Tummy Sleeper - Milan,MI

my daughter did the same thing D. & She's just fine... I think as long as they can roll over they are fine. Shes a year old today actually, and she still usually only sleeps on her belly :)

My oldest was a belly sleeper from day one. As long as he can roll over and doesn't sleep with his face in the bed he should be just fine.

don't worry...your son will be fine. lots of babies are tummy sleepers and at 5 months he is strong enough to roll over and pick his head up by himself so he won't suffocate.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Both of my boys slept on thier stomachs from the time they came home from the hospital. Any time I tried to put them on their side or back, they would cry until I put them on their belly. I always had a light blanket over them as well. My boys are now 8 & 3. If that's how your baby is most comfortable sleeping, let him do it. As long as there isn't a lot of blankets or stuffed animals around him, he should be fine. I know the doctors say not to put them on their bellies, but when a baby wants to be comfortable, let them be comfortable. It really isn't that big of a threat.

once they do it themsleves they are most likely fine.

I have also been told that if the baby is a pacifier user it greatly reduces the risk. My son rolled over on his own at about 4 months and I was petrified! Good old pediatrician put my mind at ease. Keep out the blankets and any extra fluff (crib bumper, stuffed animals etc.) and he should be ok. If you have a monitor on still that may ease your mind as well.

My pediatrian told me once they can easily and always roll front to back and back to front it is ok to leave them-- but to continue putting him to sleep on his back. (My son is almost 3 and still sleeps on his back).

However, you should have no blanekts in the crib until your son is at least 12 months, this includes no crib bummber (even if he sleeps on his back). If you think he is getting cold get a sleep sack or a warm blanket sleeper.

I was concerned about this as well as both my children did this as soon as they could roll over too. When I asked my doctor, he said that I didn't need to worry about it after 6 months old when the breathing reflex is well in place (what they think causes sids is this reflex not being quite developed enough) Also using a pacifier is now linked to developing this reflex as well. If your son can roll on his own already then I wouldn't worry about it. Chances are with this developmental milestone also being hit, the breathing reflex is also matured.

Don't worry about it at all! He is big enough to move around now if something is wrong. He'll be just fine. And more babies than you know are tummy sleepers. I tried putting my little boy on his back, but it didn't work. He just sleeps better on his tummy...still does at 11 months.

I've read that once the baby can turn himself over to just let him be. The risk of SIDS is pretty small at that point. So, I would just let him sleep how he is most comfortable. Good luck!

Hi D.,

I wouldn't worry about it much at all. If your baby can roll onto his tummy, then he will definitly be able to move his head or roll back to his back if he can't breath on his tummy. I have a 4 1/2 month old also and he rolls all around and he loves to put a blanket over his face at night. I am constantly taking if off and he puts it back on his face while he is sleeping. It is a super soft blanket and I think he likes how if feels on his face. Anyways, this is also my worry, but all we can really do is keep an eye on them and I think in your case taking the blanket completely out of the crib is the best thing, but I honestly think your baby will be fine on his tummy at this age... My other two children liked to sleep on their tummy as well and my mother told me that all 3 of my sisters and I ONLY slept on our tummies. Its really comfortable for some babies. Just keep an eye on him! Best wishes!

Marci

It's generally considered that, once your baby is able to roll over, it's safe to let them sleep that way. I think that's why they say that when a baby reaches 6 months the risk has pretty much passed.

If you're worried about him sleeping on his tummy, they have these really cool things at babies R us. It's like a baby holder. It have a cilindar on each side and is connected on the bottom by fabric and valcrow. That's what I have. They are awsome!!!

D. when they start turning over on their own there's really nothing you can do except make the crib a safe place to sleep. Blankets out which you said you did taking the bumpers out if you had any if you want. that sorta thing.

I have to agree with everyone else. Once they can roll over on their own, they're fine. The danger of putting small infants to sleep on their belly before they're ready, is that they don't have the muscle control or strength to lift their head, or roll over if they can't get enough air. Since your son is rolling by himself, he should be just fine.

Generally, once your baby can roll over, there's no stopping them. What you can do is make sure they're safe when they're rolling. That means taking away blankets they could get tangled in or stuffed animals in the bed he could get under, etc.

From what I've understood from all those baby books that are offered at the bookstores, it's perfectly fine to let your infant sleep on his stomach once he's able to roll over. If you continuously put him on his back and he rolls back over again, it's pointless to continue doing so. Just let him sleep how he likes. Like you said, if he's uncomfortable, he'll roll back over again. No blankets, pillows, toys, or stuffed animals of any kind in the crib though. He can roll onto them or tangle himself up in them.

hi i have 4 children and i had one that also did that. i asked my doctor about it and he told me its no longer a threat when the can move on there own.

I wonder what your doctor says. My son started rolling over at about 7 mths, and while I worried my ped. told me that if he has the strength to roll over the odds of SIDS were definately lowered. I tried a positioner, and packing him in with blankets. But he seemd like he would just flip over. I was told not to worry too much at that point. The only thing I could suggest, if you haven't tried it already, is a tight swaddle. My son was swaddled and loving it until about 8 mths old, when he just got strong enough to fight his way out. Good luck!