Should I let my nearly 6 month old sleep like this? (Pic)

[fee1234]

Hi, DS is 5 1/2 months old, slept in sleepyhead every night since we brought him home. Lately he's started rolling over and sleeping on his side which is fine for naps or when he's cuddled with me, but I'm not sure if I should let him sleep like this for the night. He's still right next to me so I can see and hear him, I'm just worried he might roll on to his front or squish his face into the bottom and not get back up. Might be over thinking it because he's completely sound asleep just now, but if I roll him back on to his back he will wake up within a few mins and thrash around until he's on his side again.

I want a baby cuddle!!! Too cute!

Would you like to swap him (temporarily) for a couple of smelly teenagers? They are pretty low maintenance and can cook.

My 6 month old started sleeping on his side as soon as we moved him from his next2me crib into his cot. He kept waking himself up accidentally rolling back on to his back 😭 we used rolled up towels either side of him to make him feel more secure which acts in a similar way to the sleepy head but without the suffocation worry! If you find your little one struggles to sleep well without the sleepy head, you could try this xx

He’s okay sleeping on his side if he can roll but definitely time to remove the Sleepyhead as other posters have said.

P.S. What a cutie!

Aw thanks for all the nice comments!

Well last night was his first cold turkey night without the sleepyhead and it made for some interesting acrobatics. He rolled on to his front with bum in the air a few times, but he can't quite get back on to his front so would cry for me to roll him back. He also would fling himself from side sleeping to lying back which woke him up too.

I might try the rolled up towel idea tonight, even just around his bottom half

Lots of tummy time and within a few weeks he will be able to roll back.

I remember that phase with DD! Her waking up crying and me having to move her back. Luckily it didn’t last long.

Personally I’d say leave the cot empty without any towels and persevere.

Beautiful baby xx

I’m not sure rolled up towels are necessarily any safer than a sleepyhead? The lullaby trust recommend just an empty flat mattress.

When my baby rolled over on to his tummy at five months, he slept much better. He still sleeps on his tummy. After all the acrobatics he might find a position he likes. He looks like he's ready for a big cot with a nice comfy mattress in. The mattresses on those travel cots are quite thin aren't they?

He rolled on to his front with bum in the air a few times, but he can't quite get back on to his front so would cry for me to roll him back

When my DC started doing this, I made a quick decision that he was going to have to sort himself out as I really didn't want to be reorganizing him in the cot 12 times a night (he was also in his own room by this point so I had to trek across the cold landing and back)!

I'm glad I did as we had one unsettled night and then he learned he had to get comfortable as he was or to figure out how to move out of it. This also set a good precedent for when he learned to sit up, but not lie down and then later to stand up but not to sit down.

Don't create any new habits you're not happy to keep in order to solve a temporary problem!

I would just have the mattress. No rolled up towels or anything.

I am very envious of your adorable sleeping baby. Only one of my three was or is ever asleep like this before 11pm.

Thanks, I didn't bother using a towel, he's asleep just now on his side again so it definitely seems to be most comfortable for him - I just need to relax and let him figure it out on his own. Moving house in two weeks when he will be 6 months and would be great if he was in his big cot in his own room, but I'd feel much better if I knew he could roll himself back.

We did lots of tummy time today to try and encourage him to roll from tummy to back but still no joy, so I'm guessing he will wake up again if he gets stuck on his front again tonight.