Tummy sleeping - when does it become safe?

[Sakura]

My 4-months old DS started rolling over from back to tummy and now insists to sleep on his tummy all the time. He can hold his head up high, but hasn't mastered rolling back from tummy yet. Worrying about SIDS, I try to hold him in up or side position when going to bed, but then he flips over while sleeping and if I flip him back, oh he gets so mad!! :mad: He won't stop crying until I let him sleep on tummy again. I want him to sleep peacefully since he is not a good sleeper, but I don't want to take a risk either.
When do you think it's safe for a baby to tummy sleep??

[eco-baby]

When they can get there all by themselves :goodvibes:

[Frogjump]

my four month old started doing this too, Unless he is sleeping with us he wants to be on his tummy. I just keep his crib clear of everything and pray.

[I Smile Because Of Them]

When he can roll over on his own, he's much safer.

[HadassahSukkot]

When they can get there all by themselves :goodvibes:

Pretty much! :thumbsup:

[ouchienurse]

Our DD had been sleeping on her tummy since about 2 months. She absolutely wouln't sleep otherwise, we even tried a couple of different positioners. I figured she could hold her head up so she could turn it side to side but I still worried, now she can roll wherever she wants I no longer worry about it.

[kkrpata]

My son is also a tummy sleeper. When my ped asked at his 4 month appt and I told her this, she told me it was a big no-no and that SIDS peaks at 4 months. That was even though he could roll there by himself. Of course that completely freaked me out, however he still slept on his tummy, and I just got a lot less sleep checking on him! I had always heard when they roll there by themselves it is okay, but really I don't think any baby is 100% in the clear until they're much older. Scary stuff!

[hillybean]

Being a new mommy, I'm pretty much paranoid of everything. I had overwhelming fears when I brought DD home that she would just stop breathing, or die of SIDS. DH went out and bought me an angel care monitor that comes with a heartbeat sensor. You put this under their mattress and if heaven forbid they stop breathing or whatever, an alarm will sound. This has truly been my lifesaver and has allowed me to get some sleep!

DD started rolling over to her tummy to sleep at 5 months. I still lay her down on her back, but everytime I go to check her, she's on her tummy! I think that is is very common for all babies to do at some point. Just make sure that you don't have anything else in the crib with your lo and he should be just fine.

[bdhutier]

Our DD had been sleeping on her tummy since about 2 months. She absolutely wouln't sleep otherwise, we even tried a couple of different positioners. I figured she could hold her head up so she could turn it side to side but I still worried, now she can roll wherever she wants I no longer worry about it.

We have the same problem dd won't sleep any other way.

[Nikkis_Little_Ladies]

by the time all three of mine were two months old they all would sleep on their tummies. No matter how many times I tried to turn them over--they would manage to flip back over. I gave up, cause I was just waking them up everytime. We co-sleep--so I'm usually right there anyways. :thumbsup:

[AZDesertRN]

Back sleeping is still supposed to be safer, but most peds agree that once they can roll to their tummy on their own there isn't much you can do.

[Maddie&Jake'sMom]

When they can roll both ways on their own.

Having good head/neck control is NOT enough to allow a baby to sleep on their tummies.

[vintagegyrl]

DS #1 would actually roll up and over the wedge that we had him in his crib at 5 wks. I let DD sleep on her tummy all the time now. I feel like a horrible mom but I am able to get sleep. She sleeps GREAT at night and has put herself on a regular sleeping/night-eating schedule as early as 4 wks old. I remind myself that our parents were actually told to put babies on their bellies - as a safety reason back then. We dont smoke, keep everything out of her crib, and she is able to lift her head up.

I pray that she will stay safe. I know it's a risk but it's also a risk me not getting any sleep and being awake with my 2 boys all day. There is a point....

[shanree]

My youngest DS (now 7 months) has slept on his tummy since day one. He absolutely will not sleep for one mili-second on his back. Even in the hospital right after birth if he was laid on his back he would WAIL until he was put on his tummy.
When I lay him down in the bed when he has fallen asleep in my arms I have to carefully lay him on his side first (he will start to squirm a little then) then roll him onto his tummy and position his arms. If his back touches the mattress at all he will scream bloody murder and get so upset that he will do the little sniffle whimper thing for 5-10 minutes and I will have to re-nurse him back to sleep:)
My other 2 slept on their backs but no matter what the experts said DS#3 would not and still will not have it! He's made it just fine (as most all of us adults here did) sleeping on his tummy for 7 months!)

[lulusmom]

SIDS peaks between 3 and 4 months of age, so your lo is at the very end of the dangerous period. Once he can roll over by himself he can sleep on his tummy.