3.5 month old sleeping on front

[Ak627]

Our 3.5 month old has mastered rolling and she is now rolling onto her front to sleep.

She can only roll from her back to her front (on one side), and hasn’t mastered rolling from her front to her back yet. So once she’s rolled onto her tummy, she can’t move onto her back.

It’s freaking me out as I know 2-4 months is prime time for SIDS. We always put her on her back to sleep, and I know the guidance is once they can roll, you don’t need to keep turning them onto their back….but she just seems so young!

I am tempted to speak to the health visitor, but in my experience I’ve never found them that helpful. Has anyone gone through this with an early roller?

Thanks.

I’m honestly not sure what a health visitor would suggest. I would just keep doing what you are doing and put on back to sleep each time and at each night wake.

Chances are even if she could roll back she wouldn’t if that’s how she’s comfy. But you could do lots of tummy time to strengthen neck muscles.

Is she in a sleeping bag? That can make it harder for them to roll.

Try not to worry though, you’re doing exactly the right thing. Babies just haven’t read the rule book!

All mine slept on their tummies from birth, its how our family get to sleep.

Mine was a tummy sleeper practically from birth. Its the only way he didnt wake himself up by flinging his arms everywhere all the time! now at 12 months he still rolls onto and prefers his tummy!

If she is on her tummy i imagine her head control is strong enough that she can lift and turn it? Don’t worry!

If they can roll themselves onto their front I wouldn't worry too much about this. There's nothing you can do apart from keep putting them on their back. If they have the strength to roll then they have the strength to manoeuvre themselves into a better breathing position if they need to whilst asleep. Please try not to worry. As long as they are in a sleep safe space with no loose bedding or soft pillows, or toys, and they are sleeping in the room with you, they should be fine.

The advice is,until baby can confidently roll back to front and front to back - always roll baby back into their back any time you notice baby on their tummy

Lullaby Trust
https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk › ...PDF
Back to Sleep

My DD was exactly like this at a similar age and I also freaked out and asked the HV about it. She said to keep putting the baby down on her back but not to worry if she rolled over in the night. Obviously keep doing all the other ant-SIDS stuff like firm mattress with no loose blankets, etc. DD is 2 now and still sleeps faceplanted into the mattress, it's obviously just how she's comfortable!

I'd also add that it was only a couple of weeks before she learned to roll the other way, and then I really did stop worrying about it.