My 5 month old nestles his nose, face down into the mattress...I'm paranoid...Any advice?

Question

My son is 5 months old, he can lift his head, and roll from back to stomache. I'm worried about SIDS, since he nestles, or buries his face when he sleeps. I constanly have to roll him back, or turn his head sideways so he can breathe. He has the habit of falling asleep on my chest since he was a newborn since I nurse him to sleep every night before bed. He won't sleep otherwise. I then lay him on his back in his crib when he's REALLY out, and I watch the monitor till he wakes to nurse again. I do this off and on all night. Needless to say I don't sleep much, unless I bring him to sleep next to me in my bed or across my chest where I can watch him more closely. I'm slowly phasing this out. I have a sleep routine down for him, and I know it's a transition but I really could use some more helpful tips.

Answer 1

I have an angelcare monitor and this provides me with the piece of mind to be able to sleep while my baby is in his crib. It is a movement sensor and it sounds an alarm if the baby stops breathing for more than 20 seconds. It has been an absolute life saver for me. Of course with any other baby item, there are good opinions and bad opinions but, it has helped me to be able to rest.

Answer 2

My baby starting doing the same thing at the same age, and you know what, you just have to let it go. Your baby and you will both sleep better.

Once they can roll both from front to back and back to front you no longer have to worry about back to sleep(I know you still will). SIDS is not as big of a concern after the 4 month peak.

I co-sleep, and while that isn't for everyone. Consider, putting the crib right against your bed, that way when you wake in the night you just put a hand through the bars to check on him. Also you will be more likely to hear him if he does have a problem. This may help you transition him to a crib for the night. Or just accept that you are going to co-sleep until he is older. In which case you can do what I do and take the drop side off the crib, tie the crib to the bedframe AND the crib to the mattress (Mattresses have handles) and stuff a rolled blanket in the far side to make it tight! That way there is some extra room! Now, at least half the night *I* am the one sleeping in the crib, but hey at least we are sleeping!

At 6 months my baby stopped wanting to nurse to sleep for his first sleep of the night, so I would nurse him, cuddle and when he started playing I would put him in his crib (Yeah I have two, one in the nursery too. Maybe I am crazy). And he would fall asleep. At 8 months though he was teething and we have had two colds in a row and been miserable so sleeping has been a problem and he is mostly in my bed. So, don't worry, if things go back and forth, eventually he spend the whole night in his own bed/crib/room. But for now, things change all the time, you kind of need to go with the flow!

Answer 3

When babies get old enough to begin moving around their crib during their sleep, many parents are concerned about maintaining a back- or side-sleeping position, considered the safest position because it lowers the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). (SIDS occurs rarely in the first month, peaks between ages 2 and 4 months, and then declines; 90 percent of SIDS cases are in infants under 6 months old.) At night, do your best to get your son settled on his back or propped on his side, but don't fuss if he rolls over. And be sure to follow these other guidelines for safe sleeping that also reduce babies' risk of SIDS:
• Make sure your baby sleeps on a firm mattress (a softer mattress could allow your baby to sink in and have trouble breathing) and keep loose bedding out of the crib. Don't use thick quilts or sheepskins as sleeping surfaces because they can further hamper your baby's ability to breathe.

• Don't overheat your baby's room. If the temperature in your house seems comfortable to you, it should be just right for your son.

• Don't let anyone smoke near your baby.


Hope this helps

Answer 4

I understand your worry but suffocation is not SIDS. My daughter died of SIDS at 5 months old, on her back too I might add. SIDS is when an otherwise healthy baby dies of no apparent reason upon completion of an autopsy. Suffocation is just that, suffocation not SIDS. Placement of baby while sleeping has nothign to do with why a baby stops breathing. Staying awake and watching your baby sleep won't do you any good. A baby that stops breathing and it is SIDS related cannot be resuscitated. If it is SIDS the baby is already gone so watching all night long or using a monitor will not do any good.

Answer 5

Maybe you can get some peace of mind with a motion sensor alarm. It will go off if there is absolutely no movement. My son, whom I nursed, co-slept with his father and I for the first nine months of his life, then he got his own bed but soon began to find his way back with us. When he was old enough to run into mommy's bed he did, every night. Now he is six and finally sleeps by himself all night. And I want to add, he is perfectly normal. Your children are only children once, and as long as it doesn't ruin your romantic relationship, I am a believer in co-sleeping. I am paranoid too and it helped me sleep better knowing he was safe with me. After all, mommy needs her sleep.

Answer 6

My four and a half month old oes the same thing. She likes the way the sheets feel and taste. I know she can put her head to the side, but I guess its more comfortable to have her face implanted on the mattress. She hasn't started to roll ever when she is sleeping yet, but I pat her back to get her to go to sleep and she does that. If your that worried you can get a sleep positioner that prevents them from rolling over. They're pretty cheap and they ahve them at babies'r'us.

Answer 7

My baby does the same thing.. So I bought an Angel-Care sound and motion monitor. It can sense the slightest motion like breathing. If the baby stops breathing, or you pick up the baby and forget to turn the alarm off, a really loud alarm sounds. It 's expensive (like 100 bucks) but well worth the peace of mind.

Answer 8

There is infant beddings set. One pillow square and two long pillows, what I do is if my baby falls asleep. I make sure I put him face up and two long pillows between his head. And put some soft other things that will control his movements. Dont give him a chance to roll back and giving him a space to move out from his pillow. Its very tough job. Goodluck and the best thing I can tell you, take extra vitamins to get extra strength.
Happy Holidays...............

Answer 9

If you already have a monitor to watch him I would relax. hes the one rolling over you arent laying him that way, which means that is how hes comfortable, and he can tell if he needs to move his head to breathe or if hes uncomfortable. just be aware,and check him periodically, but chances are hell just roll himself back on over in that little position he likes. Just Definetly dont put stuffed animals or pillows in his crib, even those crib bumpers are a hazzard.

Answer 10

My daughter is 5months also and I nurse her to sleep...I have always put her to sleep on her back but someone recomended to me that when she has gas, i should lay her down on her tummy to releive the gas but everytime I lay her on her tummy she buries her face in the mattress..Even when i hold her and burp her she puts her face deep down into my shoulder and neck and Im worried she cant breath. Thankfully, my daughter doesnt roll over in her sleep but i would suggest getting one of those thinhs ( look like two soft, stuffed triangles) and you put one on each side of him when he is laying on his back so that he cant roll over....also, keep all stuffed animals and bulky blankets out of his bed but make sure he's in a comfortable sleeper gown.