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How can I stop my 5 month old rolling onto her belly and waking herself up?

8 replies

tenths · 23/07/2025 22:38

My 5 month old has been an okay sleeper, usually wakes up between 1-2 times between midnight and 8am. She was doing okay with self settling, I’ve not let her cry it out, but has from 6ish weeks been able to be put down and fall asleep.

She learnt to roll at just over 3 months but can only roll back to belly. Whenever I set her down in the cot she immediately rolls onto her front and screams. I was honestly spending 2 hours a night & during day time naps rolling her back only for her to roll back again. I’ve started feeding to sleep so she’s already asleep when I put her down, and in the day she sleeps supervised in her swing.

But.. whenever she wakes in the night, where she’d usually just self settle she’s rolling onto her front and getting really upset. I’m still feeding to sleep at night but she even rolls onto her belly in her sleep.

We’re doing lots of tummy time to encourage rolling back but we’re not there yet.

Any suggestions please??

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Emonade · 23/07/2025 22:39

tenths · 23/07/2025 22:38

My 5 month old has been an okay sleeper, usually wakes up between 1-2 times between midnight and 8am. She was doing okay with self settling, I’ve not let her cry it out, but has from 6ish weeks been able to be put down and fall asleep.

She learnt to roll at just over 3 months but can only roll back to belly. Whenever I set her down in the cot she immediately rolls onto her front and screams. I was honestly spending 2 hours a night & during day time naps rolling her back only for her to roll back again. I’ve started feeding to sleep so she’s already asleep when I put her down, and in the day she sleeps supervised in her swing.

But.. whenever she wakes in the night, where she’d usually just self settle she’s rolling onto her front and getting really upset. I’m still feeding to sleep at night but she even rolls onto her belly in her sleep.

We’re doing lots of tummy time to encourage rolling back but we’re not there yet.

Any suggestions please??

It will pass really soon! It’s just a really really hard frustrating stage but it honestly doesn’t last long.

Ducksurprise · 23/07/2025 22:41

You can't.

And then one day she won't do it, and you will never realise when was the last time.

I know this doesn't help you at all, and that where you are now, in the thick of it, will mean that you probably want to scream at me. But this too shall pass.

tenths · 23/07/2025 22:42

Emonade · 23/07/2025 22:39

It will pass really soon! It’s just a really really hard frustrating stage but it honestly doesn’t last long.

Oh thank god yes it’s so frustrating!

OP posts:
tenths · 23/07/2025 22:44

Ducksurprise · 23/07/2025 22:41

You can't.

And then one day she won't do it, and you will never realise when was the last time.

I know this doesn't help you at all, and that where you are now, in the thick of it, will mean that you probably want to scream at me. But this too shall pass.

Oh that’s put it into perspective 🥲x I’m sure lll miss it when it comes

OP posts:
TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 23/07/2025 22:44

Emonade · 23/07/2025 22:39

It will pass really soon! It’s just a really really hard frustrating stage but it honestly doesn’t last long.

This is so true!

You'll get through it @tenths but it's hard work till the baby stops doing it.

DinosandRegrets678 · 23/07/2025 23:51

Not much you can do. Rolling totally ruined my DS' sleep...it took him a while to roll properly and then his sleep improved massively. It's an incredibly frustrating phase

Later on, he learned how to stand up and that kept him up as he was so excited about it 😂 it's a rollercoaster

NuffSaidSam · 23/07/2025 23:56

All you can do is work on showing her how to roll back during the day and hope that she gets it asap!

Wibblywobblybobbly · 24/07/2025 00:01

Do you have a sling? Lots of sling time can help them develop core strength to role over quicker. Also when doing tummy time, try holding something she is interested in up and to the side to encourage her to reach up behind her as that can help them to figure out rolling back. Chances are she will have cracked it in a few weeks.

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