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Babies: 3 - 6 Months
DS is rolling to his belly, and Mom is not sleeping...
So DS transitioned himself right out of the swaddle last week, and DH and I have barely gotten any sleep since. He started rolling from back to belly, and now wants to roll all day, everyday. The plus is that he gets tons of tummy time now, and he's always in that baby push-up position.We de-swaddled and moved to sleep sack with arms out. He's doing okay with this, but we can't put him down drowsy but awake anymore, because he immediately starts rolling and gets himself upset. He's waking up once around 3-4 AM for about an hour again (he was sleeping from 11:30-6/7 straight through) and we feed and do a diaper change. It's not terrible.
My worry is that, with his arms free, and his sleep patterns a bit disrupted, DS is experimenting with sleeping positions. Usually when he rolls to his belly, he can't roll back and gets himself all worked up, he starts crying and DH and I hear it on the monitor and go in (the nursery is right next to our bedroom.) Last night, I woke up at 4 and he had rolled to his belly right up against the crib slats and was screaming. This morning, DH went in to wake him up to go to daycare and he was sleeping peacefully(!) on his belly.
We're not sure if this is safe or what to do about it. I called the pediatrician's office, and the nurse said to buy a sleep positioner, which I was surprised about and thought questionable, since they are no longer considered safe!
Of course I am scared to death of SIDS...I would love some reassurance or any ideas on how to keep him on his back, or whether or not I should even try? A friend recommended rolled up towels underneath the sheets, but he's a strong, big boy, I am hesitant to try this because I think he'd roll right up and over them or get stuck-I'm afraid it would be more dangerous than just putting him down in his empty crib(we don't even use bumpers, just a sheet).
DS is 19 weeks old -so about 4 1/2 months. He's a big guy- already over 16 lbs.
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Re: DS is rolling to his belly, and Mom is not sleeping...
yep i went through the same thing at 4.5 months with my lo. i talked to the pedi and she just told me that usually by the time they can roll onto their bellies, they are strong enough to move their heads to breathe. i know this doesn't sound like a lot of reassurance (at least it didn't really for me) but we've made it to 5.5 months and i still worry but not as much and he actually sleeps a lot better on his belly.
during naps and such, i'd just quietly observe him on his belly and just make sure he's moving his head to breathe. i did this with DS and felt a little bit better about him doing it at night.
good luck!
I was told by our pediatrician (two years ago with DS1) that when they are strong enough to roll themselves over, they are strong enough to clear their face/turn their head. He said to still always lay him on his back, but if he rolls himself then not to worry about trying to get him back onto his back.
ETA: I would not use a sleep positioner, especially now that he is more mobile in his crib.
if your baby is big enough and strong enough to roll from back to belly then LO is strong enough to lift his head and breathe. you should not be trying to position them in a way that will prevent them from rolling or putting anything under their sheet to hold them in place. let them roll--it will only be a few nights of disrupted sleep and then they will be right back to STTN.
everything will disrupt their sleep--rolling, sitting, standing, crawling, walking, teething......you have no control over it.