Rolling over while sleeping.

Jenny - posted on 04/30/2010

Mine started to roll to his side when he goes to sleep over the last few weeks. I am not concerned over it, though. Although I slept him on his back, my other 2 children (who are now 20 & 17) always slept on their bellies. Things were a little different back then, we weren't told they should be on their back, I did what my family did or said to do from their experience. If your pediatrician is concerned, however maybe you could swaddle your baby just like when he was a newborn? It kind of seems cruel to me though, now that they are used to moving freely, they will certainly notice the confinement...but if it's necessary to keep him safe, the sleep sack mentioned in previous post might not be so bad.

Kristen - posted on 04/29/2010

my daughter just started rolling over in her sleep, too! she goes to bed (for the night) around 7-7:30 then right around the time we go to bed, I typically find her on her tummy, fast asleep! I have rolled her over before going to bed myself, so I have more peace of mind. she might wake a bit, but goes right back to sleep. I spoke with my pediatrician yesterday about it, and he said yes, sleeping on her back is best through about 1 yr old, but if she is able to roll back over onto her back and she's comfortable she is probably OK to sleep on her tummy. I also read in a reputable book that once the baby is old enough to roll over the risk of SIDS is greatly reduced. ALSO very important to remove crib bumpers and loose blankets when they are rolling during sleep. I put my daughter in a sleep sack so she stays warm then remove all blankets at night. Hope that helps :)

Cori - posted on 04/28/2010

Hey Erica,
I`m a mom of 4 boys (15,11,9,&5 mths). I have always put my babys to sleep on their tummies, as they were more comfortable that way, ans yes as other people have posted it doesn`t matter how you try to stop them if they want to sleep that way they WILL turn. My kids never had any problems with breathing, etc sleeping this way. If your son is comfy sleeping that way just get yourself a good moniter and just check on him alittle more often to reasure yourself he is okay, and he will be fine. Good luck. Cori

Tamara - posted on 04/24/2010

When my daughter started rolling on her belly to sleep and 5 months, I was always paranoid that she would suffocate, but my sister is a nurse and she said that once they can roll over on their own then they have the ability to know when they arent getting enough air and will either wake up, or cry to let you know, move their head so that they can or roll back on their own, so no need to worry. Those monitors are more for when they are first born to 3 months.

Teresa - posted on 04/21/2010

there has been a study done, it found that babies that end up dying from sids were depressed babies. they had a hormone problem in the brain much like adults do. if your baby is rolling over and a happy baby most the time i wouldn't worry about it. just keep the bed clean like others have said.

Mary - posted on 04/21/2010

My son has been sleeping on his belly since he was 4 weeks old!!!! There's no stopping him. As long as he has some head control, it's really not an issue. He had reflux and was much more comfortable on his belly. I kept an eye on him for a while, but he has great head control now and it's just not an issue.

Meghan - posted on 04/21/2010

My daughter is already rolling over as well. The best thing you can do is make sure there is nothing else in with them. A body support can actually prevent them from rolling back the other way, so it's best to take it out of the crib, too.

Kim - posted on 04/21/2010

My daughter has slept on her belly since she was born. She is five months old. Her doctor told us to just make sure there is nothing that she can put her mouth against and she would be fine. They prefer her to sleep on her back but that was just not going to happen. If they put their face down on the mattress, most generally, if they have good head control, they will move their head when they find it hard to breathe. I would not worry about it.

Leeza - posted on 04/20/2010

I dont have to worry about my daughter sleeping on her stomach, but she goes to bed every night with a blanket because she wont sleep any other way. I check on her before I go to bed myself and she is always fine in the morning. I say if the baby is happy and healthy let him do whatever makes him comfortable.

Sarah - posted on 04/20/2010

The main thing is is your son is rolling on his own there is not much you can do to stop him. Just make sure there is nothing he can sufficate on and you are using proper bedding and you should be fine.

Shannon - posted on 04/20/2010

my daughter who is 5 months and my son who is almost 4 years both slept on their tummys almost from birth and are both totally fine...i really don't think that tummy sleeping is as bad as everyone makes it out to be

Brandy - posted on 04/20/2010

Thats funny, I have the opposite problems. My LO has been sleeping on his belly since he was practically born, now sometimes he gets up at like 5 or 6 in the morning and I go in there and he is on his back. I just roll him over and he goes back to sleep. I am still a little concerned that he doesn't roll from his back to belly yet though, he tries really hard to though. He does get from point A to point B really good for only being 5 months old.

Erica - posted on 04/19/2010

Thanks everyone for all of your input... I wasn't too worried about it until the doctor said something and then got me worried again... So I feel a lot better after hearing from all of you!

