Should I Worry - Tummy Sleeper

[UntoldAngel]

Mr P is 5months old today and has developed a habit of sleeping on his tummy, especially for his day sleeps. If he is getting tired, he will roll over onto his tummy and settle for a sleep. If I roll him back over he gets cranky and rolls back onto his tummy.

He has slept on his tummy overnight once when I hadn't swaddled him, but he prefers to be wrapped for night otherwise he doesn't settle properly. I haven't been wrapping him of a day because of the heat, plus he usually goes off to sleep before you realise.

I'm not too concerned as he has good head control and strength, but DH is a little concerned. Should we try and get him out of this habit?

[Santosha]

Whilst obviously the SIDS reccomendations are there for a reason and it's 'less safe' on their tummy, I know how tricky it can be to change this and in our case, just went with it. I was pretty apprehensive abt letting DD tummy-sleep at first so bought an angel care monitor for peace of mind. I just got used to it after a while though and stopped using the monitor at abt 8 months I think. There is NO WAY DD would sleep on her back at home, but weirdly, she sleeps on her back at childcare fine. Funny little people! GL

[Traveller]

I wouldn't be too worried as long as he has good head control and can roll freely by himself. Make sure he is not sleeping with a soft toy or loose blanket though, to make sure he can't get all tangled up. When my kids started sleeping on their tummy I put them into sleepsuits or sleeping bags rather than using sheets.

[UntoldAngel]

Thanks girls!
He is able to roll both ways and he sleeps with his head to the side so his face isn't obstructed. Of a day I probably don't mind soo much because I can keep an eye on him.

Shell - I have one of the sleep positioners but he doesn't like it that much because he can't move

Traveller - doesn't sleep with any toys etc... his sheet is tucked in so he can't really get tangled up in it... although he can get out of his wrap sometimes and I will go into him of a morning all tangled up

The other thing I have noticed is that if he doesn't sleep on his tummy, he likes to pull a blanket/sheet up over his cheek???

[aussienic]

I thought once they could roll themselves into that position it was fine.. Well not fine but not much you could do about it

our DD was a tummy sleeper from week 1. We already had an angelcare monitor so i felt comfortable letting her sleep like that

[CinderToriella]

Can he roll both ways?

As long as he is sleeping so he can breathe ok..DD started to want to sleep on her tummy and side a month or so ago when we stopped wrapping her as well, she moves around is seems much more comfortable .

Normally i think they start to do that when they begin to roll around , i think by that age he *should* be fine , i was really freaked out when DD started doing it

If you really don't want him doing it you will have to get one of those sleep positioners( we had one when DD was a newborn)

[RhiChiChi]

Hi Belle,

I echo what the OP's have said. My DD was a tummy sleeper once she could roll & if I turned her back over, she'd wake & not sleep, so in the end I gave up & she was a much better sleeper. I also put her in Sleeping Bags then so she didn't get cold and she stayed a bit more settled.

[Liminal]

If you really don't want him doing it you will have to get one of those sleep positioners( we had one when DD was a newborn)

Just recently the consumer safety groups have announced that these actually are themselves a SIDS risk; it seems like they can trap a baby in the wrong spot. Sleep aids increase risk of baby death

[Olive]

i gave DD2 a blankie (flannelette one) at 6 months because she likes it up near her face too, she still loves it/them!!

[UntoldAngel]

i gave DD2 a blankie (flannelette one) at 6 months because she likes it up near her face too, she still loves it/them!!

I just didn't know if it would be safe cos he covers his face

[Olive]

i had the angelcare monitor so wasnt that worried, but if hes already doing it... do what you're comfortable doing
DD used to hold it at her mouth and did the sucking action, was very cute!

[CinderToriella]

Just recently the consumer safety groups have announced that these actually are themselves a SIDS risk; it seems like they can trap a baby in the wrong spot. Sleep aids increase risk of baby death

We had no problems with it, we removed it when she could roll like you are meant to.It was piece of mind for us more so
Would prob use it again for the next baby..In the end everything is a possible SIDS risk, they will always bring more things out that could be a risk in pregnancy and having a baby