Baby Turning over and Sleeping on His stomach...Safe?

Hey there it's easy to be nervous with a new one but word on the street seems to be if hey can flip themselves it's safe! So don't stress and wow a monitor that tells you if they're breathing double cool

I felt the same way you do with my second daughter. From the womb she would sleep *only* on her stomach.

I agree with Mary M. Keep the thick blankets away from his face and he will be fine.

Hi there,
The hospital told me that if he could lift or turn his head that he was fine. All of my kids slept on their tummies from the time they could move. Also, we've been through a ton of therapies with our last baby and all of the therapists say that since they started the sleep on your back deal that it has really hurt the development of the children.
Also, an odd thing I came across in the hospital was that Breast Fed babies aren't nearly susceptible to SIDS as formula. What does that have to do with sleeping? Very interesting.
Good luck!
C.

Well, all I can say for sure is that there was a time when putting a baby to sleep on his back was considered a dangerous thing to do. The concern was aspiration into the lungs of anything that he might spit up in his sleep. There was also concern that babies who consistently sleep on their backs develop a flat place on the back of their heads because the bones of their skulls are not yet fused. So, babies were placed on their stomachs to sleep.

Now SIDS is the big concern and babies are placed on their backs to sleep. If your little one turns to sleep on his stomach, it is because that is how he is the most comfortable. I don't know if there is anything around designed to make him stay on his back without waking him up when he tries to turn and can't. Pillows wouldn't do it and they are dangerous because they could be a hazard also. It sounds like you have all the safety features that can alert you to problems. You probably, in addition, have a safe crib environment as well. Any new crib now has bars close enough together that he can't get his head between them. The mattress should be firm and no pillows or other things that could smother him.

Bringing him into bed with you to keep him from turning on his stomach will mean that you will not sleep well. I know co-sleeping is practiced by many, but that has many hazards of its own as far as I can see. Not to mention the problem of getting him OUT of the bed at some later date.

All in all, your baby will sleep best the way he is most confortable. I would let him sleep knowing you are doing all the right things to monitor him for his safety.

Tiffany, it used to be that babies were always put to sleep on their stomachs. I always put my son down on his stomach with his head turned to his side (he's 27 now). The risk of SIDS is very remote. Besides, as someone else said, if he can turn over on his own, how are you going to stop him? Turning over by himself is actually considered a big milestone, and he's right on time!

Once they can turn themselves over, it's fine. I would avoid any of those formed sleep positioners, trying to correct things. We used those with our son and found him in the middle of the night all the way down in the thing with his head stuck between the wedges! Yikes. We threw the positioner out right then and there.

I think it's fine. If he's able to roll over and lift his head he should be good to go. If it would make you sleep better they have forms made of foam that you can get to keep him on his side. you should be able to find them at any baby store.

Dear Tiffany,
Since you have video and breathing monitors, I think it will be fine to let your baby sleep on his tummy if he is comfortable that way. Now that he knows how to turn over, you'll drive yourself nuts trying to keep him on his back. Just keep the crib free of anything that could block his nose or mouth and he should be fine. Both of my children were tummy sleepers and they always ended up that way no matter what I did.
Enjoy your baby!

let him sleep on his tummy, he will be safe, They used to tell our mothers to have us sleep on tummys and we are all fine, or keep sleeping with him we love to sleep with our baby

I recently read an article where a mother asked the same question...the answer was, if the child has the strength/muscle to turn himself over, then it's ok. He's doing ok. They say to DEFINATELY put them on their back when you put them to bed, but if they can roll over, they can roll back. Now, that was just an article, but I watched my son (who is now 18 months) do the same thing. It worried me too, but I just let it be. Of course you can make your own decision! Good luck, and happy relaxing!

Once they can roll over they are okay to sleep on their stomach- just make sure the crib is free of toys, blankets, ect. anything that he could get caught over his head. For some babies this is actually a more comfortable position and they sleep longer.

My dr said that once they turn over in their sleep - what are you going to do? Stay awake all night turning him back over? No. He said to continue to put the baby to sleep his back but if they turn over it's fine. He should be turning over about now anyway. Be sure the crib is free of blankets, toys etc. as they can roll over onto things and not be able to get away in time and suffocate. Once my baby started tummy sleeping I used to check him when I went to bed and whenever I got up to use the bathroom at night - tried not to over do it and drive myself crazy. By the way Sleep Sacks are a great way to "wear a blanket" when it's cold. Babies stay warm but still do not have blankets and stuff in the crib which could be dangerous.

I believe SIDS risk drops quite a bit at 4 months. Also, if he is strong enough to roll over on his own, that also means he is probably past the risk stage. That, plus the Angel Care monitor, and I think it is totally safe for you to let him sleep on his tummy. You can't really stop him anyway unless you stay up all night to keep turning him over. If he sleeps better on his tummy, try to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet! Congratulations on your little one.

All of my baby books - trust me I've read 'em ALL say if the baby is strong enough to turn over unassisted he is ready to sleep in whatever position he finds comfortable. if it REALLY freaks you out then swaddle him tight so he can't move and see if that keeps him in place. Always put him down on his back, of course and keep blankets, stuffed animals pillows etc. out of the bed and you may want to remove the bumper if it's soft & get rid of the fluffy mattress pad if you have one (like sheepskin). Unless you're a smoker, you are almost at the end of the SIDS window.
RELAX, enjoy your baby!

When I belonged to a new mom group at kaiser the leader of the group suggested that once a baby is able to turn its self over then it should be safe to just let them sleep. If however you are still concerned with your baby sleeping on its stomach then I would suggest getting a baby sleeping positioner. These can be purchased at walmart, target or babies r us. They are designed to keep babies on their backs. Or a cheeper method is to roll up blankets and snug them around your little one.

I freaked out 15 years ago - when they first started saying NOT to sleep on their tummies - and found my son sleeping on his tummy around 4 months of age. Even accused my husband of putting him down that way to get extra sleep! The doctor reassured me that if he could flip onto his tummy, he could flip onto his back (it's more difficult to go from back to tummy, than from tummy to back). He's most likely going to sleep better and happier now.

this is very safe very natural . it is time for him to statr turning over. .S.

Both my babies rolled over early (before 3 months) and our pediatrician said that if they are strong enough to turn over, they are strong enough to adjust their heads to breathe properly and just let them sleep however they are comfortable.