Baby Rolling onto Tummy at Night

The rule is to not put anything in bed with a baby-NO blankets, pillows, nothing.
Dress her warm and skip the extras and then sleeping on her belly is no problem.
FORCING her to sleep on her back can cause her to not sleep soundly enough if she would be more comfortable another way.

Add a small fan as research has proven this helps rotate air and keep babies from breathing in "used" air with too much CO2. If she gets too hot the fan will help too!
Good Luck

Hi J.,
My thoughts on this one are to use a little wedge. This will keep her in place and not let her roll over all the way. Good luck.

Get one of those wedges so she can not roll over. Or if she does roll over she is at least laying on her side instead of her tummy. Good Luck...so scary!!

Hi J.
The Guardian Sleeper is the perfect solution for this problem. This product has many advantages including increased sleep duration. But the number 1 function of this product is to maintain babies in the 'Back to sleep' position. Please please check out www.guardiansleeper.com I believe this product will be an answer to your prayers.
I just had to come back and edit my response, I get so frustrated at the 'my baby was fine so yours will be too' comments. If that was the case why do 2500 babies die of SIDS in this country every year. No one can tell if a baby is predisposed or not that is why it is vital to follow the guide lines set forth by health care professionals. Since the 'Back to Sleep' campaigne was launched, there has been a 50% reduction in SIDS I think the numbers speak for themselves. Sorry to be so blunt but I am very passionate about this and have many years of research.
Good luck
Austin's mom

Roll up some blankets and put them at her side or get one of those support things, she lays on and it has two foamy pillow type things that will lay up against each side. I can't think of the name of it but I have one that we used with my son that was rolling around when he would nap in his Amby Hammock - actually I think it came with the Amby but I'm sure they have something similiar at Babies R us.
M.

Until the late 80's all babies slept on their tummies from day one because it was thought safer. They used to think they'd choke on their backs. She can hold her head up and roll, she's fine, try not to worry. I have a friend, she had her daughter sleep on her back like she was told, but could never get her son on his back even as a newborn. If you're worried about SIDS crack a window in the room or turn on a fan. THe circulation of oxygen is supposed to help.

Hi wonderful mom,
The best way to prevent any problems with sleeping is to have your daughter sleep with you. You will know if anything is weird immediately! That's why SIDS is prevented by the family bed. It is nature's logical answer for sleeping problems. You know immediately if there is a problem and the baby is regulated by your breathing and heartbeat.

Besides it makes nighttime feedings a breeze and everyone gets a lot more sleep. There is a great book called "The Family Bed" that will put you at ease.

Humans have been using the family bed for thousands of years. It was only around the time we started using plastic bottles that we started putting these small, sweet souls all alone in the scary world all night long. Then we developed a whole science of "crying it out" to show them with certainty that when they are really, really scared and cry out from their heart to another human that they trust with all their being for comfort....no one will come. So, so sad.

Please, please treat your sweet one with more respect and compassion. They feel safe with you. For a young one that is the main thing in life. From that solid foundation all else is built.

Good luck, don't worry, follow your heart.

Brightest Blessings,
Deb

Not going to tell you my way is better...but, I'm a co-sleeper and my son ALWAYS prefered sleeping on his tummy. They used to position him this way in NICU as a preemie and he never changed once I took him home. I used to spend SO much time rolling him back over. But, at 3.5 months when he was starting to roll and have head control, his Pedi reassured me he was okay and that it was fine.

So, I let it be and he was okay. If you are super worried about it I have friends who have had success with sleep positioners and such.

Ask you Pedi if you're super worried about it!!

Good Luck!

So,this is funny, but I'm another S. that agrees 100% with S. S. You should remove all blankets, bumpers, etc. from your crib for now, dress her warmly and turn on a fan. I just read an article in Parents magazine that having a fan on to circulate air in a room has been shown to reduce SIDs by 70%. My son was able to lift his head at 3 months and would only sleep on his tummy from the day he was born. Let's just say that we had many a sleepless night in the beginning. We swaddled and put him on his back in a little thingy that blocked him from rolling over (similar to the towel description from another poster below) until he could lift his head on his own. At that time, the doctor said it was okay to let him sleep on his tummy, but to be sure to remove everything from his crib. He is now 9 months old and can roll over every which way and loves his blankey in the crib with him and can easily move it around and lift his head.

