my baby boy loves to sleep on his belly

[ss_storm]

DD has started sleeping on her tummy too. I do worry a little about it, but SIDS guidelines used to be to put them on their tummy anyway so who knows what is "right". I worry about her a lot when she is on her tummy but her head is face planted into the bottom sheet instead of facing out to the side...lol. During the day not so bad as I can keep an eye on her but at night I stress about it. I have also found her in some pretty weird places in her cot!

I figure though that she will sleep in the position most comfortable to her, and I have heard that once they can roll over the risk of SIDS decreases..not sure how true that is.

Have you considered using a sleeping bag instead of sheets? I started using a grobag at night instead of tucking in sheets as I was worried she would get tangled in them or wriggle around so her head was underneath them. As for getting his leg stuck through the bars, we have an Airwrap cot bumper (it's like a normal cot bumper but is made of mesh so it's breathable) so she cant get her arms or legs stuck in the sides of the cot. It also somewhat protects her head from banging against the side! At the moment she loves bouncing her legs off it. Lol

[Nelle]

My second was (still is) a tummy sleeper. I think the general idea is that if bub can move into trouble they can usually move out. Even so, try and minimise things in the cot that bub could get tangled in. Can bub roll back onto his back? Can he lift himself up on his hands, or push himself about? I think those are good signs that he can move if he gets stuck. Is he a really deep sleeper?
Also make sure there's good ventilation in the room - one of the problems with tummy sleeping is that bub can overheat. But a slightly open window will help and I guess central heating won't be an issue in Summer. But in Winter, I'd have the central heating turned down really low in their room, just enough to take any chill off the air. One of my MCHN said something about SIDS incidences rising as more families used central heating - no idea how true that is though.

[Bathsheba]

Yep, the old guidelines used to be to settle them to sleep on their tummies because they might choke on their vomit... there were no huge deaths due to the position... it was more likely other factors like getting tangled and trapped between mattress and cot/bumpers etc.

All my 3 completely tummy slept. And yes, my paed says it runs in families. I wouldn't get sleeping bags... it might get twisted around them. Mainly make sure the mattress is firm. I think the sleeping position is of less importance than other risks like smokey environments for example. If I was you i wouldn't worry now that he is 4 months. Is he able to hold up his head when he has tummy time?

[Miss E]

My DS was exactly the same, as soon as he worked out how to roll he was rolling onto his tummy in bed... Only problem for us was that we were still wrapping him, so had to wean him of that pretty quickly.

At the end of the day they are going to sleep how they want to sleep. My DS also moves around a lot in his cot and yes sometimes does get an arm or a leg stuck. I swear by the sleeping bags, if he had sheets or blankets he would definately end up underneath them. We haven't had any problems with the sleeping bag getting twisted when he rolls, it seems to move pretty well with him actually.

[ladybird11]

Good question Rach!!

DS (5 mths) can roll onto his tummy, but not roll back as yet. Some nights I've gone in to find him on his belly and it scares me big time. I always stress about it.

I think the grobag is a good idea - was considering getting ours out, but it's 2.5 tog - so too warm for this summer-ish weather I guess .

Oh, totally sympathise with the leg getting caught in the cot bars - many a time have I had to 'lube' DD's leg to get hers out .

I think ss_storms idea about the breathable Airwrap though - that should stop him from getting into strife .

[Lisa]

Anelise has started rolling too and it is driving me batty! She rolls everywhere. I have her right next to my side of the bed and I just wake and check on her a million times per night. I am thinking about getting one of those roll things that go either side of the baby's body to stop them from rolling... otherwise I have no idea. Just know you're not alone in the rolling baby department.

[Mummato2]

My little man was a tummy sleeper - much to my stress.

We put a baby monitor in his room to hear for noise and a breathing monitor under his mattress to let us know if he wasn't breathing.

That was the best we could do without forcing him into a position that he clearly wasn't comfortable with.

The other point is if he is at an age where he can confidently roll onto his tummy, he should be able to get himself out of strife so long as his cot is virtually bare.

We didn't keep bumpers, toys, blankets etc in the cot - we used heaters and fans to either warm or cool the room to a comfy temp.

[YoYo]

My DS was a tummy sleeper.....I would settle him in that position. He was also a slacker though and never moved apart from turning his head from one side to the other!

I had him in a grobag (I think it was 0.5tog for Summer) which stopped me worrying about him kicking off covers. It would also stop the legs through the bars bit. I also bought an Angelcare Monitor....where you put the sensor under the mattress and it constantly picks up movement (breathing) which put my mind at ease at night time.

I was a tummy sleeper too and still am, it's such a comfy posi!!! (regardless of being 17 weeks pregnant!)

[tippytoes]

Oh girls you are the greatest thank you so much. You have really helped me....

Is he able to hold up his head when he has tummy time?

Yes bath he is a very strong lil thing! Infact today he has begun to tummy crawl (I admit slowly, but crawling/wriggling along the ground nonetheless!) Cheeky thing!

I was a tummy sleeper too and still am, it's such a comfy posi!!!

I agree minimax I still sleep like this too

I keep the cot very bare and haven't tried a gro suite cause I figured it would twist and annoy him. Maybe worth a shot!

Also,

As for getting his leg stuck through the bars, we have an Airwrap cot bumper (it's like a normal cot bumper but is made of mesh so it's breathable) so she cant get her arms or legs stuck in the sides of the cot.

Thanks storm I will be getting one of these very soon!

Nelle,

Can he lift himself up on his hands, or push himself about? YES he can
Is he a really deep sleeper? I would say a mid sleeper. He doesn't wake at the slightest noise but does sleep soundly.

. Thanks for the note on the ventalation too. DS is a lil sweater like his DH During a feed I always have a little smile cause he works up a bit of a sweat and his hair sticks together a little!

I'll keep an eye on him. He seems happy and can always lift his head/neck up in need. He isn't the least bit fussed infact I think he is sleeping better because he is more comfy! It is just us mums who are sleeping worse!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks again
Rach xx