He flipped over on his tummy in the crib!

This morning my husband came rushing back into our bedroom after checking on the babies this morning and said "Nicholas is sleeping on his stomach, what should we do?" I went over to the nursery and sure enough he was on his stomach with his head turned to the side and sleeping soundly. I did flip him over but then thought " is this really necessary"? About a half hour later he flipped himself again but this time started crying as I think he was having trouble rolling back to his back - which he is still trying to master.

So...what do you do when they start to roll over in their crib? Also... I don't have any crib bumpers in their cribs but they are becoming so much more active at night and I can hear them hitting the side of the crib. Do you have crib bumper pads in your cribs?

Thanks for reading and for your advice!

 

My kids have slept on their tummies since about 2 1/2 months. My daughter had reflux and that was the only way she was comfortable to sleep. My kids started rolling over and sleeping in all sorts of different positions around 4 months (I think that is about right). If he is comfortable on his tummy, I would leave him. We also have bumpers in both of our cribs and haven't had any problems. I know some people would disagree with both of these statements, but it works for my kids.

 

At his age, if he is repeatedly flipping onto his tummy to sleep, you can just let him. Tummy sleeping is mainly a problem in babies who are too young/weak to lift their heads, which isn't the case anymore.

As you noticed, he may flip onto his tummy but then cry. This stage usually only lasts a few days (a week or two at most), so don't worry that you're going to be dealing with it forever.

Other than the SIDS risk, bumpers are potentially a risk again when the babies start pulling up, because supposedly they can stand on them to try to climb out. But we have used them all along (my twins are 25 months) with no problem. I think the bumpers make them feel more snug, in addition to keeping them from getting their limbs stuck and banging their heads on the wood.

 

I would leave him on his tummy too. If he's strong enough to roll over he's able to turn his head left or right well while sleeping on his stomach.

I took my bumpers out a few days ago. Reason is we don't have rungs all the way around the crib since it's a 3 in 1 and the back of the crib is supposed to be for a future headboard. I can't tie the middle bumper pad so I am nervous when they are this young. I used the same set up with my daughter but always used the bumper pads, but I used to put a glow worm to keep the side I couldn't tie up better. And I also am nervous since I read from a post about 2 months ago where a mom went in to check on her DD since she had an unusual cry. She went in and her head was underneath the bumper pad and if she didn't check on her who knows what could have happened. So now I am apprehensive about them. I may change my mind when they are able to turn over and move around more. I have both in the same crib right now so space is tight.

 

I'd leave him too. My girls' started flipping over and sleeping on their stomachs about his age and they almost always sleep on their stomachs now. It is a little nerve-wracking at first cuz you hear about always "back to sleep", but if they can do it on their own, you should be good.

We have the "breathable bumper". You have to have a crib with slats all the way around, not one with a solid end, but if you do, this bumper protects them from going out of the slats and some protection from hitting against them, without the SIDS risk (or so they say). It's not pretty, but it does the job. My girls' like curling up next to them it seems.



Erica.

 

We always figured if they are big enough to roll over, then they can sleep on their bellies.

My girls have been sleeping that way since 3 months.

We've always had bumpers. My girls love to curl up next to them to sleep!

 

As the others have said, once they can roll onto their bellies, they are strong enough to turn their heads to the side if they need to change position so you can leave them. I totally understand the worry though. I even felt it with my 3rd child.

As for bumpers, I didn't use them for any of the babies because I don't think they are safe. The babies can get their faces right up next to them and impede their breathing.

 

Ditto with the previous posters, my babies started rolling onto their bellies at 2 1/2 months and will only sleep that way, I worried in the beginning, but they do fine with it and are really strong. What we are dealing with now is that they roll over onto their backs in their sleep, wake up, and forget how to get back on their bellies so they cry until we come flip them.

As far as the bumpers, we have left ours in and have not had any problems to date.

 

QUOTE(Minette @ Jan 3 2008, 02:59 PM) [snapback]556113[/snapback]
At his age, if he is repeatedly flipping onto his tummy to sleep, you can just let him. Tummy sleeping is mainly a problem in babies who are too young/weak to lift their heads, which isn't the case anymore.

Our pedi said essentially the same thing to us when my girls started doing this. It is nerve wracking for a few nights...and then SO peaceful because they are sleeping so well.