Baby sleeping face down

[megankurt]

Hello moms. My baby is 5 months, very strong boy. Recently he started rolling over in his sleep and sleeping face down. He'll keep his face over his head so there's some space between his nose and the mattress, but not much for him to breathe. Sometimes he turns his head, but sometimes he doesn't. I don't know what to do as my husband and I have been taking turns staying awake with him for two weeks. We're very tired and overwhelmed. I read about the potentiality of carbon monoxide being inhaled... Horrifying! Then I also read the more experience the better for the baby. How are they supposed to get experience if we're supposed to keep them on their back if they're face planting? Seems a catch 22. Another article said supervise your baby. Supervise him face planting? If I move his head he wakes and cries. I've just been keeping him on my breast and staying awake and watching him. My husband rocks him to sleep on his legs (old Turkish tradition). This seems impossible! Please help

If he’s strong enough to roll onto his front, I’m sure he’ll be fine sleeping on his front, please don’t worry.
Just keep putting him down on his back and accept that he might roll over - you can’t really stop him now he can roll.

He’s fine, if he can roll it’s not a problem. Look at the NHS website and it will confirm this. My baby does this, and although it seems scary, they are fine. I know it’s hard, but please try and get some sleep!

Hi my little boy started rolling at 5.5 months and I was waking through night and turning him over for about 2 weeks and constantly checking him. I was frighted he couldn't breathe. In the end he started crying as I was turning him constantly. So I just left him. He is 8 months now and sleeps on his belly all night has done for over 2 months

Once they can roll, it’s absolutely fine to leave them - and babies sleep much better when they can roll to whatever position they like. So relax and enjoy!

Have you looked at the lullaby trust website? Look at the safer sleep advice.

I think their advice is that it’s ok to leave him on his front if he rolls onto it, they don’t advise you to stay up all night watching him.

I would make sure the cot is set up safely with no loose bedding etc. the lullaby trust site is good.

I just keep reading the carbon monoxide situation is linked to SIDS which is really driving me nuts. Also, we have a Montessori bed for him which my husband insisted on. There's a lot of space since he moves a lot and it's on the floor, but I keep it empty. don't think it makes a difference but the mattress isn't all that firm. Thinking of a "breathable mattress" for a peace of mind.

They all go through this stage and I think lots of mums worry, but there's not much you can do. You can't keep staying up all night! The mattress should be firm really though, so they can't bury their face in it.

Can you send a link to the carbon monoxide issue? I can’t think how it could ever be that concentrated?

I found so many... if you just google "baby sleeping face down" literally every article is mentioning this. But here is a link to the first one I saw.

mominformed.com/my-baby-sleeps-face-down-in-the-mattress-should-i-worry/

Have you been doing tummy time?
The article you linked really refers to younger babies and those that can't lift their heads.
The general advice is that once a baby can roll they can sleep how they like. Continues to make sure the bed itself is safe - nothing to get caught up in or smothered by.
If you're really anxious you'd be best talking to your HV for some reassurance. Nobody should be staying up all night to watch the baby in case they roll over in their sleep.

If I was in your position I would put him on his back to sleep but I wouldn’t stay awake to watch him. The advice says that once the baby is able to roll over himself it’s safe to let him sleep like that, if he puts himself in that position. They advise against the parent placing the baby on the back or side to sleep.

I don’t know about your mattress/bedding but as long as it’s firm and flat so his face doesn’t sink into it id be ok with it.

I know what it’s like worrying about SIDS, I worried about it for weeks. All you can do is follow the safe sleeping advice from the experts.

How about something like this to reassure you?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B072KSGQVZ/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcXAC4EJFD9K8RA0NW9HVM

My main concern would be the Montessori bed - is the mattress safe for sleeping infants? Generally if they can roll themselves into a position they are fine, but infant mattresses are firmer than adult mattresses, this means there is less risk of baby's face sinking into it and blocking breathing. I would check if your mattress meets EU infant sleep regulations (sorry I don't know the product codes off the top of my head but you should be able to google) and this should give you an idea of whether this mattress is safe for a very small baby to be sleeping face down on. A lot of people complain about how hard baby mattresses are but it's a safety feature.

The mattress is the biggest concern. Infant mattresses are firmer than child/adult ones for a very good reason. If yours doesn't comply I'd get a cot mattress and put that on the floor.

How times change. When I had my children the advice was for them to sleep on their tummies from the beginning. My DD had a special lambswool fleece and used to burrow her fingers into it and just go off. People used to be annoyed when they looked in the pram and all they could see was a babies bottom sticking up.

@mdh2020

How times change. When I had my children the advice was for them to sleep on their tummies from the beginning. My DD had a special lambswool fleece and used to burrow her fingers into it and just go off. People used to be annoyed when they looked in the pram and all they could see was a babies bottom sticking up.

Likewise!

I would look at the mattress, you could consider a natural fibre one and possibly sleeping on a lambswool fleece.