Have to Turn My Baby over Numerous Times Before He'll Go to Sleep

My son was the exact same way, and just around this time he started doing the same. I tried reversing it by putting him down on his back to try and teach him to sleep the regular way, but he would wake up in 20 min every time. The thing is now that he has discovered rolling, they are more natually doing it in their sleep, however they don't know how to go back. I like the idea another lady had of doing "back time" instead of tummy time to help him learn how to roll over the opposite way, I also did this and I think it helped. Unfortunately I had to let my son cry it out a little because nothing I did magically worked, I also tried putting a blanket to position him too, but he would still roll over, I was out of ideas. Luckily it didn't last long, I think after less than a week he stopped fussing and started putting himself back to sleep and then it wasn't an issue anymore. He still to this day prefers his stomach, he's almost 2 now. It's a phase and it will pass, just try and be patient and get him comfortable with his back.

let him sleep on his tummy.
He's 6 months... its probably okay.
BOTH my kids did that too. MANY babies do that.
Just don't put anything loose in his crib.

And yes, once their motor skills develop, at this age, they commonly do this. Its normal and purely developmental based. Even in sleep a baby WILL do this... it is how they intuitively 'practice' their new skills.
Next, once a baby starts sitting-up/pulling-up/standing...they will do this in the crib too. It will tweak their sleep. Its just their motor skill "impulses" and you can't "make" them not do it, as this is how their fledgling skills emerge.

Once your baby develops the ability to roll-over... and then flip himself over, at-will...then it will get better and you won't have to do it. But for now... well a baby needs help if they get "stuck" in a position they don't like or can't get out of. Its normal. They don't know how to do it yet. Developmentally.

Your son is normal.

All the best,
Susan

Dear M.,
I think your baby just doesn't like the idea of laying down to rest during the day in the first place. He flips on his back and cries and you go in and turn him so he rolls on his back and you go back in and flip him......
You can't FORCE him to sleep, but he should be in the habit of having rest time and if he rolls onto his back, he will figure out how to roll himself onto his tummy. It's hard to listen to your baby cry, but if he hated being on his back so much, he wouldn't keep rolling that way. It's not harming him to be on his back, it's just a way for you to keep going in.
My kids weren't great nappers as far as sleeping and sometimes they cried because they didn't want to lay down, but if you start it at this age...they get into that routine. They can fuss, roll around, jabber to themselves, whatever they want to do, but it's in their crib in a quiet room and they do get used to it.
Play with him on the floor during the day so he can get rolling both directions figured out. Make a game of it. When you are confident he can do it for himself when he wants to, you'll be less likely to feel like you have to flip him like a pancake every time he fusses when you lay him down for rest time.

Best wishes!

First of all, let me say that they way they learn to turn themselves from back to tummy is by getting frustrated and crying and the little legs get into it and then the next thing you know, they've turned themselves over. It will surprise him/her the first time it happens - it's quite funny if you happen to catch it. So, maybe a little floor time while he's up so he can hopefully master the reverse flip and then perhaps something in his crib behind his back to keep him from getting onto his back while he sleeps until he has matered the reverse flip.

I used to put rolled up blankets next to my daughter to keep her from rolling over. You might want to try that. Or you might try to find some sort of body pillow that you can put on either side of him. Good luck.

He is way past having to sleep on his back. If he can lift his head and turn it in another direction he will be fine. being able to actually roll over also is a sign he will be fine..

He needs to learn to comfort himself. Given time he will learn to roll from his back to tummy. Usually they discover this "accidentally". Eventually he will learn to be able to roll to whichever position he wishes. You don't want him to always rely on you to self-sooth. These are skills he needs to learn for himself.
And no he's not too young to learn. They grow and develop so fast.

Fortunately, this is just a phase and he will learn to flip back to his tummy in a few weeks. One thing to try until then which will give you a break is to let him nap in his swing (buckled in). You could also try letting him sleep in his car seat if he seems to fall asleep in the car while sitting in it. He may sleep that way on his back because the swing is soothing and both spots are familiar. Good luck!

I never had this problem but I may have a solution. Why don't you do "back time" once or twice throughout the day. Teach him how to roll from back to tummy so he can do that when he's in the crib. I've heard this before but it is normally from back to tummy is an issue.
That's my only thought on it. Best of luck,
C.

Leave him be. My son did the opposite. I would put him on his back and he would roll to his tummy. This seemed to really upset him, plus I worried because he was only 3 months and couldn't roll back. But, I let him be. It lasted about 3 nights, and then he was fine with it. You will always have this upset when they learn a new "trick". He will get used to it, or learn to roll back. I like the idea of back time when he is awake. Good luck.

I don't know if you could use a sleep positioner that would prevent him from rolling over in the first place? If not, maybe some rolled up blankets tucked into his sides would stop him from rolling or keep him from rolling flat on his back so he might be able to put himself back on his tummy. I bet you can't wait till he can roll himself back! Luckily, it shouldn't be too long from now.... :)

In my experience with my 3 boys you have to just leave them and let them figure it out. If you keep going in he'll rely on you going in. It will take a couple days of lousy naps and an over-tired baby--I get that and it's not ideal. But when he starts pulling himself up to standing in his crib it will be the same issue. If you go in to lay him down you'll have to over and over and over and it will get worse not better. Give it a shot of him rolling over and being unhappy with it and he'll figure out to either not roll over or will learn to sleep comfortably that way.
Hope that helps!

Roll up a small blanket into a tight roll and push it in on the side he rolls to. If he rolls on both sides, then tuck in two of them. only tuck them in from the shoulder down so they dont touch his face. I used to have this cushy portable changing pad that had sides that were tapered steeply. I put my son in that to sleep and he couldn't roll. He slept in that untill he didn't fit anymore. You can put it in his crib or on a bed or the floor or whatever suits your needs.