7 month old face planting the mattress when asleep

[Stardust127]

Hey,

Just in need of some advice/reassurance please.

My boy will be 7 months old at the end of this month. Since developing his rolling skills quite well, he has enjoyed sleeping on his side, which is fine.

However tonight he has rolled on to his front and face planted the mattress. I left him like that for about 5 minutes after I noticed to see if he would move position, which he didn’t so I moved him back on to his side. He then rolled on to his front… again. This time thankfully with his face to the side so I’ve left him like that. I can’t sleep though, I’m worried.

I’m so worried that he will end up breathing in too much of his own carbon dioxide 😣

We practice safe sleeping - he sleeps in his cot, with a breathable mattress and correct fitted breathable bedding, with nothing other than him in the cot. No blankets as he has a sleeping bag. Those bags are honestly the best thing ever.

thank you xx

Also, new fear unlocked - what if he vomits after having some milk in the night and then is sleeping face down in his vomit 😣 (he is often sick after feeds. He has reflux)

First of all he is better on his stomach if he vomits then on his back.

Your baby is normal. If your baby is out to sleep on their side their arm is surely under then so is purposefully rolling this way and can roll out of it. If it bothers you that much get a sleeping pad.

Also stop worrying. You are getting yourself worked up and a simple google would have helped allay your fears.

Will babies wake themselves up if they can't breathe?

If a baby is breathing stale air and not getting enough oxygen, the brain usually triggers the baby to wake up and cry to get more oxygen.

https://kidshealth.org
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) (for Parents) - Kids Health

I think once they are rolling you let them choose their sleeping position-you haven't much choice anyway!!

if they have the strength to roll both ways and lift their head their brain is not going to let them not be able to breathe. if they can't breathe properly their brain will wake them to cry or move or lift their head. it's just a reaction.

once they start rolling you don't really have a choice how they sleep. you are practising safe sleep in all other ways so nothing you can do. front sleeping only a risk of suffocation when they can't lift their head/roll back again.

DS was front sleeping constantly from 5.5 months here.

Loads of them do the terrifying face planting thing. Once I was sure mine could roll both ways I left her to it, but it took me a while to stop worrying about it!

Thanks for all the replies I’m feeling a lot more reassured now 😊