Sleep positioning and bumpers.

myheromyworld89

For those of you with a mobile view, my babies are 6 months old now.  From the time we started putting them in their cribs when they were 2 months old they have each slept on a sleep wedge (due to reflux) with a makeshift towel positioner to help keep them in place.  This has worked great up until recently.  DD still does fine with it, since she's a pretty lazy baby, but DS is extremely wiggly now.  He kept managing to wiggle his way over the positioner and get his arms or legs stuck between the crib slats or bonk his head. 

Tonight we deiceded to take the positioner and wedge out of his crib since reflux isn't much of an issue anymore and see how he does with out something to roll or scoot down. Well I knew he could roll from his belly to his back but apparently tonight he figured out how to roll from his back to belly and kept rolling over onto his belly which puts him right up next the the edge of the crib and he got his arms and legs stuck.  After a couple times of going up there and repositioning him in the middle of the crib on his back because he was mad, I finally decided to put the positioner back in with out the wedge.  It's kept him from rolling over but without gravity working against him like there was with the wedge he scoots himself up and hits his head against the slats above him.  

My question is how do you manage to keep you LO's from getting their limbs stuck or hitting their heads on the crib slats?  He keeps rolling to his belly but I've yet to leave him on it to sleep.  Should I start him on his belly and see how he sleeps since he can turn his head from side to side now?  And is there a point where I can put the bumpers back in their cribs to help avoid hitting their heads?

Sorry this is long, maybe a little too thorough. TIA

AmyJoy728

I used breathable bumpers. I don't know that they should still need a positioned and he may just be trying to find how he likes to sleep.

Ourfamilyof5

If he's rolling onto his tummy, then you can let him sleep that way. There's really nothing you can do to stop it! You'll probably be a little nervous the first few nights, but since it sounds like he's easily able to roll belly to back and back to belly, he will be ok

In regards to the crib bumpers, I realize I'm totally in the minority here, but I used them. I took them off for a short time when he started rolling over, but like your situation, he kept getting his arms and legs stuck and crying. I put them back on because he turned his head so easily and was rolling over so well. We never had a problem with it, but I know most people here don't recommend them.  

mirnb

we used regular bumpers once they could easily move around...probably around 6 months...and my boys were always tummy sleepers...at that age I don't think you need to worry....he'll move himself if he needs to!

groovygrl

breathable bumpers. if your LO takes a pacifier they work great for keeping those in the crib too.

leapgirl8

They just hit their heads. They used to cry a bit when it happened but just from the surprise more than anything else. Maybe I'm mean but it obviously isn't injuring them or impeding development, and I'm just not worried about it. Eventually they'll get the hang of it. 

I see it as the same as when they were first starting to pick up toys, and constantly bonking themselves in the face with them on accident. I think it's just part of babyhood  

etude de la vie

Check out wonder bumpers. They are very soft padded but vertical and not a SIDS risk. 

I got mine from BRU but you can get them from the manufacture or amazon.  

 

Also both my kids had reflux (DD severe) and their specialists suggested they sleep on their stomachs to help with the reflux pain. If they can roll let him be...