23/06/2013 16:39

Omg are you me OP??

I couldn't sleep a wink last night because of this problem. Found him at one point face planted straight down, apparently breathing fine but God knows how!!

He fusses a little if he can't flip back over but very softly and I worry I won't hear it on the monitor esp as am so tired!!!

Thanks for the tip, Robot, will try that tonight.

fififrog · 23/06/2013 21:50

Hello ladies, yes this was us two years ago. It was literally two months that DD slept by choice on her tummy but couldn't roll the other way... It was two months of hell. I wasn't too bothered about her being on her tummy as she was always way happier than her peers on her tummy, but she would wake every two hours at least and scream... I wish now I'd not been so determined to get her on her back as I think actually this just disturbed her even more. At 5.5 months she finally learned to roll onto her back and things calmed down. But she has always slept almost the whole night on her tummy ever since.

I don't know if it's relevant but I was having trouble with BF for a while and started taking her to a chiropractor (free through local sure start) who found she had reduced mobility in one shoulder and after a couple of sessions she learned to roll back one day. Probably a coincidence though!

Original poster

Doodledumdums · 23/06/2013 21:56

Oh poor you Meringue, I am glad it is not just me though!

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Original poster

Doodledumdums · 23/06/2013 22:05

Thanks for your message fififrog

That sounds like a nightmare being woken every two hours! My DS actually slept quite well last night which I was surprised about! Although I am not anticipating the same tonight as he has got an ear infection and has already woken three times since 7:30!

We saw a chiropractor for colic when DS was 4 weeks old and she was brilliant!

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