Question About 4 1/2 Month Old Daughter

Once babies can roll over on their own, it's fine for them to sleep how they want. Don't worry about it. =) There isn't anything to be done to stop it and if she is developmentally ready to roll over, it should be fine. I work in early intervention and all the pediatricians have told us this. Hope that helps!

I freaked out about that too with my first child. The doctor told me if they get there themselves, it's fine for them to stay that way to sleep.

my daughter did the same thing. Dr said as long as she can roll around she is fine. It is scary I would look in on Adeline all the time. But she is 22 months and doing fine good luck

If she is rolling over by herself and sleeping great...leave well enough alone!! After they roll them selves over the odds of SIDS drops dramatically. I would just keep everything else out of the crib and if you are really worried check on her! Be happy you have a good sleeper..enjoy

I think once they are big enough to roll over, they are ok, because they *can* rollover. I used sleep positioners on my kids, because they were rolling over from a few days. They unlearned it after a few weeks using that. At least for a few months anyway.
Good luck,
D.

I'd suggest increased supervised tummy time. Give her the encouragement to learn to roll back over onto her back. It could reduce the risk of her getting stuck on her stomach. I had one back sleeper and one stomach sleeper. The stomach sleeper made me very nervous, but he's doing great.

Do not worry! If she is strong enough to flip herself over, she is strong enough to flip herself back over. It also means that her system is strong enough to handle whatever that brings.

Congratulations to you! And, your question is completely normal. I think that I actually read the answer to this one in the "What to Expect The First Year." That one and the following one in the series, "What To Expect The Toddler Years", have been wonderful resources for our family.

Hi R.,

When my son started doing this I found a sleep positioner at walmart. They look like little triangles that go on each side of them to hold them in place. Check out this link for a few different types you can get
http://www.target.com/Sleep-Positioners-Health-Safety-Bab...

I think the concern is when you put the baby on her belly before she can do it on her own. Once she's strong enough to do that, she's strong enough to turn her head, lift her face, etc. so that she should be safe. One thing to be excited about is that most babies start sleeping BEAUTIFULLY once they're on their bellies! Best of luck!

Hello!
I wouldn't worry too much. Our little one would not sleep on her back at all, and she's made it to over a year now!!

As long as she can roll over she is fine. Don't worry.

I had the same problem with my son. When I asked the pediatrician about it (I am a totally neurotic first time mom) they said not to worry about it. We tried rolling our son onto his back a few times after he was asleep but he would wake up and start crying. The pediatrician assured us that if he was strong enough to roll onto his stomach it was ok to leave him that way as long as we were putting him down on his back initially. It doesn't hurt to mention it to your pediatrician. They might have a different answer, or maybe just more reassurances.

If she can roll over and position herself so she's comfortable when she's sleeping there isnt much you can do about it. She will be fine. Its small babies that can't move yet that you have to worry about

Hi R.,

My kids always slept on their stomachs even as newborns. I tried having them sleep on their backs, but it just didn't work. With my first, he just did not sleep good at all for weeks. I tried him on his back, laying him on his side with blankets rolled up behind him - nothing worked. Then one day I found him on his stomach and sleeping very well. So I after that I started putting him on his stomach and he slept much better. My daughter would sleep a little on her back, but she slept the best on her stomach too. So I wouldn't worry too much about it - if your daughter is rolling over there's not much you can do anyway. Once they start doing that you never know how you'll find them in the morning! Congratulations on the new babies.

Jen

Hi R. - I'm not sure what your concern is? Why not let your child sleep on her stomach? If she can roll onto it, she can roll off off it too.

So to answer your question - yes. But it's common with first time mothers! Relax and enjoy your children.

R.,

Try not to worry about this. When a baby is old enough and strong enough to roll onto her tummy, it also means it's safe for her to sleep in this position. I would still put her down to sleep on her back , but don't worry or feel the need to reposition her if she rolls onto her tummy while she sleeps.L.