Hi J.,

Congrats on your baby girl! It's funny (to me now..) that I posted the same exact question when my now 14 month old was 5 - 6 months old & started doing the EXACT same thing. So here's what I recommend.. There's not alot you can do to keep her on her back, some babies just sleep better on their tummy. Just keep her crib empty, no toys or blankets, anything she can smush her face on.. She'll be fine in a footed sleeper.. the warm kind.. Good luck.. try not to worry ! S.

I used a wedge that goes between the mattress and the sheet. I supports their head and helped prevent rolling over. When she did roll over, she turned her face. We still use it now and she sleeps better, longer through the night. I found it at babies r us, it has great reviews too. I just can't find the name right now. If you have trouble email me later and I can look in her crib. I am at work right now. :-)

Do you use a positioner? I used one with both of my kids from the day they were born. They were very wiggly ones who could roll over within days of being born. The positioners are not very expensive and should be used until the baby can roll front-to-back and back-to-front easily.

We had a similar problem when my kiddos were babies. This is what we did...(I'll do my best to explain it without being able to draw a piture :-) Take a towel and fold it lengthwise into thirds (or half if she's long). Then roll up each end like a scroll, so they come together in the middle. Flip the towel over so the scrolly part is down on the crib sheet, and unroll just enough room to put baby in the middle. Put baby in the middle (parallel with rolls), with the top of the rolls at about shoulder level, and hopefully the "bumpers" will keep her from flipping over on her tummy. If the rolls are at shoulder level, she shouldn't be able to bury her face in the towel, but you might want to try it at nap time so you can keep an eye on her. It might not work if she's super wiggly. Good luck!

Hi J.:
I know this is a concern for all of us parents, but once your baby is at the age she can roll over on her own,she is telling you this is where she sleeps the most comfortable.She now has enough control,to move her head to the side,if she has trouble breathing. If you continue to flip her, she won't get as sound a sleep,and you'll continue to disturb her. She'll be great. Sounds like shes a go getter.I wish you and your darlin girl the best. J. M

J. it is okay for you little to sleep on her stomach if she puts herself in that position. I know it my freeks you out, but she will be fine.

I talked to my doctor about this same situation with my second son. He learned to roll over so early. He prefreed sleeping on his stomach. If i would put him on his back he would roll to his stomach. The doctor said it was fine for him to sleep that way.

You don't need to buy anything to keep her on her back. Rolling over is a good skill of her to learn. This will help her roll the other way and begin to crawl. They do a lot of moving around in the crib. Let her be, so she can learn to explore and have fun.

Hi, my daughter, now 3yrs, did the same thing. We used these sleeping wedges they sell in the baby stores. Its a piece of fabric with a piece of foam on either side, baby sleeps in the middle and can,t roll over. We put my daughter in on her side, like a body pillow for an adult. Worked great.

Hi, just get a sleep positioner and have the borders close together, she wont' be able to roll over. It costs about $12 any baby store.

i wouldnt worry because you said she has good head controlthen she will move her head to the side to breathe. my twin nephews sleep basically face down and we never worried. its hard to stop them from rolling once they start. i always put my daughter on her side or tummy to sleep since birth. now shes 22 months old and rolls all over her toddler bed lol.

I've been told that as long as they are turning over on their own, then it's OK if they roll over and sleep on their tummies. Just a story...My older sister's kids all grew up with the opposite teachings 'old school' that you should never put a baby on their BACKS! My sister was in shock when I told her the rules have changed! Your baby sounds nice and strong! Congratulations!

Hi J.,

Our baby (who is 7.5 mos old) started rolling on her tummy at about the 3.5 mo mark. The pediatrician said it would be hard to control it unless we slept the entire night in the bedroom. He did not recommend those foam block pad to hold the baby in one position all night. But he said to keep placing her on her back when we initially put her to sleep and any other time we return her to the crib.

