4 month old sleeping on tummy. Too young?

Elizabeth - posted on 04/23/2012

Once a baby can roll onto their tummy by themselves, it's not really a concern. My youngest son was the same way. He actually started tummy sleeping at 3 1/2 months on his own. I always put him down on his back, and he'd roll immediately onto his tummy. Ironically, that's when he started sleeping much better at night! I would just be sure not to put any blankets or stuffed animals in the crib, but as long as you put him on his back, if he wants to roll over, then let him.

Whitney - posted on 03/14/2009

My ped said that if they can roll both ways, then it is fine!! My little one has been sleeping on her tummy since she was 14 weeks and I was scared at first but as soon as I would put her down, she would roll to her belly. Nothing you can do about it! Plus, they know what they like..I know I prefer sleeping on my stomach. She is now 7 months and is fine!! I think SIDS decreases about 4 months anyway so your 4 month old sleeping on his tummy is fine.

Kathy - posted on 03/14/2009

hi Shawna, how strong is your baby? is he ok when he is on his tummy? can he lift his head and does he wiggle and squirm? i have felt ok sleeping my babies on their tummies, if they showed a preferance for it, because they were strong in their bodies. i guess your little man is telling you he wants to sleep on his tummy. about sids... i sleep with my baby, have since birth. mine and my husbands breathing keeps his breathing reflexes going, and he's always with me so i know he's ok. he also loves it. not a safe thing to do if you or hubby are on drugs or drink alcohol which makes you unaware of your baby while asleep. also look into the dangers of vaccines related to sids, and how chiropractic care helps in avoiding sids.



your baby looks gorgeous and healthy. enjoy him.

Melanna - posted on 03/13/2009

I'm not a paranoid person, so I slept my baby on her tummy since birth. She was a premie and is 9 months old now and is fine. I even have bumper pads and loose blankets (and had stuffed animals until she started to move more). Babies sleep better on their tummy because they don't flail their arms and startle awake. If you're scared about SIDS, I recommend getting a babesafe mattress wrapper (www.babesafe.com). I have one and have never worried. If you're still worried about your 4 month old sleeping on his tummy, be assured that if they can lift their head, they're fine. One of my friends is a life-insurance broker and he said at their company they don't worry about sids past 6 months, because most kids have strong enough upper body muscles. That's good enough for me!

Tamara - posted on 03/13/2009

I think your 4 month old sleeping on his tummy is fine!  Once they can roll from back to tummy, there' s not much you can do to keep them on their backs.  Even the sleep positioners tell you to remove them once the baby can roll.  My kids were better tummy sleepers, and my baby, now 11 months old, has been sleeping on his tummy for a long time now. 

Heather - posted on 03/13/2009

my baby was a tummy sleeper since day 1. She refused to sleep in any different position. I just checked on her all the time, plus she sleeps with a pacifier, which my doc said reduces the risk of SIDS. I know it's scary....but then again it used to be really common for baby's to sleep on tummy. Make sure you take everything out of crib...bumper, stuffed animals, extra blankets....i've also heard that a fan on at night reduces the risk. Why?? i really don't know....hope that helps!!!

Liz - posted on 03/12/2009

we started putting her to sleep on her tummy when she was 2 months old. it might sound a bit early (which i agree), however she has always had great control of her neck and head. she would turn over whenever she needed to. the first few night we kept checking her, but she was totally fine. She also sleeps ALL NIGHT ever since we've done the change! wooo hooo.... trust your instinct on this one. good luck!

Michelle - posted on 03/12/2009

If he's got good head control and especially since he can roll over, he's okay. SIDS is most high risk in about two month olds, as they get older risk goes down, but my son has slept on his stomach since he was a little over two months (he refused to sleep on his back), and the pediatrician said it was fine since he could lift his head so well.

Kim - posted on 03/12/2009

Once he can turn over on his own, ie he is the one who is putting himself to sleep on his stomach or rolling over to his stomach in his sleep then it is ok.  Otherwise back to sleep is best.  My 4 month old sleeps in my arms generally on her side but if I am not in the bed she is on her back.  I have come in a couple times to find her on her stomach but we would never just put her to sleep on her stomach

Mandy - posted on 03/12/2009

My 2 month old is on his belly. I placed him on his belly as soon as he was able to lift his head and turn to the side. My 2 girls were about the same age. If he can it is probably fine, since he prefers to sleep on his belly.