Victoria - posted on 04/19/2010

My little boy rolled over at the age of 5 weeks from front to back and back to front and he could hold his head up and all, i thought he would be ok, until he passed away too! But your the mom so do which ever way is more comfy!

Karen - posted on 04/19/2010

My pediatrician told me basically there is no way to restrain him so just be sure there is nothing loose or fluffy in the crib lke stuffed animals or blankets. He also said now that he is older he has better control of his head so there is less worry.

Shevanese - posted on 04/19/2010

This SIDS thing has everyone worried but the only way my daughter has been able to sleep thru the night is on her stomach and thats how i've had her do it since she was a month old. I've used positioners and everything inorder to have her sleep on her back but she wasn't having it. She can roll from front to back which is what she does when she wakes up. At this age since they can hold their heads up i tend not to worry. Babies have been sleeping on their stomaches for years, so as long as your comfy with them doing it i say let him.

Victoria - posted on 04/19/2010

Its Very dangeours for a infant to sleep on his/her stomach because of SIDS and Sofficationg! But there is nothing you can do if thats the way they roll over and stuff! My little boy passed away from sids so i have been doing research on it! They do have the angel moniter! I heard they work great just have to use them right! GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS YOU!

Doris - posted on 04/19/2010

My little guy will only sleep on his belly and now that he can roll from his belly to back he freaks out when he does and noone is there to help him get back to his belly! So needless to say i have to run up stairs and flip him back to his belly or else lol

Lindsey - posted on 04/19/2010

I'll never forget the first time my oldest (now 4 1/2) rolled over in his sleep. He was about 5 months and I literally watched him all night and every time he rolled onto his belly I put him back on his back. Luckily he had a checkup soon after and when I asked his doc about it he said that if he's doing it on his own then it's fine and just to keep pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals out of the crib.

Natalee - posted on 04/19/2010

You could try wrapping him. But otherwise just keep the cot free of clutter and make sure it's a firm mattress and not worry about it. He's obviously more comfortable in that position. I used the monitor with my first baby and found it made me stress more, so we haven't used it this time.

Ashley - posted on 04/17/2010

i wouldn't worry about it honestly...if he is able to roll over then he will roll if he has any trouble breathing or is uncomfortable.

Tiffaney - posted on 04/17/2010

My son started to roll over onto his stomach at about 4.5 months. I talked with my pediatrician, he said that once they start to roll on their stomachs it's really nothing you can do to stop them. I still check on him all the time but he seems to get better sleep on his stomach than on his back

Melanie - posted on 04/17/2010

my suggestion would be to make sure if he does roll over, since clearly thats what he wants, and its obviously difficult to stop him, that you make it safe to be on his belly. i dont know about your crib mattress but my babies is a nice solid flat surface. make sure his sheets are tight. and theres nothing else in his bed he can scoot up against and smother and let him sleep on his tummy.

Ereni - posted on 04/17/2010

My baby boy has slept on his tummy since he was 3 weeks old and l haven't tried to encourage him to sleep any other way because he won't!!

He has only just learnt to roll from tummy to back and it is very annoying because he does it in his sleep and he wakes up crying to be put back on his tummy as he hasn't learnt to roll the other way.

Denise - posted on 04/17/2010

I have on of those monitors too because my baby has always slept better on his tummy. Mine is the babysense one & I got it from Babies R Us. It gives me such peace of mind!! I would check into that it may help the whole situation.

Holly - posted on 04/16/2010

Hi Erica, my daughter is 5 months old and she dose the same thing. She rolls over the moment I lay her down. In new studies its proven that babies that are slept on there backs tend to not crawl as quickly. Some dont crawl at all. If your baby can roll from tummy to back and back to tummy then he should be fine sleeping on his tummy. Most Dr say back is best for the first 3 months. Try not to stress over it. You wont be able to keep him form rolling forever :)

Christin - posted on 04/16/2010

its perfectly fine, ours does the same, she loves sleeping on her belly, its not really dangerous. we put a support thing in there and if she really wants to she will still turn. as long as they can roll they will be ok. i think people freak out too much honestly. my friends babys been on his belly since birth and hes just fine. alot of people think it causes sids but i mean really to be technical back sleeping can be just as dangerous for them as well.

i wouldnt worry too much how he sleeps. he will know if somethings wrong and move. i wouldnt stress either lol. i stressed out alot at first but realized she was just fine. as long as he is rolling on his own its safe.

Erica - posted on 04/16/2010

Thanks for your help... I may look into one of those monitors because I get up and check on him all the time because I stress over it a lot too.

Nikki - posted on 04/16/2010

I have tried everything to stop my daughter, luckily she is quite a heavy sleeper so usually I will just roll her back. I got an Angel care monitor which lets off an alarm if she stops breathing because it stressed me out so much, great for peace of mind. Sorry I can't help more :)