5 month old doing turtle impressions

[ExistentialistCat]

DD2 is 5 months old today and has started flipping from her front to her back (I put her down on her front to sleep as she flails so much). This seems to be unsettling her as she lies there waving her arms and legs about like a stranded turtle. I generally bf her back to sleep - she's not really hungry but it's the only thing that will settle her back down. And recently I've taken her into bed with me at about 5 as it seems to be the only way that we all get a bit more sleep.

Rod for own back? Or temporarily necessary measure? Anything else I could try?!

And here I was thinking an unusual title might make people curious and leaqd to lots of responses...

Ummmm you know she meant to sleep on her back? I'd comfort her on her back until she returns to sleep so she gets the hang of sleeping that way. But then I am neurotic first time mum who follows every rule to the letter, I know lots of babies sleep on their tummies just fine.

She's obviously learning to flip and can't work out how to get back. Give her plenty of practise in the day. Also does she sleep in a sleepbag? That might help her stay on her front. Also the turtle thing is exercise - she's strengthening her core muscles - a precursor to crawling/walking. Tummy time is important!

DS started flipping onto his front at 5 months so we let him sleep like that. By then he had great head control and we didn't have any toys in his cot and he slept in a sleep bag so I wasn't so worried.

Yes BF to sleep is a temporary and very helpful measure! You could try cuddling or rocking but if it works fine.

I'm confused. You put her on her front otherwise she flails around. But she flips over anyway then flails around. Either way, she ends up flailing on her back, with you battling against her. So starting to try to get her settled on her back seems the only thing to do, imo

existentialist I think all babies go through the 'oh look, i can roll! but now I can't get back over to sleep the way I want to sleep' phase. Mercifully it s short lived and resolves when they learn to roll the other way. Can you practice back to front rolls in the daytime with her?

I would recommend using the next size up grobags if you're not already - the 0-6 month ones don't allow for much leg waving and rolling IIRC. John Lewis do nice big ones but with safe, small head holes.