I would say one important thing you should do is get her a sleep sack and remove any and all blankets from the crib to prevent suffocation. Halo makes them and you can get them at Babies R US or The Pump Station in SM or online. If the baby is the sleep sack then at least when she turns over she won't be face-planted into the blankets and suffocate. The sleep sack keeps the baby warm, allows the baby to move about throughout her sleep, and helps reduce the chances of SIDS. If you are worried that the baby will be cold, then put a t-shirt (one of the kimono ones you may have had for her when she was newborn)under her pjs.

Hope this was helpful.

J. perhaps you can place something on both sides of her so that she is not able to roll at night. I don't think you have to really worry about this. But, just to be on the safe side, I would talk to your doctor.

Hi - i have a 3 1/2 month old too, doing the same thing and we have the same worries. But a couple of suggestions: 1) sleep blanket should help, will be harder to turn anyway 2) don't put any other blanket in the crib,just a sheet and a sleep blanket that the baby wears 3) i've found that he usually calls when he rolls over and can't get back -- but there have been a few mornings that i find him sleeping happily on his stomach or side -- i worry so check him often. My husband has rolled him back, that tends to wake him up.
I've been told that once they roll over, let them, it's part of the development process. I've been warned against the contraptions you can buy at the baby store to keep a baby on their back.
best of luck!
Lukas' mommy

My son has been rolling on to his side since he was a week old and I was always worried about him putting his face in the side of his bassinet. I went to Babies R Us and found a sleep positioner that has wedges that lay under his arms and velcro to a mat (don't worry they won't come off)that can go in the bassinet or crib. I usually swaddle him before laying him in there. Its very comfortable for him and costs around $25. Its worth every penny and he sleeps well with it. Good luck!

You really can't prevent them from sleeping on their tummy's if they are rolling over. Actually, my daughter slept better on her tummy and did every night. Even before she could roll over, we just put her on her tummy (but she knew how to turn her head side to side and lift up a little bit). I honestly think if your child can turn her head side to side, there is not much to worry about. My daughter is 19 months and still sleeps mostly on her tummy. Is just what she liked best and how she slept best. Keep a monitor and just make sure her head is not straight down. Other than watching her with a close eye, there is not much you can do, that's how some children prefer to sleep. I was worried too, but after her sleeping night after night like that, I relaxed.

There is nothing to worry about. Once your child is strong enough to roll themsleves over then you can let them sleep on theor tummys. HOWEVER, do not put him/her down to sleep on their tummy. Just a note they will most likely wake up crying at somepoint becuase they cannot roll back over the other way. That may take another month or so as it uses a whole different set of muscles. Hope this helps!

Hi J.,
They make blankets that go over the crib mattress and hold your baby in place as to not roll. My daughter's pediatrician said if she is able to roll over not to worry about it.
Best,
S. g

J. No need to worry, or spend money on anything. Once they know how to roll over it is fine, don't stop it by putting devices in the crib that is worse. My son by three months we put him down on his belly to sleep and still do. Takes two naps a day and sleeps through the night since 4 months old. Also, babies should not sleep with anything in the crib no blankets!!

Hope this help

Mother of three under the age of four

J.,

I was concerned about this as well because, believe it or not, my daughter rolled from back to belly on day two in the hospital. The nurse saw it and I was really worried as everyone tells us "back to sleep". After much research, the final verdict was - if they are strong enough to roll over, they are strong enough to move their heads if they can't breathe. I know it's nerve wrecking but she'll be okay. She's a strong girl. In addition, I'm sure you'll get some other great advice as well.

Hi J., once babies can turn over they will sleep how ever they are most comfortable, and you can't stay awake half the night turning your baby over, check on her before you go to bed, if she is on her tummy and her face isn't turned to the side, then turn her head. My kids are grown now, buit they all slept on their tummys, my parents had 5 kids we all slept on out tummys, I best if you and your husband asked your parents if you guys slept on your tummys, depending on how old you are, they would probably tell you that you slept on your stomachs. do you have a baby monitor so you can hear her breathing, also train her to turn her head to the side. First time moms we worry about everything, I know I did, I have a 21 year old son and a 19 year old daughter at home, and when I get up to go to the bathroom at night I look in on my kids, my oldest is 25 and married, and when he and his wife come to visit, I look in on them too, I've done this for 25 years. The only way you can keep her on her back at night would be to restain her on her back, or have her sleep in her infant carrier, In my day care when I have a mom who has duty and their baby stays with us, I sleep them in their infant carrier in mine and my husbands room. Let me know what you decide, restraing her isn't the answer, that would be horrible, Talk to your mom and ask her what she thinks you do. J. L.

