Is it alright for my 5 mth old to sleep on his stomach?

Answer 1

You should always put him down on his back. This is to help prevent SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). You should follow this guideline until your child is one. If he's rolling over onto his belly on his own, just let him be though, but always start him on his back.

Answer 2

My son would only sleep on his stomach once he came home from the hospital. He was under the bili-lights for jaundice so he was there all day, stretched out on his tummy in just a diaper for almost 3 days. Needless to say, he hated being on his back or being swaddled after that. I did what kept my sanity and just made sure he had no loose bedding or stuffed toys in his crib. He is 18 months old now and is perfectly healthy. So yes, it is okay...just be cautious because there is still a risk of SIDS. My son also took a pacifier which helps prevent SIDS.

Answer 3

They all say to put your baby on the back to sleep, but at 5 months, he's old enough to roll over on his own. If that's his preferred position, there's probably not much you can do about keeping him from doing it. Just make sure there's no stuffed animals, fluffy blankets or pillows that could cause trouble.

Answer 4

The experts will tell you no. However, after my daughter was a few months old she started to turn on her stomach. There was nothing I could do about it and I was not going to lose sleep turning her over. She was walking at 8 months so she was a little on the advanced side I guess.

Answer 5

No, there are reasons why doctors advise you to keep them on their backs- mostly so that they wont choke or suffocate during their sleep, but I'll point out that a few decades ago people would generally have put their babies to sleep on their stomachs and there was rarely problems with it. Its just all together a better bet to go with lying them on their backs.

Answer 6

Yes. Hes old enough to hold his own head and roll over by himself now. They say that they should sleep on their back but what do they expect us moms to do? Stay up all night and watch to see if our kids roll over in their sleep? Just put him down on his back and if he rolls over at night dont worry about it. Just make sure theres no blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals in his crib. Ive also heard that putting them to sleep with a pacifier in their mouth reduces the risk of SIDS. My kid has always liked sleeping on her belly (ever since she learned how to roll over that is). Shes 2 now and its still her preferred sleeping position. Ive never had any problems with her sleeping on her belly.

Answer 7

First lets say babies are not supposed to sleep on their stomachs. If they throw up they may die or they can suffocate. But my second daughter was the same way. Had to sleep on her stomach with butt in the air or she would not sleep. If he can move himself around (his head and such) so if he throws up then he can move then I would be ok with it. But what I did, was let my daughter fall asleep on her stomach, stay with her till she was out cold, then roll her on her back (or on her side with a side positioner). Never had a problem with it. Lost a little more sleep but she got what she wanted, well she thinks she got what she wanted, then I would do what was safe.

Answer 8

By now, yes. Ask a pediatrician. When I was a baby my mother tells me I rolled over in my sleep so much my first night home (I still do); she figured after a while that I was fine and it was just a habit.

Answer 9

As long as your baby is rolling over and seems to have good control over his head, then absolutely. My girls prefered their stomachs because sometimes when their stomachs hurt the extra pressure helps their stomachs feel better.

Answer 10

If your 5 month old is rolling over by himself, then there's nothing you can do about it. However, if he is not, then do not place him on his stomach. The risk of SIDS goes up tremendously.

My pediatrician says once they start rolling, place them on their backs to sleep, if they roll over, don't worry about it.