Is sleeping on a tummy dangerous for a 5mnths old baby?

[zuzkah]

Hi there. My 5mnths old son started to sleep on his tummy last night and I just wanted to know if it is ok? With all the SID recommendations...how long is a baby in danger of SID? He used to sleep on his side but has learnt to roll on his tummy a couple of days ago so he started to sleep on his tummy with his face half burried in the matress. Any advice please?

As far as I am aware it is against SIDS recommendations for your baby to sleep on their front. I don't really know what you can do though - of course you're already putting him down on his back but he's turning over. I think there are supports you can buy from places like Blooming Marvellous to try and discourage.

Risk of SIDS peaks around 12 wks from what I remember so will still be considerable for your DS. It doesn't drop substantially until they are one.

Hope you get some good advice here.

I think if its him rolling himself into that position then its fine as he would also be able to roll himself back if needed or at least lift his head up to cry for you if he was stuck.
Im sure mine were doing this at 5months and do it all the time now

can he roll back if he wants to?

once they decide on their own sleep position it's pointless to try and stop them ime.

I agree with Mrs Badger. Once they can roll over on their own there isn't much you can do except make sure they aren't too warm.

He can't roll back yet. That's the thing. He was napping just a minute ago and when I checked on him he was on his tummy lifting his head up. Then he fell asleep again with his face burried in the matress. So I rolled him on his back and he carried on sleeping.

The advice is to roll them back if you come across them on their front. But no need to set your alarm clock or anything. And stop once they can roll back again.

www.fsid.org.uk/editpics/612-1.pdf

"If a parent finds that their baby has rolled onto their stomach, the baby should be turned onto their back again, but parents should not feel that they have to get up all
night to check. Babies will learn at some point to roll onto their front. When the baby can roll from back to front and back again, on their own, then they can be left to find their own position."

Thanks gagarin, that's a great piece of advice. I feel better now. And you saved me lots of time searching the net. I love MN!