One of my babies just learned a new "trick" that is scaring me to death. Every time I lay her down on her back, she almost instantly rolls over onto her belly. I know that this is a "milestone" and I should be glad, but she hasn't mastered rolling from her belly to her back yet. We put her to bed asleep, so it isn't an issue unless she wakes up in the middle of the night... and then rolls onto her face! I am neurotic and wake up several times a night to check on the babies who just recently moved out of our room, and at 4:30 this morning, I found Lily on her belly with her face pressed into the mattress (not even turned to the side). I was so terrified!!!! Luckily, she was breathing fine but I was just sick about it! Usually she will cry if she is on her belly for more than 5 minutes or so, and I never even heard her!! It was just luck that I found her when I did.

Has anyone else gone through this? What do you do? We are having trouble with our video monitors, but I am not sure that even if we resolve that issue that I would have seen her any earlier since she didn't cry....

Help!!!

Heather

Mom to spontaneous triplets born at 35 weeks 3 days:

Lily 4 lbs 4 oz
Emma 4 lbs 13 oz
Cole 4 lbs 14 oz

Two of our girls roll back to belly and haven't figured out how to roll back. We use sleep positioners at night which keeps them on their back or side but they can't roll to their belly. Here's the link to the one we use:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2341851

Maybe that would work for Lily? Hope that helps!

34 weeks - July 24, 2008
Abigail Rose - 4.8 lbs - 0 NICU
Brianna Renee' - 4.1 lbs - 9 NICU
Cecelia May - 2.10 lbs (IUGR) - 22 NICU

That definitely sounds like an idea! I was afraid of positioners after some problems we had with the ones we used when they were a lot smaller (they were elevated and on an incline to help with reflux) but the one you sent the link for looks a lot safer. Thanks so much for your suggestion!

Heather

Let her roll. I know it is scary but you need to let her sleep on her belly if she wants to. It is a developmental milestone. Many doctors do not recommend sleep positioners. The good news is my kids slept much better once they became belly sleepers.

Lori

http://yesidohavemyhandsfull.blogspot.com/

I think I'm going to have to let her do it. We tried a sleep positioner while she was awake (so that I could monitor her) but she "escaped" it. She would push her feet down and arch her back and scoot out of it....and then roll over. We decided not to use it so that if she did roll she'd have a better chance of rolling back.

She is close to rolling back over, but at night, she seems to bump into the sides of the crib and this prevents her from getting back over. This scares me even more, because we use bumper pads (I know - it's a no no - but their legs and arms get stuck outside the bars if we don't use them...) so I am afraid that she'll roll into them and not be able to breathe... this increases the scariness factor. Maybe I'll take the bumper pads out and put her in a sleep sack so that her legs can't get stuck?

Ugh. Motherhood is scary.

Heather

Mom to spontaneous triplets born at 35 weeks 3 days:

Lily 4 lbs 4 oz
Emma 4 lbs 13 oz
Cole 4 lbs 14 oz

My kids always wore sleep sacs at night. I would take the bumper pads off. When my kids started rolling they had to go for the same reason yours do. I would find them sleeping up against the pads and that was too scary. I used breathable bumpers for a while but truthfully, I think it would be better to just go without. After they get stuck a couple of times they will figure how to get themselves out.

Lori

http://yesidohavemyhandsfull.blogspot.com/

Both our NICU and our Pedi told us to stay away from the positioners also.

Our Blog http://tripmomma.blogspot.com/

I have one that instantly rolls over on his belly and one that we put on his belly because that is the only way he will sleep thru the night. Mine are a little older than yours but we don't worry about it, our 3 can hold their heads up very well and when they are uncomfortable they are able to lift their heads up and reposition themselves.

Reta

Kipras, Kajus, Rokas born 7/4/ 2008

I'm glad you posted this question, I was just thinking of posting as well as we have one that does the same thing. As soon as she learned to roll, she would roll on her belly, face down, in the crib. It definatley bothered me, but hubby was so freaked about it that we ended up letter her sleep in a bouncy seat. She did pretty good with that. Now she can roll like a pro so it's not a problem that she can't lift her head if she wanted but she still goes face down on her belly as soon as we put her in the crib. I know we need to just let her do it if that is how she is comfortable becuase she is just to old to be in a bouncy seat and wakes up alot now during the night. I know she is probably uncomfortable. I feel torn on the issue because I want her to be safe.

Our other daughter also tends to sleep face down sometimes and for some reason it is less scary with her. Sometimes she turns her head, sometimes not. Most of the time she will stay on her back or sides.

I guess I can't give much advice on the issue but just know that you are not going through it alone. It is scary!

Ours can all roll, though Lily does not do it often. Xander and Hayden can roll both ways but we find them on their bellies most mornings these days. Our Pedi says unless you plan to duct tape them down there is not much you can do, she also added once they are strong enough to roll they are strong enough to turn their head if they aren't getting enough air. It is scary though....good luck!

Our Blog http://tripmomma.blogspot.com/