Sleeping on tummy....what age is thought to be safe?

[Melly]

My dd has started to sleep (part of the night I think) on her tummy. She is nearly 10 months now and has been doing this on and off for the past two or three weeks. I always put her in her cot on her back and she has a sleeping bag, but when I go into her room in the morning or after one of her naps she is usually lying on her tummy, sometimes horizontally across the cot! I think part of the problem is that although she can roll from on her back to her tummy she hasn't worked out how to roll back again.
I have read a chapter in the CLBB where GF encountered this with a nine month old and the conclusion was that many babies of this age prefer to sleep on their tummy.
I was wondering if anyone has come across this. I can't help feeling a bit nervous about it especially when we are told that babies should sleep on their backs.

Melly my oldest child is 12. When he was born they reccommended putting them to sleep on their backs. Eversince then it has been back and forth from stomach to back. They never know which way is safe it seems. To be truthful I started out on the back and side and my oldest would never sleep. After being so frustrated I just put him on his tummy eversince. He slept so good. I was still nervous but I left it in Gods hands. My other 2 I did the same thing. By 2 months they were all on their tummies. This was all while doctors kept changing their minds on which way was safer to lay infants. I figured no one knew what they were talking about.

I have always been told that a baby is old enough to sleep on their tummy when they are able to roll over, so it sounds as if your baby is fine!

Melly, Both my daughters - now 6 and 4 - slept on their tummy, almost from the beginning. They just cried and cried on their backs. I know it's not what's recommened, but as soon as I turned them over they were happier. So I wouldn't worry about it if I was you, especially as she's rolling about herself.

Melly, my dd, now 18 mths has slept on her tummy from about 2 months as she never slept on her back for more than 1 hour at a time. I read that the chances of cot death reduce significantly after 6 months but until then I worried.

Thanks for all your advice. Put dd to bed tonight at 7 pm and have just been up to re-settle her as she had rolled onto her tummy and got wedged sideways! She protested a bit for about 30 seconds when I left the room, but all has gone quiet now.

Just like to add that there is good cause for wanting babies to lie on their backs - reliable statistics show a marked decrease in cot death. There is less chance of over heating in this position. It used to be recommended babies lie on their fronts for fear if they were sick, they would choke. Now it is understood this is not the case, as babies have an excellent gag reflex, preventing this. So, to all those with tiny babies, it is best to follow guidelines - Back To Sleep.
Melly - in your case, your baby is old enough to roll herself over, so this is fine - you can't spend all night turning them back over! The reality is, if she is strong enough to get herself into this position, although she may not be able to get herself fully out of it by rolling back the other way, she is able to squirm a great deal to get more comfy and cooler if she needs to.

I think the statistic is that following the launch of the 'Back To Sleep' campaign a few years ago, cot deaths dropped by about 60%. But once they can roll around on their own whatever suits them best!

Well i know it is a bit late to add a message on this subject but i need some advise. My dd is 7 months and can now roll on her tummy but not back again. Only problem is she hates it on her tummy so when she goes over she crys and i have to turn her onto her back. After she has turned over about 6 times, screamed and i turn her back, the whole process leaves her wide awake and me extremely stressed out. HELP!!!!!!!!!!1

Melly my DD was 5mos when she discovered sleeping on her tummy - as often as I turn her over she flips back. I've kind of stopped worrying too much because there's not an awful lot I can do about it bar staying up all night - not an option! I guess that she is now strong enough to lift her upper body on her arms and her head too, so that her face is not face down in the mattress but to the side. I hope that is safer for her.

jennyjen1982.i used to roll a little t,shirt up and put it right next to either rib when she was on her back(one either side) and it stopped her rolling flat on her tummy and helped her go back on back,,,if you see what i mean

That is a great idea Angelez i will definatly try that one, thanks for your help.

.no problem,hope it helps