Baby sleeping on tummy...

[Hoping87]

Who’s little one sleeps on their tummy?

My little girl 20 weeks has rolled over and gone back to sleep on her front, she can roll from front to back but only when she feels like it, but she has got really good head control! I’ve left her now as I can keep an eye on her but not sure if I’m safe to leave her if she does this at night???? Thoughts??

Most children will be fine on their tummies, it used to be thought that they were safer that way and all children used to be put on their tummies to sleep.

However, more recent research has shown that backs are safer. The risk is low either way but definitely lower on their back.

Mine (40 years ago) slept on their front. If mine were babies today I would put them on their back.

I would say, during the day, when you are keeping an eye on them I wouldn't worry about them being on their front. If she can turn over I would start her on her back at night and turn her back onto her back when I went to bed.

The risk is said to be much reduced after 6 months or once they can turn themselves either way so I wouldn't worry about it.

My DS2 is now 8.5 months and he has slept on his front at night since he was 2 weeks old. He kept on startling so much and waking himself and he would not be swaddled. this was also combined with DS1 waking up in the night and so to get some sleep I allowed front sleeping. I was very nervous and it is not recommended but his head control was good. The difference in risk between front and back sleeping is very small.

If they are old enough to roll on their front it's fine

As soon as my DD could roll herself she would flip herself to her front, sleeping on her tummy. I would religiously put her down to sleep on her back as per recommendations, but as soon as she could roll, she would!

It’s not strictly following guidelines, but I think as long as you originally place her down on her back into her cot, that’s ok.

My grandson would not go to sleep on his back. Slept on his stomach from about 1 week old. He still does now and he is 18 months.

My 8mo has slept on his front since he started rolling at 4mo and has been fine. I always put him down on his back though.