Baby Rolling over in Sleep and Crying

Updated on September 18, 2008
W.R. asks from Blacksburg, VA
5 answers

My 5-month old still wakes up once a night to eat, and I have resigned myself to that. But now she is rolling over onto her stomach about twice per night. I guess it frightens her because she wakes up and screams! I have to get up and roll her back over. So now I am even more exhausted because I am getting up at least 3 times a night. Even if my husband goes to turn her over, he never hears her so I have to wake him up and ask him to go help her, and then I'm awake and might as well do it myself. Does anyone have any tips? I don't want to put anything in her crib that might be dangerous and I'm not sure what safe options I have. Thanks!!

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M.G.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi Wendy -

It is so funny! My daughter was doing the same thing once she mastered the "rolling over" task. I used to have to turn her back onto her back for about a week or so, because she kept waking herself up. Now, I just kinda of help her to tilt her head onto a side, give her her binky and she sleeps on her tummy for at least a little bit. I read that once they can roll over, the risk of SIDS goes way down. I still make sure that there is nothing potentially hazardous in her crib though.
Also, I don't know how you feel about letting her co-sleep in your bed, but my daughter sleeps really well on her back there. This way, I don't have to get up as often and so, I get some sleep too.
I don't know if any of this is helpful to you, but I just wanted to let you know that I have been going through the same thing :-) If you come up with a different solution, do share it with me please.
Also, be excited about staying home with your baby. It will take some adjusting, but it is the best thing you can do for her. I am very glad I made that choice...

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K.R.

answers from Washington DC on

My 4 month old is doing the same thing, but he wakes up when he gets his foot stuck through the crib slat. I have to go in to reposition him as well. We were using one of those sleep positioners, but he moves so much that he would end up out of it anyway. If your daughter is a mover, the positioner won't help. I don't have any advice to give but maybe after awhile she'll figure out how to turn herself back over and that will fix things. My son is just all over the crib and I'm resigned that there is nothing I can do about it but know that it will pass, hopefully sooner than later.

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S.N.

answers from Washington DC on

If she rolling over onto her belly and crying, that could be a sign for gas. When a baby with gas lies on thier tummy that could hurt. If gas is the culprit, try mylicon infant gas drops. Babies also cry in thier sleep when they have an ear infections. in other words crying can be a sign of baby not feeling well. Check into this, espicially if there has been a little fever or daytime fussiness as well.

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T.T.

answers from Washington DC on

The good news is that it shouldn't last very long! Just try to keep your visit to her room "boring" - just gently put her on her back and get out of there, so that she doesn't get into the habit of summoning you for nighttime cuddles, as nice as they can be sometimes! My daughter went through the same thing at 5 months.
Your daughter's nighttime feeding could be habit, not hunger, by this point, too. You may want to try not feeding her at all at night. You could check with the pediatrician and see what he/she thinks.
Don't add anything to the crib - it could cause your daughter to wake up even more than the rolling does, not to mention it could pose a risk.
Good Luck, and enjoy your time at home with your baby (day and night!)!

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E.T.

answers from Washington DC on

They sell positioning products to put around baby to keep them from rolling over. I understand that you are reluctant to put stuff in the crib with the baby, but they are designed for this purpose.

My daughter didn't do it while sleeping. She did it while awake. She would put herself into tummy time and then get upset because she couldn't roll back.

She will figure out rolling both ways very soon and it will cease to be an issue.

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