9.5 mth old flipping on her tummy

Posted by smsm (155 days ago)

My LO has started flipping on her tummy in her sleep...her most comfortable pose before sleeping is flipping on her tummy and then dozing off. Once shes off I move her on her side but everytime i get up in the night she is on her tummy. I am losing my sleep over this.

Has anyone else exp this. What can i do to stop her from doing this...

thanks frds

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by the goddess kali (155 days ago)

hi smsm, can you baby flip back from belly to back? If she can then it may be ok to leave her the way she is comfortable. The risk of putting babies on their belly is only when they are under 3-4months when they haven't learnt to flip back.
it's best to let her find her own comfortable position. i used to do the same as you, flip baby over each time,. then i got marc weissbluth's book, and he says once your baby can roll over by her/himself let her be. if possible take out all loose bedding and soft toys so she doesnt bury her nose in something.
but again, my little boy falls asleep by himself. he has a stuffed turtle and always hugs it and often sleeps belly down. He's almost 12 moths old and has been doing the same since he was about 8-9months.

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by cara (155 days ago)

it is perfectly normal to move around in your sleep. as you baby gets bigger and stronger they are able to find a position that is comfortable for them to sleep in. imagine being forced yourself to only sleep in one position all night long? my guess is you wouldn't have a very good sleep. neither will your baby.

as goddess says, so long as the baby can flip back again (at 9 months, this should not be a problem) let the baby sleep however she likes.

i usually go in and my baby has either a foot or a leg hanging out between the slats/bars. that i will push back through the bars, but otherwise i just leave her. her older brother still sleeps like an acrobat, i sometimes can't figure out how he gets himself into the positions that he does, but he's a good sleeper so i let him be.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by joshmomm (155 days ago)

Hi, I agree with tgkali. My baby also occasionally does that and she actually sleeps better and longer when she's on her tummy. I don't bother flipping her back anymore. I just take care that her bed is free from stuff that might cause suffocation (loose blankets, etc.)

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (155 days ago)

When they're strong enough to flip they're comfortably strong enough to lift their heads if needed, so the risk of suffocation is pretty much gone. As has been mentioned, SIDS risk through suffocation is mostly gone after the first 3-4 months.

As has been mentioned, just make sure you don't use blankets and sheets. Just a growbag if cold and pajamas if warm.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by PDNS (155 days ago)

my almost 12 month-old boy is sleeping on his tummy since we took him home from the hospital, of cause with my hubby and my very close supervision and by 3.5 months, when he knew how to turn/flip over, he never wants to sleep face up! actually all my kids and my siblings' were all sleep tummy down although we really aware of the SIDS risk but they were all doing fine.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (154 days ago)

Even when sleeping on the tummy, a baby will most likely survive of course. But just because baby x and y survived doesn't mean that sleeping on the back is any less important. Baby z may not be so luckly.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by funbobby (154 days ago)

if you're really uncomfortable with the flipping, you could try one of these

http://www.amazon.com/First-Years-Air-Flow-Back-Sleeper/dp/B000058CC4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1202296139&sr=1-2

for peace of mind...they're available everywhere

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by flower (146 days ago)

at 9 months it should be fine.. My little princess started already turning at 3,5 months. I tried to move her back at that time but I could not really stay with her all night. She did fine actually. 9 Months is rather late or not? Seems 'normal' for babys to start doing this at 5 months...
So no need to worry I think

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (146 days ago)

"9 Months is rather late or not? Seems 'normal' for babys to start doing this at 5 months..."

As the late Dr. Spock said: "We can talk about average babies as long as we understand that no baby is average." There is no "normal" in this kind of thing.

Our #1 started around 4-5 months. Our #2 did it a few times at 9 months. Now at 10 months she CAN do it but she doesn't want to very much.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by smsm (146 days ago)

Hi..mine started flipping on her tummy quiet early i think ard the beg of 5 mths but this was all during the day..never in the night..she started flipping on tummy to sleep only recently and thats what made me take notice...she can turn back on her back and if she cant due to getting stuck one one side of cot, she cries for help. I was just wondering though whether grobag hinders movement if babies want to turn back and change postions...

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by the goddess kali (145 days ago)

grobags do seem to hinder movement a little. you or most probably your baby will notice it even more when your babys pulls up and stands at night holding the cot rails. it drove my baby nuts i think. i now have a chinese version that has buttons at the bottom that can be closed, i just leave them open so his feet are free...

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by smsm (145 days ago)

that seems great..where did u get this chinese version..

(I am based in Hong Kong)