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Original poster

Help. DS still rolling around!

27 replies

wellsie · 13/07/2004 16:29

I have posted a thread before about this but I still need your help or just some words of reassurance.
DS sleeps through the night (at the mo) but unless we tuck him in really well he manages to get onto his tummy and then wakes up. He will sleep on his tummy but after a while he gets fed up and wants to be rolled back.
I think the problem is because he sucks his thumb and obviously can only do this one way if he is lying on his tummy (If on back he can turn to each side with thumb still in mouth)
Last night we heard him 3 times. We didn't go into him as we thought he was dreaming (which he does a lot of!) But when we went in at 6.30am he was unhappy because he was on his front. I think he was like this from about 1am.
What are we to do? Short of strapping him down, DS will move about. We are also going away in a couple of weeks and will have to use the travel cot which will mean no restraining.
Has anyone else had this problem and how did it sort itself out? Did you just abandon the tucking in and let babies move about as freely as they want? If this is the case DS may end up with bruising as he has a habit of crashing into cot bars!
Really am stuck and worried about this at the moment. DS is 6mths so is getting to the age where he can control his environment. Don't want to start getting up for him in the night and then it becoming a habit - IYSWIM
Please help.
Many thanks
Wellsie

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poppyseed · 13/07/2004 16:35

We've had this with DS. It was worse with a grobag on tbh. As soon as I removed the bag and put him in just a vest and babygro with no covers he was loads better. Unless he was genuinely unhappy and crying we left him. He sorted himself out eventually and now sleeps in the most ridiculous positions that you can think of...!!

Original poster
wellsie · 13/07/2004 16:38

poppyseed, I think I know what you mean about the grobag - it gets twisted around.
I just worry that in the winter he'll get cold and then wake up!

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poppyseed · 13/07/2004 16:42

I am pleased that somebody else has found that the grobags gets twisted!! I have a couple of fleecy babygros with a zip which I used to use with DD (they're pink but he won't know!!!)and I put a vest and gro on underneath too. You can always start off with traditional covers too or when he's older use one of those stretchy elastic things that fit under the mattress. I'll have a look to see if I can do a link to what I mean - don't hold your breath I may be some time!!!!

Original poster
wellsie · 13/07/2004 16:48

Thanks Poppyseed - will try anything, even if it is pink!

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poppyseed · 13/07/2004 16:55

Ok Have a look at these duvet grippers for if he gets cold
God I can't believe I've done a link and it works!!!! Yippee!!

poppyseed · 13/07/2004 16:57

ps These are for a bed but you can tie a knot in them on the underside of the cot mattress to shorten the elastic.

prettycandles · 13/07/2004 17:24

Sleepingbag. Worked perfectly for my two. But if you're worried about the bag getting tangled around him, don't get the very lightweight one, get one that is slightly padded and put him in it with less clothes, or even with just a nappy on. The wadding gives the bag a slight stiffness, which means it gets less twisted.

prettycandles · 13/07/2004 17:28

And, if I may be so cruel, I suggest that you leave him when he turns over. As long as he knows how to roll over from front to back - does he? It will only take a couple of nights and he will learn to sort himself out and go back to sleep.

Both of mine regularly turn 180deg, and used to cry out when they got stuck across the cot. I learned to leave them to it and either they sort themselves out, or in the morning I come in and find them folded in half across the cot, sometimes with bits sticking out through the bars, looking hideously uncomfortable but deeply deeply asleep.

mummyintexas · 13/07/2004 17:47

We had this exact problem with dd until this week. She kept rolling onto her front (in a grobag) and then wailing until we turned her back over. We tried tucking the grobag into the end of the cot (she's 6.5 months and is in a 6-18 month grobag) and then pinning a sheet across her using a towel to wedge it. She quite liked this for a few nights and then started waking up because she couldn't turn over! So we then started leaving her to cry (mean I know.....but.....) and it fixed itself within 2 nights - she now flips over the second she goes into her cot and sleeps on her front all night happy as can be. We check on her before we go to bed, and more often than not she has rotated 90deg and is across the cot - we simply slide her back to the center and leave her on her front. So far so good. I'm sure your ds will fix this himself, just have patience!
Good advice on the higher tog PrettyCandles - sadly I'm in Texas where it's steaming hot outside (literally) so we have to have her in the lightest one available. I would try that if we were in cooler climbs.

Original poster
wellsie · 14/07/2004 01:26

poppyseed, thanks for the link - GREAT WEBSITE! Think I might be spending some of DH's money.

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poppyseed · 14/07/2004 01:40

Not at all If you've got lots to spend have a look here too . I'm a master of DH's spending power!!

Original poster
wellsie · 14/07/2004 16:08

OK, officially tired today!
DS woke twice last night, the 2nd time was at 3.40am and he stayed awake for an hour - talking to himself! I went to have a look at him and he was on his front. DH & I decided not to turn him over and eventually he went back to sleep. Is this normal to wake in the middle of the night and stay awake for an hour - I wouldn't mind as long as he was quiet!
Today he has been grumpy and I'm sure this is because he is tired from all his night time activity - will this sort itself out or should we be doing something to help DS with his sleep. We still have him in his grobag and tucked in as we aren't quite brave enough to stop this.

