Baby Sleeping on Belly

by MW
(Ontario Canada)

My 4 month old daughter rolls onto her belly during sleep. She seems content sleeping like that, but I have been told that due to SIDS babies should sleep on their backs or sides for the first year.

When I put her down to sleep I always place her on her back or side, but during the night she rolls on her belly on her own. When I move her to her side or back she wakes up and it takes a long time for her to fall back asleep.

Baby Help Line:

Baby Sleeps On Belly - What To Do?

In the best of worlds, your baby should sleep on her back during the first year, due to the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, once your baby starts rolling over and hence chooses for herself how to sleep, there isn't much you can do!

Of course, you could set the alarm clock and turn her over, but chances are she will roll back to belly sleeping within a split second. Or, as in your baby's case, wake up and have troubles going back to sleep again. That won't work for any of you!

Instead, make sure you make all precautions possible. Take away any pillows and blankets and make sure you use a firm mattress in her crib. For more SIDS prevention tips click here.

Also, mention your situation for your daughter's health care provider, to discuss any particular precautions suitable for your baby.

As you are worried, it might be nice for you to know that 80% of all cases of SIDS occur for babies younger than 6 months old. The risk is highest when the baby is between 3 and 4 months old and then it rapidly falls.

I wish you good luck!

Paula

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Baby Sleeping on Belly

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Dec 28, 2007

belly sleeping prevents spit ups
by: Anonymous

Hi. My baby is 7 wks old and she sleeps much longer (3 hrs straight) on her belly and she does not spit up at all. Is this bad practice? Since we put her on her belly, there has not been any spit ups through her nose at all. Ocassionally, she spits up through her mouth, but not nose. Is this bad for her?

Dec 29, 2007

Preventing spit ups
by: Paula

Hi Anonymous Mom!

I know very well how scary it seems when your baby spits up through the mouth and nose while sleeping. However, according to all doctors I've talked to, as well as watching my own babies, as long as they are free to move their heads (no fluffy pillows), the spitting is not dangerous at all.

Many babies sleep better on their belly, but research is quite clear on the increased risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome by doing that.

So, if I were you, I'd try to endure having your baby sleeping on her back until she is at least 4 months old (preferably during her whole first year or until she starts rolling over by herself).

Of course, if your baby spits so much that she doesn't gain weight or seems to be ill, contact a doctor.

For some tips on how to help you mom sleep better despite your baby waking up, click here.

/Paula

Feb 14, 2008

belly sleeping
by: Kristen C.

My son is 7 months old and I have always pu thim to sleep on his back. In doing so he has always been a very loud sleeper (snoring, frequent wake ups, strange breathing sounds) so at nap time I tried letting him sleep on his belly and he was as quiet as a mouse and seemed to have a much more peacefull sleep. Although this makes me nervous I think he's ready for stomach sleeping. Any advice??

Oct 16, 2009

Tummy Sleepers
by: Anonymous

Most health-care providers will tell you that by the time a baby can roll over by themselves, it is alright for them to sleep on their tummies. The reason for this is that if the baby's airway becomes obstructed due to being on their stomach, they're able to turn themselves over, or, because of better head/neck control, they can simply turn their heads to breathe better.

My two month old will only sleep on his own if he's on his tummy, but he can't turn over yet, so sometimes I've found him head-down, unable to breathe well, which FREAKED me out! He has pretty much complete control over his neck, but can't turn over yet, so I pretty much just have to contend with him sleeping on me at night...for now.

Feb 26, 2010

8 month old sleeping on tummy
by: Melissa

I breastfeed my daughter and up until a week ago she slept in the bed with us and always slept on her side or back. I started sleep training a week ago and since I completely weaned the night feedings she sleeps through the night only when she rolls over to her belly on her own. However, her "pacifier" and soother is a blankey in which she puts near her face and cuddles it. I am very worried about this because of SIDS. I know that her age decreases the risk but she refuses to roll over during the day when she ends up on her tummy and throws a fit. I just don't understand why now she is doing it and would always sleep on her back/side before. If I go in to check on her and move her it takes forever to get her back to sleep, and then wakes more frequently during the night or ends up rolling back over. My friend's 10 month old sleeps on her tummy as well but with her butt in the air, and she can crawl and has the upper body strength to move around freely. I would put her in a sleep positioner but I think she would just scoot out of it. Do you think I should just let her be since she is FINALLY sleeping through the night and is happy? This is my first child so I'm sure you understand how worried I am.

Mar 01, 2010

Take all other safety precautions
by: Paula (Baby Help Line)

Hi,

I understand that you are worried, but since your baby is so "old" and hence strong enough to lift her head and obviously to roll over, the risk of SIDS isn't very large anymore. And in any case, there is no way that you can stop her from sleeping on her belly if that is what she prefers.

Instead take all possible step to make her sleep environment as safe as possible. In this article you can read more about how to create the safest possible sleep environment for your baby.

Warm wishes,

Paula

Sep 11, 2010

Baby only sleeps on tummy
by: Anonymous

Hi
My son is two months old so I know he is in the high risk category however the only way I can get him to sleep at all is on his tummy.

We have tried the sleep positioner but it is not strong enough to hold him on his side and as soon as he goes on his back he becomes heavily congested and cannot breathe.

The only way he can sleep, aside from one of us staying awake holding him upright is on his tummy.
I am absolutely terrified of SIDS and have put him on a hard mattress in an empty cot, he sleeps in a gro-bag. Is there anything else I can do to keep him safe?

The congestion on his back is very severe and the doctors keep saying that he will grow out of it but it seems to be the milk running back up his nose and there is nothing I can do to stop that.

Thanks for you help

Sep 12, 2010

Crib position
by: Paula (Baby help Line)

Hi mom,

I understand that you're worried, since your 2 month old can't sleep on his back. Have you tried raising the head end of his bed? You could for example put some heavy books under the legs of his bed. That way he will sleep in a more upright position despite being in his crib and not in your arms.

Give it a try and see if it makes any different.

At daytime you can also try keeping him in a baby sling, like this one, so that you can carry on with your chords while he is asleep.

Warm wishes,

Paula

Sep 12, 2010

crib position
by: Anonymous

Hi Paula
We had him at an angle on his back as well but the milk still runs up his nose and makes no difference to the congestion.
The doctors say he will grow out the milk running upwards, we keep him upright for half an hour after a feed but it still happens.
Is this a maturity thing?
Thanks

Sep 12, 2010

Yes...
by: Paula

Hi again,

Yes, I think that is correct. My sister's son, who was born early had this problem for quite a while. They couldn't even lift up his legs to change diapers without him choking on milk. Their doctor told them exactly the same thing; that it was a maturity thing.

I don't remember when he grew out of it, but obviously that differs between children. If your baby continues to have this problems, head back to the doctor to discuss it. Babies that are diagnosed with Acid Reflux, can have additional help and medication. (It does take more than them throwing up milk to get that diagnosis, but it can still be worth discussing with the doctor if the problems don't disappear.)

Too bad that the angle on his bed didn't help. Come to think of it, my sister's son actually also could only sleep on his belly too. It is scary and it is far from optimal, but it is a fact for some babies. In addition to what you already do, check out the guidelines here, to see if there is anything else you can do to create a safe sleep environment for your boy.

Best,

Paula

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