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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

7m DS currently asleep on his tummy - i'm freaked out!!!

24 replies

u32ng · 30/08/2013 19:16

Is it ok to leave him overnight like this???

He seems to have progressed from sleeping on his back, to his side (marginally freaked out by that but got over it), and now to his tummy.

Basically I'm scared he'll suffocate/stop breathing/wake up crying at some point. I'm already still checking on him regularly at night - even though he's been in his cot 3wks now...

I've already rolled him onto his side, but he seems to have rolled back over & am scared to do it again in case he wakes up, but also scared to leave him.

Stuck in limbo & feeling anxious!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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CreatureRetorts · 30/08/2013 19:18

I thought the risk of SIDS stopped dramatically after 6 months or once they could move themselves into a comfy position?

That's what I told myself when ds flipped onto his tummy just before 6 months. He could roll and sit up, there was nothing in his cot (not even bumpers) so I let him be. He slept better for it too!

Tee2072 · 30/08/2013 19:21

If he put himself there, it means he can roll back over, right?

Then you don't have to worry.

ricecakesrule · 30/08/2013 19:22

My DS slept on his tummy from day 1. I know it's not recommended but it was the only way he'd sleep. I stayed in the midwife unit for a night in the first few days and they were very relaxed about him co-sleeping with me and him being on his tummy if that was how he was comfy. Certainly once they're older and can roll themselves back over there's not much you can do even if you put them on their back to start with!

NutellaStraightFromTheJar · 30/08/2013 19:24

My DS slept on his tummy from around 8 months I think. As long as they can roll themselves back it's safe. I think the back to sleep thing applies to babies under 6 months. DS is a lot more comfy on his front, as he had silent reflux and was a very windy baby, so sleeps better that way. I think it helped him to get the wind out! Short of strapping him down on his back, there's not a lot I could do to stop him.

Rooners · 30/08/2013 19:24

Can he roll himself onto his back if he gets into difficulty?

Mine is 8mo and can't yet so despite the fact he sleeps beside me all night, I couldn't leave him like that as he would become upset if he woke and couldn't roll over onto his back.

EsTutMirLeid · 30/08/2013 19:24

If he put himself on his tummy, he's rolling, if he's rolling he's going to start sleeping in all kinds of positions!

Rooners · 30/08/2013 19:25

Tee, mine can go onto his front but not the reverse!

readysteady · 30/08/2013 19:25

My Midwife said as soon as they can roll themselves then don't worry about it, roll them back if you see them but otherwise...

hettienne · 30/08/2013 19:27

If he finds his own position then he's fine to sleep like that. Most babies choose to tummy sleep once they are 6 months or so.

rootypig · 30/08/2013 19:28

10mo DD rolls onto her side or front - I read something that said keep putting them to sleep on their back but if they roll over, not to worry. Now I can't find the bloody link, but I did find this:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/getting-baby-to-sleep.aspx#close
About halfway down, under SIDS advice, it says when the baby is old enough to roll over, don't prevent them from doing so.

Tee2072 · 30/08/2013 20:24

It still means his control is there, Rooners. So if he rolls onto his tummy, let him sleep there!

Original poster

u32ng · 30/08/2013 22:08

Ah I chickened out and rolled him over!!
Although he's settled nicely on his side and has barely moved all evening! A side sleeper like mummy

When on his playmat he can roll back into his back but he's not totally 'got' it & can often cry so to be honest that's probably the most likely scenario if I'd left him.

OP posts:

lasseg · 02/09/2013 20:32

If he's 7 months, likely he can roll out of any position he gets into, though it's really just head movement you have to worry about. He should have the neck strength to turn his head however he needs to so that he can breathe, so I wouldn't be too worried.

And keep in mind, in another couple years, they'll probably change which sleep position is 'safe' again. They swore up and down on putting babies on their bellies when I was a newborn, it was side-sleeping for my brothers, and by the time my daughter was born, it was putting them on their backs. They change it again roughly every 5-10 years.

If you're really worried, they have those Angel Sleep sensors that go underneath a crib mattress that emit a loud alarm if baby stops moving/breathing for more than 30 seconds.

If nothing else, it will give you peace of mind.

NatashaBee · 02/09/2013 20:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CreatureRetorts · 02/09/2013 20:39

They change it again roughly every 5-10 years

With all due respect, that ^ is simply not true.

CreatureRetorts · 02/09/2013 20:39

They change it again roughly every 5-10 years
Not true. (try again!)

PurplePidjin · 02/09/2013 20:52

Mine has been on his tummy since a few weeks old. As long as they can move their head, you keep them and the room cool (front sleeping is warmer) and there are no other SIDS risks, it's relatively safe. In my case, it was a choice between that and a major car crash when i fell asleep at the wheel...

hettienne · 02/09/2013 21:03

That's rubbish lasseg - they changed it 20+ years ago, and cot death dropped from over 1000 a year to 300.

PurplePidjin · 02/09/2013 21:18

lasseg my gran had one back, one side (and you had to change which side every time) and one tummy.

That was 60+ years ago. Back to sleep and feet to foot was early 90s iirc.

DeWe · 02/09/2013 22:01

Dd2 was rolling over from 2-3 months, was the first thing she did when put in the cot, and she always turned back within a couple of minutes if you turned her over.

Oriunda · 03/09/2013 07:48

DS had always slept on his tummy, from when we stopped rolling him over and worrying and started to relax a bit more. I think we finally gave up trying about 8mos when he went into the cot bed in his own room. We used to constantly monitor him at first but eventually relaxed. It's just his default position to sleep.

We had an angel care sensory monitor as mentioned above which gave peace of mind. Stopped using it when he started moving about from one side of bed to other and the alarm kept going off. We switched to a summer video monitor then.

Original poster

u32ng · 04/09/2013 09:28

Well, on Sunday night DS slept most of it on his tummy & had a phenomenally good night's sleep (unlike last night's 2-hourly wakings argh!!!). So I'm feeling a bit more relaxed about it but yes am concerned with keeping him at the right temperature as I did think he would get overly cosy on his tummy.

OP posts:

WallaceWindsock · 04/09/2013 09:37

I remember worrying about this with DD and rolling her back all the time. I was initially worried again this time with DS, that was until the other night. Trying to get him to settle and he was doing rolls up and down the length of the cot giggling his head off then stayed on his tummy peering at me through the bars and squealing when he spotted me trying to sneak out the room. Am pretty sure that if he can roll about that much he'll be fine!

jammiedonut · 04/09/2013 23:04

Ds has been on his tummy since around 2 wks old, on drs advice. It's not recommended in general because of the SIDS risks, so we try our best to remove all other risks. That being said, the advice I've had is that as long as they are able to manipulate their own heads (I.e move and lift from side to side), and/or roll over then it is safe to leave them in whatever position they end up sleeping in. As long as there are no loose blankets or toys or pillows in the cot he should be fine.

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