Jessica - posted on 03/12/2009

my bubs nearly 6 months old and has been sleeping on his tummy since birth, he is fine :)

Rhiannon - posted on 03/10/2009

My daughter was born 4 weeks early and spent 5 1/2 days in ICU due to fluid in her lungs. The NICU staff had her on her stomach in the incubator so she got used to sleeping on her stomach. She will be 4 months old on Thursday and has not spent without sleeping on her stomach. My son who is almost 5 wanted to sleep on his stomach at a very early age as well. Some kids just prefer it just like we do.

Marie-Elaine - posted on 03/10/2009

(Kimberly - Video monitor? Why don't you put the baby's bed in your room?)

My girl, since she was born never accepted the fact of sleeping on her back! Now she almost 2 years old and perfectly healthy.

About SIDS they change their mind with studies each 3-5 years about it. Now they have made a link between SIDS and baby sitting too long. 

I would say let your baby be confortable! Keep it as often as you can in your arm.

The natural mom ;)

Marie

Kimberly - posted on 03/10/2009

My son learned to roll to tummy also at about 4 months. Our ped said if he's strong enough to roll, he's fine and should be able to roll back or at least to his side if he had troubles breathing. We had a video monitor which made it nice to check on him throughout the night...(I highly recommend it and think it's worth the investment...)

Angela - posted on 03/10/2009

If he's strong enough to roll then your 4 month old sleeping on his tummy should be fine. My one month old is already rolling on her side to sleep. My two older girls did the same thing as your son around the same time. Some kids just prefer to sleep on their tummies. My girls still do at 2 1/2 and 1 1/2! I would suggest to use a sleeping sack...that way you don't have to worry about a blanket smothering him.

Heather - posted on 03/10/2009

my 4 month old also seems to want to sleep on his tummy but it freaks me out. when I have him in bed with me I don't mind because I can hear him breathing and he seems fine. he has his 4 months shots tomorrow so I will find out what my doc thinks and let you know.

Silla - posted on 03/10/2009

I think your 4 month old sleeping on his tummy will be fine. My baby did the same thing... I think as long as they can roll over themselves and hold their heads up they should be fine. 

I was so worried at first, but noticed that everytime he wakes up, he just lifts his head or turns over! Just make sure he doesn't have any heavy blankets or stuffed animals where he sleeps!

Whitney - posted on 03/14/2009

My ped said that if they can roll both ways, then it is fine!! My little one has been sleeping on her tummy since she was 14 weeks and I was scared at first but as soon as I would put her down, she would roll to her belly. Nothing you can do about it! Plus, they know what they like..I know I prefer sleeping on my stomach. She is now 7 months and is fine!! I think SIDS decreases about 4 months anyway so your 4 month old sleeping on his tummy is fine.

Melanna - posted on 03/13/2009

I'm not a paranoid person, so I slept my baby on her tummy since birth. She was a premie and is 9 months old now and is fine. I even have bumper pads and loose blankets (and had stuffed animals until she started to move more). Babies sleep better on their tummy because they don't flail their arms and startle awake. If you're scared about SIDS, I recommend getting a babesafe mattress wrapper (www.babesafe.com). I have one and have never worried. If you're still worried about your 4 month old sleeping on his tummy, be assured that if they can lift their head, they're fine. One of my friends is a life-insurance broker and he said at their company they don't worry about sids past 6 months, because most kids have strong enough upper body muscles. That's good enough for me!

Tamara - posted on 03/13/2009

I think your 4 month old sleeping on his tummy is fine!  Once they can roll from back to tummy, there' s not much you can do to keep them on their backs.  Even the sleep positioners tell you to remove them once the baby can roll.  My kids were better tummy sleepers, and my baby, now 11 months old, has been sleeping on his tummy for a long time now. 

Angela - posted on 03/10/2009

If he's strong enough to roll then your 4 month old sleeping on his tummy should be fine. My one month old is already rolling on her side to sleep. My two older girls did the same thing as your son around the same time. Some kids just prefer to sleep on their tummies. My girls still do at 2 1/2 and 1 1/2! I would suggest to use a sleeping sack...that way you don't have to worry about a blanket smothering him.

Silla - posted on 03/10/2009

I think your 4 month old sleeping on his tummy will be fine. My baby did the same thing... I think as long as they can roll over themselves and hold their heads up they should be fine. 

I was so worried at first, but noticed that everytime he wakes up, he just lifts his head or turns over! Just make sure he doesn't have any heavy blankets or stuffed animals where he sleeps!