Tummy Sleep Issue

I read somewhere (sorry I can't recll where) that having a fan on in the room seriously decreases the risk of SIDS -- the theory being that they get into an air pocket and breathe CO2, but the fan provides just enough air movement.

Might give you some comfort to hear that; sorry I can't give the exact locale for you to read more!

Hi K.,
I have two little girls who eventually rolled over but I erred on the side of caution and used a rolled up towel behind her back when they were really little and there was a relatively cheap device that stopped them from rolling that I got in Babies R Us. I know that people say that if they have strong necks and can roll over then they can self correct but to be honest my advice would be to rather be safe than sorry. Most families don't suffer from sids but it does happen and the advice given out right now about sleeping on their backs has greatly reduced the number of babies tragically dying, no-one can argue with that fact.
Anyway, whatever you do will be the best thing for you and your son.
Best of luck with your gorgeous little boy,
M..

My son started rolling to his belly at about 4 months. Even though we had him sleeping in a sleep positioner, he just rolled over that and would sleep on his belly. I didn't worry about it too much because our mid-wife told us that once they are strong enough to roll over and decide how to sleep they are safe. We always put him to sleep on his back and he automatically rolls to his belly (even when he is already asleep!)

Hi. I don't know if this has ever been an option for you, but my baby sleeps in a sleep positioner. She's 7.5 months now and I still keep her sleeping in that thing, just so she wouldn't be able to roll over. She sleeps on her back all night. I know the risk of SIDS decreases with age, I think by 6 months it's pretty low (maybe 20%) but I myself would be too scared to risk it. I don't know if your baby could get used to the sleeper now if you never used it. The one I use is called "Secure Sleeper Ultra Sleep Positioner." You can buy it at buybuybaby.com. Also, a friend of mine used to roll towels (or blankets) and put them on both sides of the baby to prevent him from turning over. YOu may want to try that instead.

Good luck!

Good luck.

My baby did this too and it freaked me out to see her face down on the mattress, but if your son can roll freely, he'll turn his head if he can't breathe. One thing we used that made us worry less was the Angelcare monitor from Babies R Us. It has a motion sensor pad that you put under the baby's mattress and if he stops moving or breathing for more than 20 seconds, it sounds a loud alarm. Some parents might think it's excessive, but it was the best $100 we spent on baby gear. I know SIDS isn't that common and the danger zone is the 2-4 month age group, but it gets so much press and is too scary to think about.

K., If your son is healthy and is sleeping without blankets/pillow/stuffed animals, I wouldn't worry if he sleeps part of the night face down. If you notice it, you can adjust him, but especially babies that are sleeping in their parents' rooms (I assume you are breastfeeding if he's in a cosleeper at 6 months), there's little risk of anything happening. Our son slept on his belly from the very beginning, in the cosleeper and in his crib after that. Sometimes he would sleep face down, but eventually he learned that it was more comfortable to turn his head. A friend of mine would say to be glad he's not waking up when he rolls over, so you can "rescue" him! Her son did that all night long when he learned to roll over!

My son did this too for the first few weeks when he figured out how to roll over and I was sure he would pass out. But he stopped doing this pretty quickly and it was never a problem. Don't worry, he can roll over and lift his head, so he is not going to have any problems.

Try the breathable bumpers and bed sheets. It will give you more peace of mind. Good luck!

K., I think it's perfetly fine that he is doing what he is doing...He's old enough to wiggle around, and if he was having problems breathing, I truly believe he's old enough to turn and reposition...call your ped. to be sure if it bothers you...Someone mentioned those triangular things, I personally feel your son is way too old for those...he should be able to have free reign of his space and twist and turn to get himself comfy...those things are great for newborns, but your son is his own little man nowadays!! He's also completely old enough to transition to his own crib...(maybe you want to continue co-sleeping, I'm not sure)

Best wishes...
J.

