Turning and Sleeping

I was told once they can roll over its okay. It is safer to let him sleep on his side or back then to put anything in the crib to prevent him from being able to do so.

All 3 of my children slept on their tummy's from day one until they could roll over and sleep how they pleased. Being a first time mom we all worry, and they change how baby;s should sleep over time, I had my baby's in the 80's we were told to never sleep baby's on their backs, because if they spit up they can choke, several years ago when a lady from my church had a baby, she was told to sleep her baby on it's side, and now the past several years they say don't sleep them on their tummy's. no bumper pads, no stuffed animals and no fluffy blankets, all 3 of mine had bumber pads, stuffed animals, and fluffly blankets slept on their tummy's and are now grown. Depending on your age if you were to ask your mom how you slept she will probably say your tummy, as a mom of 27 years i don't believe any of this causes sids, my girlfriends baby died sleeping in her arms and they called it sids. At 6 months your baby will sleep how ever he is most comfortable. Hope this helps. And enjoy being a mommy. J.

At six months old he shoudl be easily able to lift and turn his head, so I don't think that sleeping on huis tummy shoudl be an issue at this point. If you've verified that no other SIDS related risk-factors are present (like smokers in the household, etc) then I think it's okay to let him sleep on his tummy if that's what he prefers.

I'm sure many moms might hate me for this, but both my daughters started sleeping on their tummy as soon as they were able to lift and turn their head on their own - around 5 weeks. I did a ton of research and there were no risk factors present. I didn't put them on their tummies because I wanted that - I did try and have them sleep on their back but they would. not. sleep. They very obviously prefered sleeping on their tummy and that's why I did the research and allowed it when I felt comfortable about it. There are also many physical developmental benefits to them beingon their tummy, but no doctor would discuss this with anyone anymore with the SIDS guidelines being what they are...

What the doctor told me when I asked the same question as a 1st time mom was that if my son was able to turn on his own and turn back then he was fine.

The "Back to Sleep" program was started because researchers in this country started looking at European countries that had very low SIDS rates as a way of trying to determine how to bring our SIDS rates down. The biggest factor that they noted was babies were placed on their backs to sleep along with nothing in the crib like blankets, bumpers, stuffed animals that baby can get under and can't get away from.

It's our job as parents to be vigilant and look to the latest findings and research to keep our little ones safe. Doesn't matter what our parents did or what their parents did. What have we learned since then is what is important. My goodness, my grandmother used a car bed for her infants but we'd never dream of using something like that now. Why? Because we know better and rely on researchers and doctors to keep us up to date.

I second all of that--if he can get there on his own, he can roll back on his own. I'm sure he can lift his head, too, so just keep all the fluffy stuff out of the crib! Enjoy--I love that age :-)

Let him sleep on his tummy. We have done it for millions of years until the last 17, when kids have had more developmental delays then any time in history. A baby needs to start life in flexion not extension to proceed to normal milestones. He is way past the 2 month mark, which is the highest rate for SIDS (funny it coincides with when they get their first set of vaccines!) All babies are born with the lift and turn reflex if something blocks their airway so relax. SIDS is not from tummy sleeping, babies die on their backs too. Make the room cool, give a pacifier, take all toys and blankets out, take bumpers out so baby can't get trapped. The only way our babies slept since the hospital was on their tummies. They would not sleep any other position. Babies know. They suffer from reflux if laid on their backs and who wants that kind of pain? Look back at the Amish studies which is where the AAP started this whold mess. Well turns out the Amish inbreed and many babies are born with a sodium regulating problem. Just so happens when the researchers changed the babies position, not as many died and that is how the whole Back To Sleep disaster happened. No proof other then that. Meanwhile it is damaging children in many ways and putting unnecessary fear in parents. We never thought of these things years ago. Your baby is here and here to stay!

my daughter did the same at 5 months, and I too, was worried, it's natural for mommies to worry! As long as baby is able to lift his head and is rolling, it's fine, also just make sure there is nothing fluffy in the bed, pillow, blankets, etc.(which I am sure you know!). He'll be fine! :)

You are not alone in being worried or even a bit freaked out. Everynite before i go to sleep i check to make sure the baby is still breathing. SIDS really worries me. If my almost 5yrs wakes up in the middle of the nite, i check then too. The baby is now 14 months but SIDS can go up to age of 2. Even with my first born i would get anxious if she slept longer than usual.

The doctor told me to give a pacifer at nite, make sure the room isnt stuffy ( ceiling fan should be on), dont let smokers hold the baby, dont wrap baby in so many blankets ( use the zip up sleepers) and if baby can roll over on their own its a good sign.