Need to Stop Baby from Sleeping on Stomach

hi D.,
i have twin boys that as soon as they learned to roll over decided they wanted to be on their stomachs all of the time. as soon as we put them in their cribs they rolled over. this was at 4 months. i was horrified and turned them over constantly. it was hopeless. i talked to my pediatrician and he advised me that if the baby is strong enough to roll over, they are strong enough to reposition their head and that i shouldn't worry. please know that we would find them with their heads face down in the mattress, to the side, every which way. i just always made sure the mattress sheets were super tight to the mattress and there was nothing in their cribs with them (they sleep in sleep sacks). they are now 9 months and still 99.99% sleep on their stomachs.

T.

You can get special anti-roll wedges from Babies R Us.

My daughter is a stomach sleeper as well. She is now 19 months old but she slept on her stomach from the moment she could roll over. I've heard that as long as they can lift their heads it is OK to let them sleep on their tummies. We were still paranoid so we actually bought something called the Angel Care monitor. It has a sensor that goes under the mattress and picks up the tiniest little movement. You can set both the monitor in the baby's room and in your room to tick every time she breathes. If it doesn't sense movement for a certain amount of time an alarm goes off in both rooms. This scares the baby into moving and alerts you too. We now have a 1 month old son and plan on using it in his crib as soon as we put him in there.

Also, we invested in the side sleeper. It's two curved wedges and one of them is removable. You can turn it so that it holds the baby on one side or so that it holds the baby on her back. We're using that right now with my son. He sleeps so much better on his side because it reduces the morro reflex and he doesn't scare himself awake. Hope this helps!

There's something you can buy called "SafeTSleep" It's made in New Zealand and it's not cheap but I'm thinking of getting one for my son. He doesn't roll over yet but I know I will start worrying when he can.

here's the website: http://www.safetsleep.com/

good luck.
A.

I used a sleep positioner for my two babies. It was GREAT!! A suggestion : Especially For Baby Inclined to Sleep Positioner - Baby's R Us. I loved it!

Looks like you've gotten some really helpful responses. I just wanted to add a related note...my 4 year old has always slept on her stomach and both a chiropractor and an orthopedic doctor have told me that it's sooo bad for her (and anyone) to sleep on her stomach for so many reasons (hips, knees and neck problems). We've tried to urge her to sleep other ways, but she's just so used to it that she can't change...it's kind of like her security blanket...she feels so safe and comfy that way. So, if I had it to do all over again, I'd have tried little tricks when she was a baby to get her used to sleeping other ways. Good luck!

We use a sleep postioner, which keeps our baby in place. Try one of these:

http://www.toysrus.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2256227

Good Luck!

Hi D. -

Sleep positioners are the easiest to use - Babier R Us carries several:
http://www.toysrus.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2256227
Even with one of these though - with my first child I kept waking in the night to run into the nursery to check on him - so for my second child I made it easy on myself and purchased a Co-Sleeper:
http://armsreach.com/cosleeper_comparison.php
which was a life saver - it is basically a mini crib that attaches to your own bed (but with no risk of rolling over on the baby) It's not for everyone, but between the breathing checks and the midnight feedings, having my infant right next to me made for many more hours of sleep every night - for both of us!
Good luck.

How about one of those sleep positioners? they are made of that memory foam now to prevent the back of her head from getting a flat spot n they will keep her from rolling. Hope this helps!

Steph

You can buy fancy foam wedges to keep her from rolling over but I used rolled up receiving blankets. They worked great!

If you daughter really loves sleeping on her stomache - you may not be able to stop her. I bought a alarm / monitor that basically sounds an alarm when it detects no movement (breathing). I absolutely love it and used it with my 4 year old when he was an infant and I plan on using it with my one month old when I put her in the crib. It is called Angelcare movement sensor with sound and it is made by BebeSounds. I swear this monitor kept me sane! I have many firends who could not live without it as well.

Hi there D., my children slept on their stomachs to sleep without any reprecussions but i know all too well about SIDS(my nieghbors child died). But a rolled up towel/blanket put to the side of your child to keep her in place might stop her from rolling around, or even using a small pillow to prop her up so that she is unable to roll around might help. Good Luck.

Get a sleep positioner! They work wonders and they are cheap.

roll 2 recieving blanket up and put one infront of her and one behind her.this will keep her on her side. if you do it everynight for about a week she should start to sleep like that on her own. So mom can sleep peacefully.lol. hope this helps.

Buy a sleeping wedge (?) It's like putting the baby between two firm pillows to prevent them from rolling over. Check at any store that sells baby bedding.

There's no real way to stop her, as others have said. For peace of mind you could spend the money on one of those "airflow" mattresses. But otherwise just make sure that all bumpers, blankets, and realy nything else is out of the crib. Babies breathe mostly through their nose, so as long as she can breathe through there she should be OK.

But I totally understand, it would freak me out too.

