Questions About SIDS

My ped. always told me that once they can roll over you don't need to worry about that. She will be able to move herself if need be.

That is the case, when they can start rolling on their own, you're pretty much ok. SIDS can be up to a year but you're most likely out of danger. It's not like you can keep getting up in the middle of the night to keep turning her, you'd go nuts!
We had a friend lose her baby in Dec 05 at 2mo from SIDS. I was pregnant at the time so I was a little crazy for a while. We have a SIDS monitor under Brandon's mattress so that made me a little less crazy.

Don't sweat it--our first daughter was two months old when our pediatrician told us it was okay to let her sleep on her stomach. The rules of thumb are 1) baby has doubled her birthweight, 2) baby has control over her head, 3) baby has lived in a smoke-free environment, 4) baby's parents were out of their teens at baby's birth, 5) baby was not either low birth weight OR premature, 6) baby can roll over on her own. Our daughter had doubled her birth weight and was able to lift her head at two months, so he told us that since she had no SIDS risk factors to go ahead and let her sleep on her stomach if we wanted. If it helps at all, most of us were not only allowed to sleep on our stomachs from the word go, our parents probably laid us down on our stomachs! And most of us survived.
And they sleep sooooooo much better on their stomachs.

When the child can roll over on their own, they usually can move their face off of the crib mattress as well. I think you feel safe as long you start the child on her back. I am a daycare provider and have had to go to sids traings. Everytime we are told start the child on their back if they roll over that is ok.

The reason for that, is that if they end up with their face into the mattress, a young infant can't move it themselves, and can suffocate. When they roll on their own, they also have enough control and know to turn their head if they can't breathe. Everything I have ever read/ been told, says that after 6 months it is ok, they recommend still laying them on their backs, but if they roll over by themselves, you can leave them. Under 6 months, it is recommended to move them, but I would probably leave them if they are close to 6 months. At 7 months, I don't think you have to worry!

If you child is rolling themself over to their stomach because they want to sleep there then it's ok. By this age sleeping on their back isn't as much of a deal if they don't want to do it. Most of the SIDS risk now is just burying their faces in stuff in the crib and not getting fresh air. Just be sure to keep the blankets, bumper pads and stuffed animals out and she should be just fine.
J.

Hi N.!
I spoke to my doctor about this because my son started doing the same thing at the same age. My doctor told me that when they can roll on their own, that it should be safe. I'd ask my pediatrician as each child is unique.
M.

If you're still concerned about this, giving her a pacifier reduces SIDS risk by something like 98%. The reason is that it creates more of a space between the baby's face and the mattress. If she's able to roll, she should be fine, though.

My son did the same thing. Our doctor said that once he can roll over on his own, it's ok for him to sleep on his stomach. Now that's how he sleeps all the time!

I agree with those who said that if the baby can roll back to front and front to back he/she is much less at risk for SIDS. I also purchased the ANGELCARE baby monitor that has a sensor that goes under the mattress. It senses the slightest movement (breathing) and alarms when no movement is detected. It made me feel secure. It is a good product and didn't have one false alarm. We often forgot to turn it off after taking the baby out of the crib and then it would alarm.