Should I be worried that my 7 1/2 month old daughter sleeps on her stomach?

Question

Obviously, I put her down on her back, but she flips on to her belly every night. With the increased risk of SIDS, I get very worried. Is there anyway to prevent her from doing this?

Answer 1

Here's an article from a brochure of mine I got in a pregnancy pack on SIDS. It explains why you don't need to worry about your older baby rolling over on to her belly too much. I hope you find this helpful.

"SIDS and Kids - Safe Sleeping

Lullabies aren't the only things you'll need to know to put your baby to sleep

SIDS and Kids safe sleeping:
Babies are young children spend a lot of their time sleeping. Some sleeping arrangements are not safe. They can increase the risk of SIDS or cause serious sleeping accidents.

Research ahs found some important ways to reduce the risk of SIDS and create a safe sleeping environment for babies and young children. This brochure provides you with information to help you create a safe sleeping environment for your child.

What is SIDs?
SIDS is short for 'Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and used to be called 'cot death'. It means the sudden, unexpected death of a baby from no known cause. SIDS is the most common cause of death in babies between one month are one year of age. Most babies who die of SIDS are under 6 months. More babies die of SIDS during winter than in summer.

It is still not clear what causes SIDS. Some factors are though tto work together to reduce the risk of SIDS, but they may or may not help prevent any one SIDS death. Remember 1999 out of 2000 babies will not die of SIDS.

Some new information
Since the Reducing the Risk or SIDS program was introduced in Australia in 1991, SIDS deaths have dropped by about 70% to about 140 per year.

Put baby on the back to sleep, from birth
Sleeping on the back reduces the risk of SIDS. The chance of babies dying from SIDS is greater if they sleep on their tummies or sides. Put your baby on the back to sleep, from birth, unless your doctor or nurse tells you otherwise. Healthy babies placed to sleep onthe back are less likely to choke on vomit than tummy sleeping infants.

If you are unsure about the best way to sleep your baby, speak with your doctor or nurse.

Tummy play is safe and good for babies when they are awake and an adult is present, but don't put the baby on the tummy to sleep.

Baby-sitters and others who care for your baby may not know that tummy or side sleeping increases the risk of SIDS. Explain this to them before you leave your baby in their care.

Older babies can turn over and move around the cot. Put them on the back but let them find their own sleeping positions. The risk of SIDS in babies over six months is extremely low.

Sleep baby with face uncovered:
Be careful your baby's face and head stay uncovered during sleep as this decreases the risk of SIDS.

A good way to do this is to put baby's feet at the bottom of the cot so that baby can't slip down under the blankets. You might decide not to use blankets at all and instead, use a safe baby sleeping bag; one with a fitted neck and arm holes.

When baby is put to sleep check that:
Baby is tucked in securely or is in a safe sleeping bag.

Cot bedding is not loose.

There are no quilts, doonas, duvets, pillows or cot bumpers in the cot.

Taking baby into an adult bed may be unsafe if baby:
Gets caught under adult bedding or pillows

Is trapped between the wall and the bed

Falls out of bed

Is rolled on by someone who sleeps very deeply or who is affected by drugs or alcohol

Cigarette smoke is bad for babies:
Cigarette smoke harms babies before birth and after. Parents who smoke during pregnancy and after the baby is born increase the risk of SIDS for their baby. In fact, if the mother smokes, the risk of SIDS doubles, if the father smokes too, the risk of SIDS doubles again.

There is an increased risk of SIDS if parets are smokers, even if they smoke outside, away from the baby. If mothers who are smokers bedshare with their babies the risk of SIDS is increased. The reasons for this are not clear.However, we do know that being a non-smoker or smoking less will reduce the risk for your baby.

Try not to let anyone smoke near your baby - not in the house, the car or anywhere else your baby spends time.

How to sleep young children safely:
Safe cot
Safe mattress
Safe bedding
Safe sleeping place, night and day

Safe cot:
Does the cot meet Australian standards?