K.,

My son started to roll in his sleep to his tummy at 3 months, which concerned me as well, since he could not yet roll to his back. Similarily, at times, he would plant his head face down The few times I checked on him, he was breating, but I too turned his head to the side. Don't panic. he is at an age where he will wake himself up if he has trouble breathing, and he is strong enough to turn his head to the side My son is now six months, still a tummy sleeper and doing great. I too am a first time mom!

At this point, he can roll over, and thus if he was having trouble breathing he would also be able to lift and turn his head so he could breathe. Many parents worry about suffocation, but the truth is (and if you watch a b'feeding baby you'll see) babies need very little room for their noses to breathe. He'll move his head if he needs more nose-room, don't worry.

obviosly if the baby can make his/her own decision by being able to roll over, then let him.

K.,

There is a co-sleep device that keeps them from rolling. It is rather expensive. Babies R Us carries it. I wasn't sure if you were saying he co-sleeps or he is in one of these devices.

I don't know where your son sleeps. The bedclothes to keep me warm are pretty heavy, so I have to put my son near the head of the bed, and it doesn't matter where he rolls from there.

He is staying more and more in his crib now, though. For my son, I think rolling over was a comfort/warmth issue - he only slept on his back really well during the hot months. As soon as he could roll over when it was colder outside, he was curled up on his tummy.

You might check the thermostat/his skin temp when he does roll over.

When I addressed the pediatrician (and really it was the nurse at the time), you start them off on their back. If they roll over in their sleep while you are sleeping, you can't really do anything about it. She didn't go beyond that.

If it would help you be less scared, look up the statistics on SIDS by age group (and it goes to age 10, but that's extremely rare).

Good Luck! Scary issue I know, but you can't spend his infancy being scared!
M.

Hello -- We have a mover as well and have had a sleep positioner since day one. It it a piece that goes underneath them when they sleep. It consists of 2 "triangle" pieces connected with a piece of velcro. The sides keep them from turning over. We got ours at BabiesRUs and it was like $12. They are near the bathing items and diaper bags. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Hi K., As an older mom we did not have a problem with this years ago. All of my 5 children slept on their Tummies. I thought if they had any unexpelled gas it would come out easily on the stomach. I know things have happened over the years but you can not be watching your baby all night long. I know ther are wedges to keep you baby from rolling over or maybe he is OK on his tummy since he got there himself. If he is up on his little nose he still has a space to breathe. Parenthood is very worrisome but you will make it through. Trust in God and Pray, Grandma MAry

If he is rolling on his own, you shouldn't be concerned. A baby will inately turn thier head if they need to, at this age... assuming they are physically able to. Have you tried putting him in his own room with a monitor? I know that if my kids were always near me I would scrutinize thier positioning etc. Assuming he has no health issues, he is probably going to be just fine. Many babies sleep much better on their tummies, and we have become paranoid with the whole "Back to Sleep" Campaign. In reality, Tummy Time is very important for an infants development, and babies should be encouraged to spend time on their tummies from day one. My kids were rolling onto their tummies independently, and sleeping that way by 4 or 5 months, and they were in their own room... no problems!!

Hi K.
Congrats on your son!! It is a milestone when they can roll over, and usually you don't have to worry so much because at least in the olden days they said that they were able to move about themselves. So I am writing to say, as long as your son can pick up his own head and move it, and as long as there are no pillows and blankets there, and as long as the mattress is hard enough that his face doesn't sink in you should have no worries.
I did have a 6 month old that did not pick her head up when she was on her stomach. So no mom all kids can't, if yours can then you can be thankful. Check depth and hardness of mattress, and my way, once you see him move his head himself out of that position you will realize that he will do it.
God bless you and your lovely family.
K. SAHM married 38 years --- adult children 37 coach, 32 lawyer married with 4 month old, twin girls 18 and in college after homeschooling --- majors journalism and fine art.

Just leave him. If he can roll over, he can sleep on
his belly. He is fine.