baby sleeps on stomach?

Question

My 4 month old refuses to sleep on his back, he can roll over really well and in the middle of the night he rolls to his stomach then he starts crying. How do I stop him from rolling over so I finally get some sleep.

Its not that I'm concerned about SIDs its that when he does roll it scares him and makes him cry, and I dont get any sleep, neither does he.

Answer 1

If he can roll over really well, you may want to put him down for the night on his stomach. I know it is not reccommended for a baby to sleep on their back because of SIDS but if he can roll over he's not going to suffocate.

Answer 2

First off positioning has nothing to do with why a baby suddenly stops breathing. Suffocation is not SIDS so a baby that dies on its tummy because it was face down in the crib or because of a blanket is not SIDS it is suffocation, not the same thing. They have changed the way they rule a SIDS death and suffocation is suffocation it is no longer considered SIDS. My daughter was on her back and still died of SIDS. I joined a SIDS group shortly after she died and guess what....most of the mothers in my group have also stated that their babies were on their backs, sides, in strollers, swings, etc. There were only a couple on their tummy. If a baby dies on its tummy and it was not suffocation then yeah it was probably SIDS but that baby would have died in any position just like my daughter did. A sudden cesation of breathing has nothing to do with positioning or there would be no babies at all dying other than in just one position. People are so hell bent on this back to sleep stuff that they follow it so cautiously along with everything else they have come up with and then like me their baby dies and they are left saying but I did everything I was supposed to. It doesn't matter what you do. Whatever is causing these babies to stop breathing is beyond our control as parents. It is something you have no control over and if it's going to happen it's going to happen. You should just enjoy your baby and not let this overwhelm you. I've had two more and both of them slept in whatever position they wanted, usually on their stomach, and they are both fine. SIDS has been known to happen up until 1 year but the risk decreases after 6 months. I know three people in my SIDS group that lost their babies at 10 month and two at 12 months. There are also 2 that lost their baby to SIDS while their baby was awake so it doesn't even have to happen while they are sleeping. They say it is more likely to happen to males, in the winter months, and african american babies but my baby was a girl, it happened in June, and she was white. I don't buy any of the garbage they try to tell people anymore because more than likely if you do your research and ask people that it has actually happened to you can discredit everything they are saying. Just like the pacifier supposedly reducing the risk, yeah right, my daughter had a pacifier in her mouth and it fell out when she stopped breathing. That is another one that got asked of the mothers in my group and as it turns out the pacifier did not do their babies any good either. Good theory but it is not true, but people will believe anything because it is easier to beleive that something, no matter what it is, is a solution for why babies just suddenly die but they need to get some facts and proof before they start preaching it to people.

Answer 3

Once your child can easily roll over there is little reason to be conserned about tummy sleeping. Keep pillows, stuffed animals, etc. out of the crib and make sure the sheet fits snugly and there shouldn't be any problems. My third child was a belly sleeper from about 2 weeks on. At first it tore me up because everyone screams back to sleep (and yet the ONLY thing that has been truly connected to SIDS is smoking around baby, though the bts program has brought the number of SIDS deaths down) but when I talked to my ped about it she said "officially, back to sleep, unofficially, as long as there is nothing extra in the crib and she is sleeping - so are you! Now let the girl sleep." I did purchase one of those pricey angel monitors to relieve MY anxiety over her tummy sleeping, but she slept great on her tummy and not at all on her back. Good Luck!

Answer 4

i do not understand a lot about heavily untimely toddlers. in spite of the undeniable fact that i do not forget that they don't look to be ready to do frequent issues that an entire time period toddler can do. With an entire time period toddler it really is theory that they are going to turn their heads even as they spit up, and therefore no longer choke. With a heavily preterm toddler like yours she received't be ready to exhibit her head yet. If she doesn't, then putting her on her again to sleep might want to correctly be risky. My son (16) and daughter (2) does no longer sleep on their backs in any respect. They both slept vulnerable on their tummies. I also took different measures to help decrease the danger of sids. it is a question i might want to convey as a lot because the nicu team.

Answer 5

I had exactly the same problem. Put a towels down both sides under the mattress.This makes it alot harder for your baby to roll over. Also buy your baby one of those little blanket suits.They button at the top like little dungarees but have no legs in them.this also makes it harder for your baby to roll over.You can buy these in most stores in different sizes.I got mine from Asda.good luck and sleep tight.

