XP: Any tips on how to prevent my 4 m/o from...

CalebsGirl4life

... constantly rolling on his belly during his nighttime sleep? He normally falls asleep on his side, but recently rolls to his tummy rather quickly. He will sometimes fall asleep like that just fine and I'll put him back on his side before I go to bed. For the past few nights, he is apparently rolling on his belly and after a couple hours like that he hates it (because that's how he is laying when we look at the monitor when he's crying), but hasn't learned to roll from belly to back (or side). So, my husband or I have been getting up every 2 hours just to roll him over. We have a 2 y/o in the room right next to his, so I don't want to let him cry to long (and even when we do, he doesn't got back to sleep if he is on his belly).

We've put rolled up blankets or "large" stuffed animals around him, but he'll play with them or wiggle around so much that he gets away from them enough to roll. He naps just fine during the day if he's on his belly, but apparently 2 hours is about as long as he is happy sleeping on his belly.

Please help if you have any suggestions!
TIA~ Amy

chicsub

I would just wait it out, he'll get over the novelty of it.  Plus at 4 months, sleep patterns change anyways, so it may not be the tummy sleeping that's the issue.  We had the opposite issue a couple weeks ago b/c DD sleeps on her tummy and will roll to her back and cry (she doesn't know how to roll to her tummy from back).  We typically let her cry a little, but if she is on her back we just go in and flip her.  She stopped it about a week ago and it lasted about 2ish weeks.  We also have the 2 y/o in the room next to hers, so I understand that for sure! 

jsimpson22

My daughter started this around 5 months and once and while still does wake her up. She is now 7 months but for the most part she will roll over and sleep on her belly. I think you have to wait it out. It's a phase.

Lisa Frank

First off, there is no preventing it, so don't try. Sleep positioners and that sort of thing do more harm than good. And please, stop with the blankets/stuffed animals. These are suffocation hazards and should not be in the crib at all.

Both of my kids started rolling in their sleep and I left them to figure it out on their own.  My DD is now a happy tummy sleeper after the brief adjustment period.  My advice? Don't roll him back to his side. Leave him...if he fusses, let him go. If he "rage" cries then pick him up and soothe him, but if it's just fussing, leave him to figure it out on his own Most pedi's will agree that once they start rolling, it's okay to leave them there!

Brooke S

I had this issue when my DS turned 4 months. The rolled up blankets didn't help either.  A friend of mine said that she used bath towels.  She rolled them up and then put them under the crib sheet.  This way you are making an area only big enough for your LO.  I had DS sleep like that until he was able to roll from tummy to his back.  I had a well rested baby and also a well rested mommy after that.