All new and second hand cots sold in Australia must meet the Australian Standard for Cots and will carry a label to say so.

Old or secondhand cots may be dangerous for the following reasons:
Wobbly or broken parts that can make the cot weak
Gaps a toddler or baby can get caught in
Knobs, corner posts or exposed bolts that can hook onto a toddlers of babys clothing around the neck
Sides that are too low and can be climbed over by active little toddlers
Sharp catches or holes in the wood that can hurt curious little fingers
Paint that might contain poisonous lead

Check that cots meet the Australian standard before use:

Babies can become trapped in a tilted rocking cot or cradle If you have a cradle or cot that rocks and has a locking pin, make sure you secure the locking pin firmly in place whenever you leave your baby, and double check it to make sure the cradle cannot move when you are not there to supervise.

Not - portable or 'porta' cots
Use the firm, clean, well fitting mattress that is supplied with the portable cot. Don't add additional padding under the mattress as baby can get trapped face down in gaps created between the mattress and the cot wall. There is a seperate Australian Standard that is used for all portable cots.

Remember:
Always look for the Australian Standard for Cots before you buy a cot.

If you are planning to use a secondhand cot check that it meets the standard.

Safe mettress:
Is the cot mattress the right size for the cot, and is it firm and clean?
A toddler or baby can get stuck in gaps between the mattress and the cot sides. This is especially dangerous if their face is trapped and covered or their neck is restricted in any way. Make sure there is no more than a 25mm (1 inch) gap between the mattress and the cot sides and ends.

Remove plastic packaging from the mattress. Always make surethe waterproof mattress protector is strong and a tight fit.

A pillow or cushion is not a safe mattress. They are soft and may cover baby's face.

Safe bedding
Remove pillows, quilts, doonas, duvets and lambskins from the cot

Soft and puffy bedding in the cot is unnceccessary and may cover your baby's face and make breathing difficult.

If you firmly wrap or swaddle your baby, it is safer not to cover baby's head.

A safe place to sleep
During night and day, look out for dangers
The following are things to look out for and avoid where your toddler or baby sleeps. Both during the night and for any daytime naps.

Remember to look for these things in your own house and anywhere your child is cared for - including day care, childcare centres and the homes of family and friends.

1. An unsupervised adult bed may be unsafe for babies or toddlers if they:
Get caught under adult bedding or pillows

Get trapped between the wall and the bed

Fall out of bed

Are rolled on by someone who sleeps very deeply or who is affected by drugs or alcohol

The risk of accident is increased if you leave your baby or toddler alone on an adult bed or bunk bed.

2. Soft sleeping places where a toddler's or baby's face may get covered:
If you fall asleep with the baby while on a couch or sofa, there is a very high risk of a sleeping accident

Babies don't need pillows. Pillows, cushins or tri-pillows are too soft and can cover baby's face

Don't put your baby or toddler on a waterbed or beanbag. They are not safe for babies or toddlers.

3. Dangling cords or string
Keep the cot away from any cords hanging from blinds, curtains, or electrical appliances because they could get caught around baby's neck. Keep mobiles out of the reach of curious little hands and mouths.

4. Heaters and electrical appliances
Keep heaters or any electrical appliances well away from the cot to avoid the risk of overheating, burns and electrocution.

Don't use electric blankets, hot water bottles or wheat bags, for babies or young children. Remember that your baby or toddler cannot escape from a bed or cot to cool down and does not know how to remove bedclothes. A baby that becomes too hot is at an increased risk of SIDS.

5. Prams, strollers and bouncers where restraints are not done up:
Always do up the restraints when baby is in a pram, stroller, bouncer or any other baby/toddler equipment. It can be dangerous if baby becomes tangled in loose restraints. Also, restraints will not be the safety measure they should be if they are not done up the way they are supposed to be.

