What do I do when baby starts turning over on belly at night?

Question

It has been engrained in my brain not to let my baby sleep on her tummy. Yet, now she is rolling over on her tummy at night. She is almost 6 months. Will she be okay?

Answer 1

You could buy a wedge fromt he store. My son did the same thing, turning over on belly. At first he would wake up when it'd happen. He now exclusively sleeps on his tummy. Usually if they are old enough to roll on their tummy, then they have enough muscle control of their head to move it should their face get planted in the mattress. Make sure that you have a firm mattress and nothing else in the crib. I also check on my young'n a lot :)

Speak to your pediatrician's office also. They can put your mind at ease & give you advice better than anyone else could.

Here's a website about Sids and some info I got from there:
http://sids-network.org/facts.htm

What Causes SIDS?

While there are still no adequate medical explanations for SIDS deaths, current theories include: (1) stress in a normal baby, caused by infection or other factors; (2) a birth defect; (3) failure to develop; and/or (4) a critical period when all babies are especially vulnerable, such as a time of rapid growth.
Many new studies have been launched to learn how and why SIDS occurs. Scientists are exploring the development and function of the nervous system, the brain, the heart, breathing and sleep patterns, body chemical balances, autopsy findings, and environmental factors. It is likely that SIDS, like many other medical disorders, will eventually have more than one explanation.

Answer 2

I had the same worries, my dopctor told me if she can roll over then it is fine. Also when a baby can roll over both ways and has strong neck muscles the risk of SIDS drops, so that is something to keep in mind when you get worried. There is nothing you can really do, you could buy a sleep positioner but your baby will get so strong that she can flip over anyways and then the risk of suffocating will be greater with the positioner in there. I am pretty sure she is okay. My daughter is almost 6 months, sometimes I find her on her tummy and I gently roll her over on to her back so I can feel a little better.

Answer 3

First of all, you are doing the right thing sleeping her on her back. You were told to do this because of the higher incidence of SIDS in children who sleep on their bellies. Although SIDS is not completely understood, it is believed that sleeping the infant of their stomach gives them more of a chance to suffocate. An infant does not have the neck muscles, or the muscles are too weak to pull their head up if their face is pressed into the floor. Once the baby starts rolling, they have started to develop these muscles so it is ok. You should also allow for "tummy time". This is putting her on her belly supervised. This helps to strengthen those neck and back muscles needed to pull the head up. If she has never done tummy time, I guarantee she will scream through it, but its ok.
SIDS is usually seen in 2-4 months of age but can be up to one year. There should not be anything else in her crib other than a fitted sheet and a light weight receiving blanket (if needed) So, yes, she will be ok. If it continues to worry you, I have a friend who placed the receiving blanket over the baby's chest and stomach (so the arms are free) and tucked all 4 corners under the mattress so she would stay on her back. Good Luck!

Answer 4

As long as your baby turns her head when she does roll onto her belly, then it is fine to let her sleep on her belly. You are doing the right thing by putting her on her back, but she will decide how she wants to sleep though, now that she knows how to roll over.
My 7 month old son started rolling over as soon as I layed him down starting at about 5 1/2 months too. He has slept on his belly about 99.9% of the time ever since. I think the reasons are it keeps them warmer and is more comfortable over all.
I would not recommend getting a positioner, as your baby is at an age where she will begin moving around alot in her sleep and it will eventually become more of a hazard than a help when she learns to roll over it.
Hope this helps!

Answer 5

Once she starts rolling over on her own, there's really nothing you can do. Even if you put something up against her, she could still roll right over it. Try to not worry too much about it. Remember, 20 years ago, mothers were told that their babies SHOULD sleep on their tummies to keep them from strangling if they spit up in their sleep. My oldest daughter slept on her back just fine (and still does at three years old), but my youngest daughter WOULD NOT sleep on her back, no matter what. The only way to get her to sleep was to put her on her tummy, so I did. She is now 15 months and still sleeps on her tummy.

Answer 6

She'll be fine! If she can roll over herself, then she can roll back over and/or just change position if she can't breathe. Honestly, my son slept on his back for about a week and a half, and then we started putting him down on his tummy because he would sleep better that way. At six months I would say you don't have much to worry about. : ) Hope this helps!

Answer 7

She will be fine. As soon as they are able to roll over really well then we really have no choice! You can go wake her up 500 times to put her back on her back or just let it go.She is strong enough to get off her belly if she needs to. Back when I was a baby parents were told to put us on our bellys to sleep and im just 25! I think its fine. My son is 4 months old and if he is'nt in his positioner he will roll right over. He is'nt really good at rolling yet so I make sure he is in the positioner every night just to be safe. He hates to be on his belly anyway. Good luck!

Answer 8

She'll be fine. My baby is 6 months too. I was told to put her to sleep on her back, but if she rolls over on her own it will be fine. You don't need to go in all night and roll her back or anything. Once they are able to roll over, the risk of SIDS is greatly diminished.

Answer 9

Yes. It is ok. As long as she can roll over. My baby is 6 months old and she started sleeping on her stomach at 4 months. I was kind of skiddish at first too, but if your worried you can by one of those sleep positioners. You can get them at Walmart. Hope this helps.

Answer 10

With the concern of SIDS I don't blame you for worrying. She should be OK but if you want to have her be on her back while sleeping- there are these bumper things you can use that will prevent her from rolling over.