Freaked out by DS sleeping position!

[monkeymamma]

DS is nearly 5mo and has just got a bit more mobile, as he can now flip over (from back onto tummy) and hold himself up on his arms etc.

Until now we'd put him down to sleep on his back and the only thing that would change was perhaps a small adjustment in the position of his arms, or he'd kick off his blanket to get cool.

Now the ONLY way he can get to sleep is by 1) rolling onto his front 2) sticking his bum in the air 3) poking both feet and one arm out through the bars of his cot and wedging them down the side of the mattress, and, most worryingly of all, 4) rubbing his face down into the mattress so as much of it is touching the mattress as possible.

Since he discovered this new position he has been sleeping much better, and for longer (particularly on a morning where he's gone from waking at 5am till sleeping until, well, this morning is the latest he's slept and I'm posting this at 8.40am). But I'm sleeping much worse as I feel the need to check his breathing every 5 minutes!!! Help!!

We've tried gently turning him over, but he either wakes (and needs feeding/rocking/singing etc for ages and ages), or just wriggles about in his sleep until he's achieved his favoured position (as outlined above).

Has anyone else experienced this? Any tips? (Heeelllpp!!!)

That bum in the air position is normal. It seems weird for adults, but it's normal for babies and toddlers. They all do it, ime.

One of mine used to pile up all the duplo on the floor in a big heap and then fall asleep on that, bum in the air.

My now 9 month old has been sleeping like this since about that age. He sleeps in a growbag so feet don't get too stuck if you know what I mean. Like you I kept flipping him at first but he always moved back. I don't think there is much you can do to be honest! Like you say its teh face in the mattress that's worst but as long as the mattress is firm I am sure it will be fine. I have heard many friends say there babies sleep like this once they can roll over.

Yep DS also likes to sleep with his bun in the air. When they start moving around at night and turn themselves over there's very little you can do. You turn them back and in 10 minutes they'll flip over again.

I think it's pretty normal. Just think it must be amazing to finally be able to move about and get comfy. Dd did the bum in air sleeping for a while when she learnt to roll over she now sleeps on her side mostly. Now he's mobile (ish) expect to find him in various strange positions and enjoy the better/longer sleep :)

Leave him! I have never ever heard of a baby intentionally suffocating itself at that age. At 5 months he is easily able to move his face slightly away from the matress. DD2 (noew 13 months) sometimes sleeps on her tummy with her face practically right on the mattress.

Also, probably next week he'll be doing something else bananas - I'd be surprised if this lasts long.

DD2 has been known to be sitting up in her cot with her legs out in front of her when we leave her, and then falls asleep by basically just leaning forward - torso flat on the mattress, legs still out in front, by her ears! Looks really really uncomfortable but she seems happy!

Agree with everyone else. Leave him. My 8mo has been doing it for about 3 months. It's cute!

DD sleeps with her backside in the air with her cover over her head

DD sleeps with her head buried as deeply as possible into the mattress and her arse so high in the air it make me giggle.

If they sleep - who am I to argue?

Ahhh thank you so much for all the responses! I'm feeling very much reassured - sometimes I just need reminding he isn't a newborn any more (with all the attendant worrying required at that stage).

Pollymorphic, lol at the pile of duplo (think I could probably manage to fall asleep on a pile of duplo myself these days...)

milkysmum - good idea re the grobag, I might pop him in his tonight and at least prevent him getting his feet stuck and panicking as he did a few nights ago!

And CoronationWigeon (great name btw) you are right he will find something else bananas to do very soon :-)

DS2 still sleeps with his head down on the mattress and he's 10!

Just wait until you put your DC in a real bed. DS has been in his 2 months and still falls out every night!

DD2 always searched anything she could push her face up against, I had a thin cot bumper ( cotton sheet) as she hated the open bars when she went into cot from moses basket I would find her pressed up nose against it in the most weird positions. she now age 3 squashes her rabbit firmly up to her face when she goes to sleep.

Hope you get a bit more sleep tonight and don't panic that he's not breathing!

Thank you for the Jubilee name-change compliment - I am usually Wigeon and had a sudden inspiration about a Jubilee-themed name (having never name changed before).

My dd did this too. We called it the 'roast chicken'