My son started rolling over around the same age. The doctor said to still put him down on his back, but if he can roll over it's OK. At that age I continued swaddling him b/c I thought it would keep him on his back. It didn't and I immediately stopped swaddling b/c he would roll over and then not have his hands free to adjust his position.

Have you tried those sleeping bolsters that adjust for width that help support younger babies? It can help a baby sleep on their side and not roll over or simply add cuddling support to a baby on his/her back. They're mostly for younger babies - but with the adjustable ones you might try using one of those to help keep your darling back down until she's ready.

Hi, D. -

There's a pillow/cushion thing you can get for her that will keep her from rolling over and it's very soft, yet supportive and comfortable. it sort of feels like a tempurpedic pillow -- it's on a slight incline, and has two side pillow-wedges that attach with velcro to the main thing that she lays on. We used it with our baby to keep her from rolling over. Not sure what it's called, but you should be able to find it somewhere. I can find out more from the person who loaned it to me if you want. Just email me! Good luck!

S.

D.,

I had the same problem with my son. though my doctor and parents told me he would be fine for he was learning to roll over, I was not. I found at Walmart wedges for babies (in the baby section) that kept him from rolling over onto his stomach and used them for a while. He is now 8 months old and sleeps on his stomach, but has no problems with his face down in the matress.

I hope this helps.

Deb

Sleeping on her stomach is ok for a 5 month old as long as she can hold her head up while she is doing tummy time. If you are still scared to allow her to sleep freely, I suggest you use baby bumpers that allow her to sleep on her side and prevent her from rolling on her back and/or her stomach. Just be sure to rotate her from her left to right side every other night to prevent from her head becoming disfigured. Good luck!

D., my daughter did the same thing. I would always freak out because she had her face straight down on the mattress. But...she loved sleeping like that. She always turned her head when she couldn't breathe...when I inspected closer, I saw that she was not suffocating. She knew how to move her head when she was bothered so I left her be. She still sleeps on her tummy and now she is 10 months old. I'm not sure there is a way to stop her...but my daughter is fine after sleeping the exact same way. Don't know if this helps but thought I would share. =)

There is a product that I believe you can find in Wal-mart or Target that will help keep your baby from rolling. I am not sure of the name of it, but what it looks like is a piece of cloth with two blocks attached to the sides.

If you were born before the mid-1970s, your mom put you to sleep on your stomach from birth with no fear. All of my kids were belly sleepers (just like me!). Try using a Babe-Safe mattress cover. Originally from New Zealand, no baby sleeping on a covered mattress has ever died from SIDS. SIDS was virtually unknown until mattresses started to be treated to be flame retardant. Unfortunately, the chemicals that make them flame retardant are arsenic, antimony, and phosphorus, all poisons. These chemical leach out of the mattress as it gets older, especially once it has gotten wet (drool, urine, etc!), and after it has been used for multiple children. The Babe Safe cover is thick non-leaching plastic, venting on the bottom, so these gasses, which are heavier than air, do not hover above the surface of the mattress where a belly-sleeping baby is breathing, but sink to the floor. The covers can be pricey, but the parent website gies directions for wrapping a mattress with thick drop-cloth plastic like you'd find at Home Depot and tape. Not as tidy, but equally as effective.

Second, the time to be very cautious with any sleeping baby is when they have just been vaccinated. Vaccinations have varied effects on babies, but can suppress immune function, lower respiration rates, and make babies slightly ill, making them more succeptible to these flame-retardant chemicals and SIDS death.

There is a pillow that is made of 2 wedge for you to put the baby in when in the crib. It is great because no matter which way the baby tries to move it won't end up on the stomach or the back. Wal-Mart or Babies R Us or Target carries them. It was the bast present I got from my shower.

D.,

If your daughter is rolling over on her stomach, she is fine to sleep like that. If you need reassurance just call your pediatrician. I know it is nerve-wrecking to see them face down, but it really is fine. My little one sleeps with his nose straight down in the mattress or he is wedged in to a corner.

L.

they make wedges for this purpose, like triangular pillows you put on either side of them while they're sleeping to prevent them from rolling over.

IF she's old enough to roll over than just let her be. Just make sure that her bed is clear of pillows, blankets, bumpers and such. Use a sleep sack over pj's as a blanket if your concerned she'll be cold. Get them at any store.

Leave him be. At 5 1/2 months he is fine. Once they
roll over, you cannot control him. IMO babies really
love their bellies and as soon as they can get there on
their own, they do. Try to relax.

They make a pillow that specifically holds the baby sleeping on their side. Then you won't have any worrys!

From the moment my daughter was able to roll onto her stomach, that is how she always slept, and my doctor told me not to worry, that she would be absolutely fine. She is old enough now to know to move her face when she cannot breathe. Just be sure to keep out any stuffed animals that are bigger than her head during sleep time to be on the safe side, and put her in a sleep sack instead of covering her with a regular blanket when it's chilly. Hope this helps!