Answer 6

First off positioning has nothing to do with why a baby suddenly stops breathing. Suffocation is not SIDS so a baby that dies on its tummy because it was face down in the crib or because of a blanket is not SIDS it is suffocation, not the same thing. They have changed the way they rule a SIDS death and suffocation is suffocation it is no longer considered SIDS. My daughter was on her back and still died of SIDS. I joined a SIDS group shortly after she died and guess what....most of the mothers in my group have also stated that their babies were on their backs, sides, in strollers, swings, etc. There were only a couple on their tummy. If a baby dies on its tummy and it was not suffocation then yeah it was probably SIDS but that baby would have died in any position just like my daughter did. A sudden cesation of breathing has nothing to do with positioning or there would be no babies at all dying other than in just one position. People are so hell bent on this back to sleep stuff that they follow it so cautiously along with everything else they have come up with and then like me their baby dies and they are left saying but I did everything I was supposed to. It doesn't matter what you do. Whatever is causing these babies to stop breathing is beyond our control as parents. It is something you have no control over and if it's going to happen it's going to happen. You should just enjoy your baby and not let this overwhelm you. I've had two more and both of them slept in whatever position they wanted, usually on their stomach, and they are both fine. SIDS has been known to happen up until 1 year but the risk decreases after 6 months. I know three people in my SIDS group that lost their babies at 10 month and two at 12 months. There are also 2 that lost their baby to SIDS while their baby was awake so it doesn't even have to happen while they are sleeping. They say it is more likely to happen to males, in the winter months, and african american babies but my baby was a girl, it happened in June, and she was white. I don't buy any of the garbage they try to tell people anymore because more than likely if you do your research and ask people that it has actually happened to you can discredit everything they are saying. Just like the pacifier supposedly reducing the risk, yeah right, my daughter had a pacifier in her mouth and it fell out when she stopped breathing. That is another one that got asked of the mothers in my group and as it turns out the pacifier did not do their babies any good either. Good theory but it is not true, but people will believe anything because it is easier to beleive that something, no matter what it is, is a solution for why babies just suddenly die but they need to get some facts and proof before they start preaching it to people.

Oh and for the person that said it has really only been linked to babies that were smoked around NOT TRUE. My baby was never smoked around and I know many, many babies that have died of SIDS and were never smoked around. I hate it when people give false information like this. There is NOTHING concrete that has been linked to SIDS, if there was then all of these babies still would not be dying.

Answer 7

For all the people that answered before me...just because he can rollover to his belly doesn't mean he can roll back or is strong enough to help himself in the event of trouble. Don't just assume this. And the crib has to be a safe place for a belly lying baby.

I don't think you will be able to stop this, but maybe slow the progress?...our boy did this a few times... has he gotten to the point where he can roll back over? Odds are that if he is going to roll over to his belly, he is going to have to learn to be contented that way. Unfortunately is this period of adjustment is going to require you to lose some sleep.

First off make sure his sleeping area (crib ) is safe. Just the mattress and sheet. To be safe, no bumper pads or blankets where he can smother his face. Buy the zip up baby sleeping bag which will confine his legs. Most 4 month olds need the added strength of their legs to roll over. Lastly, if all hazards are out of the crib and he continues to roll over, he will have to learn to be content that way before the crying will end.

I would get up initially to check and make sure things are ok and that his needs are met. Beyond this you may have to let him work it out for himself (cry it out). You may want to do this gradually. The first few nites sooth him with a back rub and talk/sing to him till he sleeps. The next few just be in the room and talk/sing till he drifts of to sleep. The next few, go and check on him and talk softly to let him know you are there, but then sit quietly with him till he drifts off. After this for the next few nites, check him to let him know you will come, but then leave after checking on him ( and yes he may have to cry it out still).

Your baby, to sleep, believe it or not, has to learn to be secure in you and to be self-confident. Hopefully, he will learn to sleep contently in what ever position he ends up in. This all said, also know the difference between a "tired" cry and the "something is wrong" cry. The "something is wrong" cry supercedes the above process. Lastly audible cues will help your boy learn. Our boy is learning that when I come to the nursery and I say "good nite" that's the signal that it is sleep time. That and our nitely routine that is. Ours now goes 7-8 hrs as a rule. Sometimes he wakes up and talks, but he contentedly drifts back to sleep. I have found him back on his belly a few times recently. It does get better. I hope this helps.

Answer 8

If your baby can roll over, then let him sleep on his tummy.

He may be rolling over because he prefers that position, but in the process, he loses his pacifier, and his blanket in the wrong position--so it's uncomfortable.

I've read that once a baby can roll over, there is no harm in letting him sleep on his stomach.

Answer 9

actually i was told that sleeping on there stomacs causes SIDS but what i do with my 4 month old and she has a tummy ache is i have one of those boopy things and lay her on her tummy that way so she cant get hurt and I noticed mine doesnt roll over when i put her on it, but when i lay her on her back at night and then when she wakes up shes on the other side of the crib, so she rolls alot but not with that boopy/pillow

Answer 10

i was always told by my children's doctors that once they can roll over on their own there's no harm in them sleeping on their stomachs. the only way to prevent it, once they can roll on their own, is to stay up all night watching them, then you're too tired to take care of them during the day.