So I have an almost 5 month old. Who a couple weeks ago learned how to roll over but wouldn't do it all the time. He still really doesn't do it all the time. However he has recently decided to roll over in his crib at night and before he goes to bed. Now the problem is he HATES when he is on his tummy. So at night when he rolls over he screams and then we have to go in and roll him back over so he can go back to sleep. He does know how to roll back over he doesn't do it as much as rolling from back to tummy but he can do it he just refuses. And when he is on his tummy he bangs his face on the bed and barries his face. Its just getting to be a lot getting up 40 million times to just turn him over. I thought about putting him in a wedge to sleep at night be he has never slept in one and I think that would make him more mad. And we tried swaddle him but he just rolls over fast that way and it scares me to swaddle him since he started rolling over. I just don't know what to do or if there is anything i can do other then let him do it and hope that he learns to sleep on his tummy.
Thank you everyone for all the advice! I know that our ped. said it was okay to put him on his tummy to sleep but it really does scare the CRAP out of me. I guess I just needed to hear it from other moms too! Thanks a lot!!!!!
My 5 month old son, did the same thing at first. And I kept going back in there to put him on his side and give him his soothie back. But in a couple weeks, he learned to enjoy sleeping on his tummy, and that's how he sleeps now. I think that at first, they scare themselves with their new found skill, and then sometimes just want to practice it. Hopefully, this stage won't last long for you. Hang in there!
I would leave him on his tummy and he will get used to it or learn to roll back over. Babies around that age often move from sleeping on their backs to their tummies as they are now quite mobile. My little sweetie sleeps on her tum with her butt in the air. It looks hilarious but she has learnt (and pretty quickly too) to roll over all ways, so putting her down on her back is a waste of time as she is on her tummy in seconds. Yes he will cry a good deal the first time but he will get used to it. You can't keep going in 400 million times - that isn't realistic. After the initial hard day or two, this issue will be solved. I would leave his door ajar so that I could check in to see he is okay.
All babies go through this phase. Eventually he'll become more proficient at rolling from tummy to back. You can try a wedge, but they never worked for us. Try to let him figure it out on his own before you run in there. Also, make sure he gets plenty of tummy time during the day.
I think you should try a wedge. Some of them are very stiff and don't seem ideal for sleeping, but they do sell some that are pretty small and cushy and do the job. Not only that, but you can adjust the cushions to give your baby a little more room so they aren't touching him, but also so he can't roll over. I bought mine for $10 at Target.
Hello!
This happened to us too! I wondered if it would ever end. But it only lasted about a week before she decided that being on her tummy was very nice after all, and now that is how she sleeps all the time. Our pediatrician said once they can roll over on their own its fine to leave them on their tummies. So I know it is frustrating and hard to watch them aggravate themselves over and over again but it does pass! We considered the wedge idea but by the time we got around to looking for them online she had already calmed down and started falling asleep on her tummy. Good luck!
It's a phase... albeit an annoying one. :-) I remember when my kids went through this and I know it's coming soon with with my 4 month old. What we did was give plenty of practice time during the day. Put them on the floor alot and play with him so he's encouraged to roll over. You can also gently roll him and manuvuer his arms so he can learn how to do it himself. The more chances he has to practice the sooner he'll be a pro and won't need your help at night.
My daughter went through the same thing for a while - I can't remember how long the phase lasted, but for a while after she started to roll on her tummy she would cry when it happened in the night. Eventually she just got over it - it just took time. Sorry not to offer advice, but I think that time is the best cure in this situation.
My son did the same thing....it's just a phase. eventually he will be able to roll back over and won't be yelling for you to do it. They do the same thing when they learn how to stand up--they stand and can't figure out how to get back down!
How much time do you give him to try and roll onto his back? Do you race in there at the first cry or do you let him have a few minutes to figure it out? If he is not in danger of hurting himself, maybe you could try to let him figure out how to roll onto his back again, especially since you know he is physically capable of doing it while awake.
A wedge might work, but if he is mobile while he is sleeping he will likely just wiggle his way down the wedge and you'd still have the same problem.
