Sleeping on tummy

[Lilyloo]

I know they recommend you sleep your baby on his/her back, but what happens when your baby prefers to sleep on their tummy. I always put DD to sleep on her back, but now that she can roll over, she ends up rolling onto her tummy during her sleep. Should I turn her over or leave her. She's 6 months old, and I suppose the risk of SIDS has decreased by now, but i'm still worried about her sleeping in this position...

[the_queen]

The risks associated with tummy sleeping are because tiny newbie bubby's who cannot lift their head, will suffocate when their face is in the mattress/pillow. If a young bubby is put on her tummy, she might not be able to roll out of a position that makes it hard to breathe. BUT if your little darling can roll from back to front, then she should be fine :yes: how could you keep her on her back anyway LOL Just reduce every other risk factor - ie no smoking around bubby at all ever; no bumpers, pillows, stuffed animals or quilts in her cot; dress her appropriately for the weather so she does not overheat in the night; and apparently having a dummy can reduce the risks of SIDS (new research, so I'm not sure how compelling it is) so if you do everything you can to reduce the risks, then that's all you can do :) If she can roll, she will be fine :yes:

[Sheer Bliss]

Well, in theory, to follow the SIDS guidelines she should be on her back, you can get a few different types of things for the bed to help keep her on her back. That being said - DS is the same (7.5months), and I leave him be. Most the time i put him on his back & he rolls straight over onto his side/tummy. DD was the same at this age, and i panicked, kept rolling her back over - all that ended up happening was a cranky baby ho couldn't understand why mummy kept waking her up.

We still follow the guidelines as much as we can though - there are no bumpers, toys or quilts in the cot with him. In this nice weather he has a muslin wrap over him (not wrapped anymore, as IMO it's easier for him to roll off his tummy should he choose to if he is unwrapped.) And a cotton waffle blanket later in the night as it gets cooler.

The SIDS risk is still there into their second year, but from what i understand (not neccesarily correct) it is less likely in stronger, older babies. (although sleep apnea can still be a factor in a strong otherwise healthy baby)

OK - now I am going on too much, I guess I am trying to say not to worry overly, but not to think that SIDS risk is not an issue anymore, IMO it's something that shouldn't be taken lightly.

[mollymoosmum]

Hi Katie, I'm probably not the best person to give advice considering dd has been a tummy sleeper pretty much since birth!!

But I wouldn't worry too much, I mean you can keep turning her back over but if she prefers her tummy she will just keep rolling back!

I guess your options are, you let her go, or you roll her back as much as you can or you can get a sleep positioner (I think there's one called safe T sleep??) so she has to stay on her back.

Not really sure if there is anything alse you can do.... But although there still is a risk of SIDS, it is a significantly low one. But I guess it's just what you feel comfortable doing.

Cumorah. x

[UmmInayah]

DD is the same. She prefers her tummy now. She will not sleep if she is on her back - unless she is co-sleeping in which case she is on her back with her arms outstretched taking up as much space as a tiny human possibly can!!

[the_queen]

Oh yes, I have a diagonal co-sleeping baby :rolleyes: :laughing:

[Lilyloo]

LOL.. Yes DD takes up much of our king sized bed too. Stretched out on her tummy. Poor DH ends up on the lounge most nights...

[c38]

http://www.sidsandkids.org/documents/FAQOctober2006_001.pdf