16 week old baby keeps rolling on his side to sleep; worried!!

[Jackanory1978]

I've recently posted in this forum about trying to transfer my ds from his Moses basket to his cot. Well last night he was happy to settle in his cot (yay!) but now I have a whole new problem. I put him down on his back and he immediately rolls onto his side. I'd turn him back onto his back and he rolls onto his side again.

This went on all night and basically I spent most of the night watching him. I'm really worried about SIDS (it happened to the baby of a distant relative) but he seems so happy on his side and slept fine. I hate sleeping on my back so I completely understand!

He can't roll yet, either back to front or front to back, so I'm worried that if his face gets wedged into the mattress he won't be able to move. But I can't sit up watching him every night.

Is it ok to put him down on his back but leave him to turn to his side? Has anyone brought an angelcare monitor? I'm seriously considering buying one as I'd feel more reassured, but they're really expensive!

Sorry to hear that a member of your family lost a baby to SIDS. I understand that this is why you're worried about this rolling.

I thought that if a baby is able to roll him or herself into a sleeping position then it is fine? Do you do plenty of tummy time with your baby during the day? This will help strengthen his neck so he can lift his head up when lying on his tummy.

I am pretty sure hat my DS started rolling over and sleeping on his front from about 4 months old, and because he got himself there, I figured he was probably ok??

my 16wk old dd sleeps either on her side or on her back. when she was about 3/4 weeks old she had a cold and could only sleep on her side and since then will often start on her side and roll onto her back later in the night. she can roll both ways but doesn't do it very often coz she is lazy like her mummy

If it helps your peace of mind, I used to place a rolled up blanket in front of dd waist down to stop her from rolling onto her front- maybe you could try that?