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poppyseed · 14/07/2004 16:47

DS used to sing to himself at stupid o'clock.... left him to it as he didn't need me.. I'm sure that he will sort himself out. What does he sleep like in the day?

prettycandles · 14/07/2004 18:43

It'll sort itself out. Actually, it's a very good sign, IMO - it shows you that your ds can settle himself back to sleep on his own. Of course he will be a bit grumpy, but unless it gets really bad, I would just stick to your normal naps and bedtime routines. That's what I do, anyway! My two share a room, so there are many days when I knwo that they've been having a midnight party (even if I didn't hear it) because they're tired or grumpy the following day. If they are really rough then I might give them an extra nap, or an extra long nap, but then I knwo that more sleep during the day won't put them off sleeping at night. But not all babies are like this.

Original poster
wellsie · 14/07/2004 21:56

We do a bit of Gina Ford but some days it goes out the window. DS has napped as normal yesterday & today. I'm going out tonight (first time in 6mths) so I hope that he is good for DH and that he sleeps well during the night, I might be a bit rough tomorrow!
Will tuck him in again and hope for a good 11-12hrs - wish us luck.

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Judd · 14/07/2004 22:30

Wellsie, re: crashing into cot bars. Our DD used to turn over and bump her head when she was about 10 months. It would always be around 11pm when she was obviously in a light sleep and we were coming upstairs to bed and making a bit of a noise. We bought a cot bumper and tied it round, tucking the bottom bits into the mattress so that it provided padding. It worked a treat, although we only did it because she was in a sleeping bag and therefore couldn't use it to get a leg up and out of the cot!

Original poster
wellsie · 15/07/2004 22:49

OK Judd, DS must have read your posting last night cos he did exactly that. DH and I went to bed at about 11.30pm and everything creaked when we went upstairs, DS snuffled and DH and I held our breath. We thought all was well until 10mins later when Waaaaa! Waaaaa! Tried to leave him but he was in a bit of a state. When I went into his room he was on his front, I flipped him over and he went back off to sleep straight away. This now leads me to believe that he prefers to sleep on his back but he is such a wriggle bum.
Anyway, he must have slept the rest of the night on his back cos' when we went in this morning he was still like it.
Tonight I have REALLY wedged him in - I'll be amazed if he can roll over! I know we are going to have to let him have some freedom soon but DH & I are knackered as neighbours were noisy last night and DS has been a grump all day - teeth & cold!

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karen99 · 17/07/2004 16:06

Hi Wellsie, long time no speak. How are things?

As for the sleep, your ds will soon know how to flip both ways. I too had this problem with my ds around the same age and the advice was to leave him to find out how to fall asleep in a new [front] position. It too was a bit hit and miss until he could roll both ways. Then they start getting in VERY strange positions! How have things been the last few nights?

Hope your night out was nice. I have to say 'no' after two glasses or else I just feel sooo rough the next day. Long gone are the days of nursing a hangover in bed!

Original poster
wellsie · 17/07/2004 18:43

Hi Karen99, we're doing much better now, thanks for asking.
The last 2 nights I've really tucked DS in and therefore he has been unable to get onto his front. He has slept a good 11hrs and we've not heard a peep out of him. I know that we will soon have to let him move about, we're going away this weekend so he will be in the travel cot - no way of tucking him in. So this should be interesting. Am quietly dreading it.
Every milestone seems to come with new hurdles, I get so anxious but once we've overcome them I feel great - the rollercoaster ride of being a parent - hey?

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karen99 · 18/07/2004 01:00

Glad things are getting better. It was hard to hear it at the time, but after spending soooooo many months on MN, I'm finding it's true when people say 'it will get better' or 'soon enough it'll happen' etc.

You can still tuck a grobag under the end of the travel cot mattress (we tried this once), but in the end we just let him be. He always seems to act differently in a travel cot (unfortunately usually for the worse) or when we stay away for the night, but [for us] it's par for the course. Hope you have a nice break. Talk to you soon. x

Original poster
wellsie · 23/07/2004 10:23

OK everyone, we had our weekend away and I wasn't brave enough to let DS roll around in his travel cot so - some how - I managed to tuck him in with the use of a sheet and about 100 towels. He still squirmed a bit and woke a couple of times but I just tucked him back in.

Now the thing is DH (and me if I'm truly honest) need to get over this tucking in business and let DS sort himself out. We're going to start tonight.
I know he's not meant to have a cot bumper as he is only 6.5mths but for the sake of his little head needs must! I'm going to keep him in his grobag and see what happens.

My question to you guys is if he wakes up should I go in and resettle him or should I just leave him and am I being too hopeful in thinking this might be like controlled crying and only take 3 nights to get sorted?

Thanks in advance

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Original poster
wellsie · 23/07/2004 16:34

Bump - it's counting down to bedtime, HELP.

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Piffleoffagus · 23/07/2004 16:47

my dd went to her front and stayed there, she has always been a cot traveller, she sucks her thumb and at about 7-8 mths found lying on her side with her thumb and her cuddle rug made life simpler, she now shock horror sleeps mostly head up, on her tum or side as she has a slim pillow that she adores.
It is a short term problem as soon he will be able to get back and forward on his own.
Not sure what would really help in the meantime though, sorry...

Piffleoffagus · 23/07/2004 16:48

my gut instinct too is that 6 mths is too early to leave a baby in the controlled crying sense of the word... I was still feeding mine 2x night til 11 mths...
erks back under my stone now...

Original poster
wellsie · 23/07/2004 21:59

As I type this DS has been asleep for 2.5hrs.
We didn't tuck him in tonight and already he has worked his way to the top of the cot. We have made the decision to leave him where he is and see what happens.
I am really tired so I'm off to bed now. I hope that we all have a good night, however something tells me that I might be up later.
Will update in the morning (hopefully not too early).
Night Night

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