Hi J.,
I wouldn't worry. The only thing I would do is remove the crib bumper. I was a belly sleeper, and both my girls were too. It drove me nuts that they would roll over too. I actually think it is normal. I think all of the "don't do this or that" is for the parents who are not quite good parents. They may be more neglectful, etc. Maybe remove the blanket so it isn't near her face and just add layers of clothing so she doesn't get cold. Make sure she has her tummy time because that will strength her neck muscles and she will learn to not put her face straight down. Or get a side wedge so she can't flip. Do whatever you need to so that you guys aren't tired from all the worry! Congrats!

Audra

You can puchase one of those wedges that will keep her on her back throughout the night. You just lay her between the 2 wedges and she is snug as a bug in a rug.
I also had two babies that were tummy sleepers. I tried so hard to keep them on their back or at least their side. When they finally were "allowed" to sleep on their tummies they slept so much better. In response to the person that said a shared bed was the way to go- I don't necessarily disagree that this is a good arrangement for baby and mommy,but my pediatrician and all the baby books I read said this would not prevent SIDS. So don't necessarily rely on that. Good luck! It sounds as if she is almost ready to roll on her back soon anyway.

J.,
you can't prevent the baby from rolling over, all you can do is keep her safe. if she is strong enough to roll over she is strong enough to turn her head from side to side to allow for breathing. What you want to do is make sure that you don't use blankets in her crib, use a sleep sack instead.

Are you using a sleep positioner?? I swear by them. It just gives you the peace of mind that (1) your baby is at a slight incline incase of any spit-ups and (2) the wedges keep your baby in the position you want her in. They are super cheap at Babies r Us and sooo worth getting rid of your worry. Good luck!!

My boys were strong so they both rolled on to their tummies early as well. It's frightening but our pediatrician (and books I've read) said that one they can roll over on their own it's okay. It is NOT safe to have anything in the crib with them. It's not even safe to have one of those cushions that prevents them from rolling over one they can do it on their own because they can roll out of it and it could block their face.

Hi J.,
I had the same problem. It is so stressful. Check out www.guardiansleeper.com. This keeps the baby safely covered and positioned on her back away from the sides of the crib. Peace of mind at last! It works better than wedges and wege type positioners as these can get near the baby's face and I was always terrified of suffocation.
C. :-)

J.

I agree with what Lara said about the Halo sleep sack. It would take away a lot of your fears about her suffocating. Another brand you can try is babyinabag.com. They have very nice ones! We use Halo, babyinabag, and another quilted European model sent by Grandma in Switzerland. We alternative them (or layer them) depending on season. Our son is 2 and we will use them until he knows how to cover himself with a blanket. If you are in Pasadena area, Ross store has them for $7 (they retailed at $20 :)

Don't worry too much! My 2nd child would only sleep on her tummy. She's 21 now.

The expert opinion is keep the room cool, keep a fan blowing, and tummy sleeping should be fine.

J. -
my son would roll onto his tummy at one month.
i always made sure that he was swaddled and that the blankets were not too high, near his head/nose/mouth. it is hard to keep them from rolling once they start, because they are moving to a position that is more comfortable for them.

Hi J.,

I have the same problem with my baby who is now 8 months old but cannot roll back onto his back from his tummy. He started doing this when he first learned how to roll on his tummy which was at about 5 months old. Basically I have to constantly check him at night...I have developed an internal alarm clock and sit up in bed probably 4-5 times a night and look over at him sleeping in his cosleeper which is directly next to my bed, and if he is on his tummy I try to roll him either onto his side or his back. He usually stays in that position. Having a cosleeper next to the bed makes it easier than if he was in a crib in another room where I have no idea what is going on.

We got ours from armsreach.com and will continue to have him sleep in it until he gets too big for it which might not be until he is about 35" long. Right now he is 31".