That's not unusual. Most babies, once they learn to roll over onto their stomach will do so. They seem to sleep better that way. I wouldn't worry about it. Even if she sleeps face down in the sheets. If she can roll over she can turn her head if she needs to. Just make sure there are no pillows or fluffy stuffed animals or blankets in her bed. Once she learns to roll over onto her back you may find her sleeping in all kinds of strange positions.

They make a wedge that you can purchase in Babies R Us it works well. However one thing you should really be concerned about and maybe you already are aware of is the laundry soap you use. One of the reasons for SIDS is the fact that the babies are breathing in formaldehyde and other chemicals that the sheets are being washed with. On top of being absorbed into there skin and going right into the blood steam.

why don't you purchase a baby sleep positioner? My baby loves sleeping on her side, (mind you she is only 2 weeks old) but the sleep positioner seems to keep her completely in place and allows her to roll her head to the side. She can even sleep on her side when she's in it, but it prevents her from moving any more to her front.

THey are really inexpensive, too. Good luck!!!

There are baby "wedges" that you can buy for the crib. These are safe and encourage sleeping on the back for a bit longer until they're able to move their head better when sleeping. Also consider a "stiff" water proof crib pad that goes under the sheet. If the baby does put their face down it's usually just uncomfortable enough to make them turn their head but not too uncomfortable to sleep on.

As long as she can roll over on her own she'll be fine. Just make sure she is not sleeping with any toys or blankets. If you think she'll be cold just use a sleep sac and blanket sleepers.

The First Years Air Flow Sleep Positioner by Learning Curve

Visit http://www.toysrus.com

Developed in consultation with Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, this sleep positioner is designed for greater air circulation and proper sleep position. It helps keep sleeping infants on their backs as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and easily adjusts as your child grows. Fully ventialted with a breathable mesh cover to keep baby cool while sleeping. Positioner is 100 percent washable.

You can try those foam wedges that are supposed to keep the baby from rolling over. I tried that and my daughter would just rotate between the 2 wedges and still manage to sleep on her face. It was around 5 months that she started doing that too. She would always sleep on her face and it terrified me as well because I was so worried about SIDS. The doctor wasn't too concerned but I lost a lot of sleep over it until I bought the Angel Care monitor. It says it doesn't prevent SIDS but that's just for liability. It has a panel that you put under the mattress and it can detect the slightest movement, even the baby breathing. An alarm will go off if it doesn't receive motion for 15 seconds. So if the baby stops breathing the alarm will go off. It really works great and put my mind at ease. You can get it at Baby's R us for $99.

I've had three pediatricians tell me that once they start rolling, let them be. In fact, my current doctor said that any methods you use to try to stop them from rolling can result in them suffocating. I am shocked at how many people have posted that you should use wedges because that was the exact thing my doctor said not to use. In fact, he said if the baby moves too much within the wedge, you could be asking for serious trouble and suffocation. What if the baby wiggles or rolls so far and then gets stuck because of the wedge and can't get back? I'd be more afraid of that happening than letting the baby be.

You can get baby "wedgies" and I used them with both my kids. They sort of have a soft block on 2 sides with fabric holding them together and you lay the baby on the fabric and if they try to roll they are stopped by the blocks. I know Wal-Mart has them...

Once a baby is old enough to roll over on her own, she should be OK sleeping in whatever position she finds comfortable as long as she's in a safe place. Remove any extras in the crib, if you haven't already done so, like the bumper, any pillows (which she should not have yet anyway) and all but one or two small toys. Make sure her covers are light in weight and of material that can't compress around her face. She's old enough and strong enough now to move away from anything that blocks her face, and that instinct will keep her safe. Continue to put her to bed on her back, but please allow her to find her own best position or you'll risk starting up some sleep battles.

Remember, it's only recently that experts recommend babies sleep on their backs. Generations of tummy-sleepers grew up just fine.

Make sure there is no loose covering on the mattress - no fluffy blanket or pillow - just a snug fitting sheet. If she's rolling onto her stomach on her own, there's nothing you can really do to stop her. If you're really concerned, talk to her pediatrician.

They make bolsters to help babies stay on there sides, Babies R Us sells them. I used to roll up blankets and do it myself. I found my daughter now 20 months the same way once and it is very scary. Good Luck

I actually have a six month old that does the same thing. My older son did this too. Our doctor told us that once they can flip it is okay to let them sleep like that. That said, I try to check on my son as often as possible and I flip him back over. Good luck!

First Years has a sleep positioner that is suppose to keep the baby laying on his/her back you might want to try that.

They sell special sleeping "bunkers" that you can have her sleep in...sort of the same effect of rolling up two towels and nestling them under her sides to keep her from rolling. It has a flat base with two sides curved to keep her from rolling over. Onestepahead.com has them! Good luck