Scared To Let Him Tummy Sleep

[Hammy]

Connor is now 4 months old and is rolling from back to front all the time. He does it at night in his crib and it freaks me out. I am so afraid that he is not going to know enough to lift his head if he can't breathe. It that crazy for me to think? He has ALWAYS had great head control so why am I so scared? I sit up all night watching him and turning him over when he rolls to his tummy. Can I let him sleep on his tummy? Will he know enough to lift his head if he can't breathe?

[Kris]

Adam has slept on his tummy since he was 10 days old. That said you have to do what you feel comfortable with. If he has good head control and can pick his head up he will pick it up if necessary provided there is nothing in his way, it is instinctual. SoI think he will be ok on belly but you do what you think is best.

[SarahK]

I think if he's rolling himself onto his tummy, then he probably is fine. However, if you want him to stay on his back, have you thought about getting a sleep positioner? It'll keep him contained for a little while--until, like Katie, he figures out how to roll over it! You can buy them at places like Target...basically they're little bumpers that keep the baby in one position.

[SarahK]

This isn't the one we have, but it will give you an idea of what I'm talking about...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...995234-9872969

[Mandy]

My son has always slept on his belly, it's the only way he will stay asleep. His doctor said that the greatest risk is in the beginning. Once they are rolling over and lifting their heads up, the risk goes down. To minimize the risks, don't put any blankets in there with your baby. I'm comfortable with our decision to let him sleep that way.

[Karly]

Both of my kids were/are tummy sleepers. Ty would wake up as soon as I laid him on his back, but would remain sleeping if I put him on his tummy. Just make sure the blankets aren't up by his face, and that he can pick his head up, and he'll be okay.

[Theresa]

I've always heard that as long as they roll on to their tummy, it's fine. My Ian sleeps on his tummy a lot.

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by Theresapus

I've always heard that as long as they roll on to their tummy, it's fine.

That's what I've heard - if they're strong enough to roll over then they're strong enough that you don't need to worry about it.

Dennis

[Hammy]

Well last night I decided that I was just going to let him roll on his tummy if he wanted. I of course slept in the room because I could not just let him be. When he rolled onto his tummy he would put his face down into the matress and keep it there. Only a couple of times he turned his head. So I would panic after a few seconds of him doing that and then turn him over.

[Isaiah's Momma]

Isaiah was a tummy sleeper as soon as he learned to roll to his tummy too, and by then I never worried about it. Just like everyone else said I made sure the covers were away from his face. I tucked his covers in between his matress to keep them down.

[Melissa]

Katie was another tummy sleeper! We started her when she was about 10 days old also. I think every baby is different, some have great head and neck control from the beginning, others don't develop it until later. Since rolling is a sign that he does have head and neck control, I wouldn't worry about it either. However, instead of a sleep positioner, would you feel more comfortable with a movement detector? It will sound an alarm if it doesn't pick up breathing for 20 seconds or so (I think, I never bought one).

[Shaylee]

I felt that way too, but then when she was rolling all over the crib I had to trust that since she's old enough to move so much, she's old enough to adjust if she felt uncomfortable breathing. Besides, she gave me so much more to worry about like wrapping herself in her blanket. She loves to sleep with things over her head - a cloth diaper, a stuffed animal, her blanket - and so far so good, never a problem.

I'm sure your little one will be just fine, but I know that won't make a difference until you feel fine with it!

[KristenF]

We always put Mason down on his back, and he always rolls over, even with a sleep positioner. I'm not thrilled about it either, even though at this age and at his stage of development the sids risk is pretty low.

We do have the Angelcare Monitor for motion detection: if there's no movement for 20 seconds it sounds a beep, if the beep doesn't startle the baby the beep sounds continuously until you turn it off. Even with two very mobile babies that crept all around the crib, we've have very few false alarms over the past 2 1/2 years. (and I actually appreciate the occasional false alarm-it assures me that it's working!) I LOVE the security of it, and although it was a shower gift, I wouldn't hesitate to drop the $100 on it if we didn't receive it for free. I strongly recommend it for peace of mind if you're really nervous about tummy sleeping-you need some sleep, too!

[Sandy]

Another one who read and was told that once they can move around the crib on their own that they are ok to do that. Rayna was a back sleeper until she could move on her own, then we just let her do whatever. We keep Rayna's crib toy free (other than some plastic chewing toys) and she still sleeps in a sleep sack. No blankets in the crib with her.

That angle monitor sounds like a good idea though, if you are worried about your little one.

Sandy

[Wendy]

Abby slept on her tummy starting two days after she came home from the hospital.....it was the only way she would really sleep.

[Brandi]

Great thread! Our 4 week old is on her tummy right now. It's the first time she's slept this long on her own (without me holding her.) I'm so scared to do this. I don't think I'll do it at night though. She's been sleeping in bed with me or in her car seat at night. I know several of my friends let their kids sleep on their tummies. Just think - almost all adults slept on their tummies, right?

[Nichole]

I've been putting Gavin on his tummy to sleep for the past couple of weeks, too. (he's 4 weeks old now) He is very gassy and it has made a difference.