RE: My 6 mth old son is sleeping on stomach with face down into mattress

Brooke - posted on 03/10/2010

Yes my son has been a tummy sleeper due to his acid reflux, and now he sleeps on his tummy and side. He only sleeps on a his back if he is in my bed on a pillow. I have a video monitor, and if I see him doing it I go in a turn his head to the side more.

Amber - posted on 03/10/2010

my baby Cassi has started doing the same thing and she is 8 months old, but she started about 3 weeks ago and I worry about the same thing. I go in and check on her often I even roll her back on to her back and she still rolls on to her stomach. I just try to turn her head so it's not face down. My husband says don't worry she will turn her head if she can't breath, but I guess as women we naturally worry more than men.

Nikkol - posted on 03/07/2010

My 7mo old daughter has done this from the time she was about a month. If your baby has good head control and rolls over then he should be fine. Just don't put blankets in his bed, sleep him in foot jammies until you feel more comfortable.

Em - posted on 03/07/2010

The Back to Sleep Campaign still endorses that babies should sleep on their backs rather than sides or tummys still up to 12 months of age. A girl who had her baby the week before I did had her baby pass away over Christmas, he was a tummy sleeper. I use a sleep suit for my baby. It is like a sleeping bag for baby, has long sleeves but no legs just like a GroBag, however it also features a thick band of material that runs under the mattress with a strip of velcro on it, and then another band of velcro feeds through loops at the back of the baby's sleep-suit, which then sticks to the bit on the mattress, and stops baby from rolling over. You can also get these http://www.safetsleep.com/ which is a similar concept, and can be used up to 3 years of age. Also it's reccommended that babies stay in their own cot but in the same room as their parents for a minimum of 6, but up to 12, months. All in one sleep suits are safer than using blankets. You should also never use pillows, spare blankets, rolled towels etc. to prop your baby up / try prevent them from rolling as they can become a greater hazard. Also if you believe some theorists (ie. Dr T J Sprott - www.cotlife2000.com) then the idea of your baby face-down in a mattress might be a bad idea, as some people believe it's associated with a toxic gas theory, and that face down means more chance of the baby inhaling the gases - which, if there is any legitimacy to that theory - the baby's nervous system would be impaired before the baby even realised it wasn't getting enough air. Also up until 12 months, your baby only breathes through his/her nose hence it only takes the nose being blocked by a blanket/mattress or even badly congested for them to struggle with their breathing.

Sorry, this is no way meant to be a scaremonger post, I just wanted to say my piece on it. We are all still trying to recover the loss of our friend's little boy, and hence still doing all we can to ensure our babies are safe. x

Tamika - posted on 02/06/2010

Hi Jenny.
My lil one was pretty much on his belly since birth. I was worried about the risk from SIDS but more so from the choking from the reflux he had. I kept the monitor up as high as I could possibly hear it and close to him in the cot.

Even now I put him down on his side and he rolls right onto his belly. he sleeps much better like that but I still check in on him from time to time.

The monitor really has been a life saver for me and stopped me worrying as I was up and down for the first two weeks almost every hour and I was an absolute zombie... not good for either of us..

Shalaina - posted on 02/02/2010

I worry about that, too but the doctor said if he keeps turning around then that is ok, especially if he can roll on his own and can push himself up. Just make sure it isn't a soft mattress where his face would sink into it or that the blanket can go over his head. Also, make sure there are no pillows or stuffed animals, etc in the crib with him. Good luck!

Gina - posted on 02/02/2010

Have you thought about purchasing a SIDS monitor? They have a pad that goes under the mattress that detects the babies breathing. If the baby stops breathing it will sound an alarm, I believe, within 15 seconds. My baby is 6 months old as well and he has been on it since he was born. They recommend them staying on them until they are 1. Here is the SIDS monitor I have ... they really aren't that expensive considering what they do:
http://www.angelcare-monitor.com/United-...

Felisha - posted on 01/31/2010

my son has been sleeping on his tummy sense he was about three months maybe u could try rolling up some blankets and putting them next to him if it doesnt work im sure he'll be fine almost all babies sleep on their tummys

Casey - posted on 01/30/2010

Hi Jenny,

I agree with Louvie. Both of my bubs started sleeping on their stomachs from a very early age, and like Louvie said, your baby will respond if he isn't breathing properly, even if its just moving his head to the side. Your son will be fine sleeping on his stomach...just relax :D

Louvie - posted on 01/30/2010

Hi Jenny,

My six-month baby has been sleeping on her bell since birth. She sleeps better on her belly. However, I was worried like you were, about the risk of SIDS. What put me at ease was to have the monitor close to her head so that I can hear her breathe when I am in my own bedroom. We also have a camera propped about her crib so that my husband and I can watch her on our computer/tv as she sleeps. The camera really puts our minds at ease because: 1. We see what position she is sleeping whether she has a blanket close to her face or toy. 2. we can tell whether she's sleeping soundly or restless. 3. Able to detect if she's awake when she rolls over to her back.The camera has been a great investment in our lives. My doctor said that babies will move or turn over if they are not getting enough air. It's part of their innate reaction.