Make sure the footrest on the stroller is strong and secure. A weak footrest may give way and cause baby to become trapped. "

I'm going to include the link to a parenting forum that I think you might find useful. It's full of supportive women with boundless knowledge about these issues. I learnt so much there that I doubt I would have learnt otherwise.

Answer 2

By the age 7.5 months the risk of SIDS decreases significantly. At that age an infant is capable of rolling away from anything that might obstruct his/her breathing (ie. the mattress). There is little you can do to keep her on her back and with the risk of SIDS being so minimal I wouldn't bother stressing about it either. With my first baby I went in and flipped him back on to his back every time I found him on his stomach. Well this was a losing battle as he much preferred to sleep on his belly and in the end the need for sleep (his and mine) won out. If I were you, I'd just make sure that there aren't any heavy blankets or toys in the crib to suffocate her and I'm sure she'll be fine.

Answer 3

I have a 5 1/2 month old daughter that has been flipping over onto her tummy for a few months now. I was worried at first too but she has been fine. And look at how often they change what is right and wrong though, next year someone will make millions saying to put the babies on the tummy. But if you re very concerened they sell little wedge things that you put you baby in between that keeps them from rolling around but it may just piss her off at this point, I know my daughter would be a very un happy little girl if i did it to her. Go with your gut, it usually is right, I am a new mom and just about everything I thought I was right. God made us to be mommies, we have to get a license to drive but not one to me a mommy, so I think we know what is right and wrong. GOOD LUCK....

Answer 4

hi...well both of my girls did some belly flipping even when they were 5-6months old. this is normal because babies like sleeping on their belly because it's more comfortable for them, it makes them breathe easier. be careful though, peek in once in a while to see if her head is correctly positioned so she could breathe freely & not smothered on the pillow. 7 1/2 months has a little tendency for SIDS, but always be sure. however, if you still want to prevent her from sleeping on her belly, when you put her down to sleep on the bed, tuck 2 round, baby pillows on each side of her body, either way she flips, the pillows are there to prevent her from lying on her belly.

Answer 5

My 4 month old has slept on her stomach since she was 3 weeks old. I know about SIDS, but she refuses to sleep on her back. My other 2 children were also belly sleepers. I just make sure there is nothing in the crib but them.

Answer 6

Don't worry, if she is old enough to flip herself on her tummy she is old enough to turn herself back if need be. Just make sure you don't give her a pillow to sleep with or anything. But, if it really bothers you, try rolling up a couple of towels and laying them on either side of her, so she is prevented from flipping over. Good luck!!

Answer 7

If she can roll to her tummy on her own, she should be fine. There is no safe way of keeping her on her back. I was also worried when my daughter would roll to her tummy but she is doing fine. The main reason why you are not supposed to put them on their tummy is b/c they can suffocate. If she is already that old, she can lift her head and move it around to prevent that from happening. It will be OK...don't worry.

Answer 8

Once a baby can roll over on his/her own it is fine to place them on their stomachs or not to reposition them once they move. You'd get nothing else done all night if you hung out by the crib rolling her back over. SIDS prevention with the Back to sleep promotion is really targeting infants who are unable to roll on their own.

Answer 9

Hi as a mom of 2. ages 18yrs and 9 yrs. I can easily tell you that both of my kids slept on their stomachs. make sure the baby's head is positioned to the side and just peek in every now and then. the baby will be fine.

Answer 10

if your baby is sleeping in your bed where she belongs, you won't worry about this. SIDS is hardly a risk at 7.5 months, but it's wonderful to have your baby in bed to nurse easily and to know instantly when they are sick. Just don't have big pillows near her or heavy blankets.

Answer 11

i would not worry about because she is old enough to move her head if she can't breathe she not a little baby she will be fine just make sure there is nothing else in the crib other then a blanket to cover her up with if you do that she will be just fine good luck and e-mail me if you have any questions or concerns bye