Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

Any suggestions?

Deborah rolled over on her belly for the first time yesterday and proceeded to do it two other times.

This is great developmentally, but we want to prevent her from doing it during the night, where she could suffocate herself. We do have a monitor where we can see and hear her, but any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

Right now, we still swaddle her at night (she likes the warmth and tightness) She can't roll over when in the swaddle just yet, but she's getting close to being able to.

TIA!

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

When G started rolling over in his sleep we swaddled him & added a small rolled up burp cloth in the swaddle so that he could not roll over; almost like a sped bump or "chocks."

When that stopped working the Ped recommended we look into a positioner as he could not turn back on his own & was not yet lifting his head.

Talk to your ped about it.

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

you can try a positioner.

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

Thanks - that's what I'm hearing

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

you can try a positioner, but DS moved a lot and always squirmed off the positioner so then I got nervous and took it out.

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

My MD told me when they can do it themselves there's no need to flip them back over. Ryan started at 12wks too and has been sleeping on his belly ever since.
My mom had him one day and didn't realize he was "allowed" to be on his belly so she kept flippign him back to his back and he continued to roll to belly - I think it's difficult to keep them still when they're strongwilled

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

My ped said to be careful with the positioners. Esp if they roll by themselves. He told me to take it out at that time because the baby can roll and their little face can get stuck on the sides of the positioner.

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

From what I hear, once they are strong enough to roll themselves over, they are strong enough to move their head to breathe.

DS started rolling over at 3.5 months onto his tummy while swaddled. In one night, we took out the regular bumpers and put in breatheable ones and stopped swaddling him (put him in a sleep sak).

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

Gavin slept with a positioner and was swaddled in the beginning.
Then he started rolling and I got nervous so i put 2 rolled up towels on either side of him under his sheet saver.
Then after a while, I just gave up because I was starting to break the swaddle.
So for a few weeks we were terrified to go to sleep, we kept checking the monitor like crazy.
Unfortunately there's no other way around it, it's gotta happen.

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

We used a sleep positioner. That worked for about 2 months or so then he started scooting down!

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

thank you all for the insight

it was funny - when she did it the second or third time, we let her stay that way for a few seconds and she did not turn her head, hence the reason for our concern. I'm sure she'll figure that out in due time.

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

ds started rolling over at 3.5 months, as much as I didnt like it I just let him sleep that way, he slept so much better on his belly...

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

If she's rolling over, I would take her out of the Swaddle or leave her arms out if you can. I started leaving DS's arms out of the swaddle when he could roll over so he would be able to push himself up if he rolled over. I remember reading somewhere that once they can roll over, the swaddle isn't such a good idea anymore.

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

Posted by SweetCaroline

My MD told me when they can do it themselves there's no need to flip them back over. Ryan started at 12wks too and has been sleeping on his belly ever since.
My mom had him one day and didn't realize he was "allowed" to be on his belly so she kept flippign him back to his back and he continued to roll to belly - I think it's difficult to keep them still when they're strongwilled

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

positioner's are NOT safe if she can roll! If she is rolling onto her tummy on her own then she can sleep on her tummy. Take anything soft out of her crib and she should be just fine.

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

DD started rolling over around 3 months and for the first couple of weeks she would cry when she would "land" on her belly and we would run in there and flip her over and we'd do this over and over until she feel asleep.

After about 3 weeks, she learned to like being on her belly and she now sleeps that way.

As long as they can roll and move their heads, I think its fine if they sleep on their bellys.

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

Ooh, if she's rolling that much I think you need to take her out of the swaddle. You don't want her to get onto her belly and not have any arms to push herself up.

We had the same basic issue with DS and my ped told me that as soon as they can roll, it's their perogative to choose what position they sleep in. Maybe speak with your ped to give you peace of mind if you're concerned

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

Posted by QuoteTheRaven424
oh yeah, we always keep her arms free.

This morning, with the swaddle up to her waist - she was trying to roll over but couldn't because she couldn't get the leg leverage.

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

Posted by MsMBV

Posted by QuoteTheRaven424
oh yeah, we always keep her arms free.

This morning, with the swaddle up to her waist - she was trying to roll over but couldn't because she couldn't get the leg leverage.

awwww.

Re: Preventing a 3-month old from rolling over on her belly during the night

Once DS could roll over, I left him alone. I mentioned it to the dr and he didnt seem concerned.