R.,
If your daughter can roll herself over and lift her head I would not be concerned at all. Both my children did the samething and are still belly sleepers to this day. As a first time mom I was so scared when my son would roll and sleep on this stomach that I would stay up and watch him all night or hold him all night. Then I realized in all the time I would watch him he did very well and could lift his head and was not going to suffocate. Just make sure there isnt any extra blankets or padding near her face is what I did and let her sleep away.. If your still concerned try the infant positioner again... Best of Luck!!

once theyre strong enough to roll from back to front and vice versa you sont have to worry quite so much, just keep the stoffed animals and blankets etc out of the crib and shell be fine. i know im most comfy on my tummy! lol

Hi R., my pedi says that when they are strong enough to roll themselves over then Sids is no longer a problem. I would continue putting her down on her back, but if she is more comfortable on her stomache and is stong enought to roll she should be just fine. My son was the same way, and he now sleeps face down bum up in the air haha. Congrats on your twins!

Hi R.,
I had the same thing happen to my daughter. She is now 5 months. My pediatrician said not to worry because she is strong enough to turn her head or turn over if she had trouble breathing. But he did recommend removing the bumpers on the crib and to NOT have blankets or toys in the crib.
I removed the bumpers and put up those "breathable bumpers". She is doing great and actually sleeps better on her belly.
Hope that helps.

Hi I am a daycare provider and just took a mandatory class on sids. Relax, if your child is old enough to roll over then she is old enough to move her neck on her own and/or roll back. Make sure there are no loose blankets or bumper pads etc that she could get tangled in. Enjoy your little one as they are a blessing.

My understanding is that if she is strong enough to roll herself over onto her stomach then it is safe for her to sleep that way when she does it. I think you are right to put her back onto her back, but I wouldn't lose sleep over whether or not she stays that way...Good luck!

Definitely don't worry about it - my youngest rolled over at a young age too, and when she started doing it at night I freaked out! I'd roll her to her back, only to find her on her tunny again... you get the idea. The dr. told me if she is able to roll herself to her stomach, she is strong enough to handle sleeping that way, breathing well that way, and of course rolling back over as she pleases. Just put her down on her back for your own peace of mind, but don't be surprised if she flips right to her tummy! My youngest seemed comfortable there and slept exclusively on her stomach until about 10 months (she's about to turn one!!). Hope this helps!

My second and third sons were both belly sleepers from a very early age. They were both very uncomfortable on their backs. My ped said that I just need to keep an eye on them, I never lied to him about it. They say that as soon as a baby can roll over they should be fine. I would make sure there aren't any extra loose things in her crib...she should be fine! But if you are worried check with your ped.

Good luck and congratulations!!!

I am a licensed daycare provider and recently tooks a Sleep Safe SIDS class. They said that once the child can roll over on his/her own, there is no need to roll them back over, if they are strong enough to roll over then they are strong enough to lift their head up. I would just defiantly make sure that there are NO bumper pads/blankets/pillows or stuffed animals in the crib.

Congrats on your new babies. I was adopted also and it is the most precious gift to give to your babies, a happy, healthy life.

I started my children before they were a mth old on their stomaches. Yes i know thats the big NO, NO but their heads were strong enough and they slept better. This is a new thing with putting kids on their stomaches if you talk to the older generation thats what they always did. It sounds like your child is very strong, i wouldn't worry to much about it.

Have you tried a sleep positioner? It will keep her from rolling over, well it should.

You could use a wedge or roll up to recieving blankets rolled up on each side of her.
Good luck

Hi R. - I can sympathize. My daughter was rolling over at a very young age. What I learned was there is nothing you can do about it! Once they learn to roll over they just keep doing it. The safest thing you can do is to take out the bumpers if you are using them. Cheers - S.

Just a quick FYI, I too am a first time mom. Isn't is GREAT! My daughter has been a belly sleeper since she has been 2 months old. Per my Pedi, it is okay as long as there is neck control and awareness of the need to breath. Which @ 4 months it really is.
He also told me to take out the bumpers as soon as she starts turning or move them above head level so her hands don't get caught in the strings.
The only issue I have with that is how my daughter knows when to stop creeeping in the crib so her neck doesn't break.
The reality of SIDS peaks @ 2 months and declines per my trustworth MD.

So, let me assure you that you can allow yourself a good nights resst if you let your daugther sleep how she is comfortable.

No, I am not a know it all but I did share your underlying concerns and once I breathed I found sleep then become both of our friends.

Good Luck

Hi R.,

When my daughter started rolling in her sleep I put the wedge back in the crib with her, you can get them at Babies R Us. But as they get more mobile they can turn their heads so they can breath. Good Luck