My son will sometimes fall asleep on his stomache but I always flip him over to his back. I know that babies aren't supposed to sleep on their stomaches but he's not a little baby anymore. Should I let him sleep on his stomache or keeping flipping him over on his back?
Put him to sleep on his back but if he rolls over in his sleep, let him. Continue to keep bulky blankets and stuff animals out of his crib, because you don't want him to get disoriented or trapped should he push himself up against something while asleep on his tummy.
Hi K.,
When my daughter was one month old the only way to get her to peacefully sleep, was on her stomach. I just keep a good eye on her. Unless there a medical issues, I don't see why he can't sleep on his back. I wouldn't stress over it! Hope that's helpful.
It appears from your "about me" statement that your son is almost a year old now. The risk of SIDS is highest for infants before the age of 4-6 months (not to say that there isn't a risk beyond that age...just that it is diminished significantly). Once they are able to roll themselves over, they are perfectly fine to sleep on their stomachs. I would let him sleep how he is most comfortable!
when my first daughter was a baby, her pediatrician told me that when a baby can roll themselves from back to tummy and tummy to back, then it's safe for them to sleep on their tummy. the reason a small baby shouldn't sleep on their tummy is because they don't have the strength to move themselves into a position where they can breathe well if their face was to get pushed up against the mattress. if you have any doubt still, just ask your pediatrician, I'm sure they get that type of question a lot =)
Once your baby can roll over by himself, the risk of SIDS is almost zero. Rest peacefully...it sounds like he is!
I am a former Respiratory Therapist and now a senior midwife student. There is absolutly no need to flip your baby over if he is happy on his stomach. The risk of SIDS in a baby your age is zero. The main theory behind SIDS is that newborn baby can not turn their head from side to side and if a baby is asleep on its stomach a pocket of exhaled air develops which is mostly Co2 and they start to breath that in and the part of the brain that regulates how much oxygen and Co2 we have would normally tell a person to turn over but a newborn can not do that. So the Co2 rises in their blood and eventually they stop breathing all together. I know that probably does not make much sense to you and it is a hard concept to explain. But just know that your baby is fine sleeping on his stomach.
Take Care,
Lisa
As long as he can roll back over on his own he should be fine. By the time my little one was a year old he was all over the bed!
I would let him sleep on his tummy! That is how my son slept and he did fine! IF he is able to turn his head on his own then I would let him sleep how he is comfortable! My son is now 6 and still sleeps on his tummy! To each their own but I figured out that I would rather him sleep through the night sound than to keep waking up being turned over or having to sleep in a position that is not comfortable to him.
Once he can roll from his tummy to his back, Which I'm assuming he can due since he's a year old, it's ok for him to sleep on his tummy
Looks like he is already a year old now? Let him, the chance of sids drops dermaticaly after a year. I was worried about my little boy doing this at 6 months and was flipping him too. As long as he is safe its ok. I dont have any toys, bumpers or blankets in his crib. God bless.
Both of my boys slept better on their stomaches than on any other position(of course i was up all night standing at the door watching them breathe). Just make sure that he gets good airflow(make sure his room isn't stuffy) and nothing fluffy in his bed and he'll be fine. 1 year is okay to let him sleep the way he wants.
My second child was a stomach sleeper. He would seem to get much more restful sleep if he was on his tummy. My doctor told me that as long as the baby has the strength to turn himself over, let him be. I wish you many blessings this holiday season.
Everyone has their favorite way of sleeping, side, back, stomache or curled up. He will pick his way. It will not do any good to try and change it. If he sleeps well and is healthy why try to change it.
