Whenever I put my 6 mo. old in the crib lately, she automatically rolls to her stomach to sleep. It is causing a lot of anxiety for me and my husband because we have been told over and over that they should sleep on their backs. When I try to roll her back over, she ends up on her stomach again in a matter of seconds. Can someone please give advice, or help us relax?
Thanks, all! So, I just need to relax and let her choose her sleeping position. Funny, but I am a stomach sleeper too - like mother, like daughter. It really doesn't help that every time I talk to my mother-in-law she has some new horror story about SIDS. I am scared to death every time I walk into my daughter's room. Especially if she has slept through the night and I wake up before she does.
At this age it's fine for her to sleep on her stomach, she knows how to lift her head and roll over on her own. It's only a concern when they cannot lift their heads and roll over. Try to relax, easier said than done, Huh? :)
Once they start rolling over the risk for sids dramatically decreases. Let your baby sleep the way that she is comfortable. When I had my first son they said to put them on their side then when I had my second it was put them on their backs, years ago it was common to place babies on their bellies.
I have 5 children and my 4th was like that. He would also sleep for 10-12 hours while on his tummy. I just made sure there were no blankets in the crib with him. I also made sure his clothes fit good so they wouldn't bunch up near his face. You can also take out her bumper pads. Just make sure there is nothing she could suffocate on. She's old enough to lift her head away from the mattress. Newborns can't do that so I think it's more crucial for those bitty babies. Congratulations!!
Stomach sleeping has been done for centuries without issue. There are several groups that believe the link to SIDS is not the actual stomach sleeping but the inhalation of the chemicals from the outgassing of the new mattresses and/or the chlorine residues from detergents. The respiratory system is still delicate as an infant.
My sister is a retired social worker that used to license day care centers. The SIDS deaths that she encountered over the years were always in her cleanest facilities. It was never in facilities she had sited for being dirty. She believes there is a link to chlorine bleach as well.
My two cents!
M.
Advice: get over it. Let baby sleep the way she wants to sleep. She is perfectly fine sleeping on her tummy. Now just keep toys (stuffed animals) and anything that she can sufficate on out of the crib and your good ;) That sleeping on their backs stuff is such garbage . Both my kids were tummy sleepers from day 1 . Like the other mom syggested make sure they tilt their head so they can breathe.
My son did the same thing at 3 mo. I asked the dr about it and she said if they are big enough to roll over, it isn't a concern. (Yes, it did scare me just like it did you, the first night I saw him do it I slept in his room because I was so worried! I understand your nervousness!)
Try (I know, much easier said than done!!!) try not to worry. Just like the others have said, make sure there is nothing else in the crib, and that the pj's fit well and she should be just fine.
(PS My son is now 4 and my 4 mo old daughter just started doing the same thing! So, in my view it is a fairly common thing to do once they figure out how to roll!)
my son was adopted from Korea at 2 months old.. i saw pics of him in Korea.. he actually slept with a reg. pillow on his stomach.. ... well, he cried when i tried to put him on his back... he was a stomach sleeper.. and he slept really good that way.. as for the pillow.. i didn't put one in with him until after 1 years old. they say they can sleep on the stomach if they can move their neck up and down.. so they can breath.. don't worry.. if she is sleeping good.. it shoyuld be ok..
well now a days there r so many dont and nos with our babys you never know what to do. my little one who is now 2 hated to sleep on her back. as soon as she learned to roll to her side and bellly she would sleep on her belly. sometimes her side. at first i was worried but i kept an eye on her she would roll over and move her head so her face wasnt in the bed. so she could beath just fine. it was never a problem and she is a health regular little 2 year old good luck and dont worry it will be ok
I was told by my pediatrician that once our son was able to roll over on his own and could lift his head by himself that it was fine for him to sleep on his stomach. I did, however, always check to make sure he was breathing when I checked on him. Make sure you don't have any access blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, etc. in the bed to avoid her rolling into them.
no, that's only until they can roll themselves. PUT them on their backs, from there they can sleep any way they are comfortable once they can move. It's really only an issue when they can't turn their heads. SIDS is a concern before 6 months, after that it's not a big risk any more:)
