Tummy sleeper rolling over at night...

[ElizabethK_]

So yeah.. the rolling phase!

My DD slept well in the night, up until 2 nights ago when she discovered she can roll over. She does it multiple times a night, which also means she fully wakes up and doesn't go back to sleep easily. Sometimes I turned her back on her tummy again and she will go back to sleep straight away, but most times it's a battle. And it's a shame cause she used to sleep 5-6 hours straight, feed, then sleep 4 hours more and it was working so well for all of us.

Now I only get like 4 hours of sleep each night, as I spend most of the night either shh/pat or turning her over...

I tried this morning to put her down for her nap on her back and she tried to sleep for a good 10 minutes, but then she started crying and wouldn't sleep unless I turned her over. I let her cry for about 5 minutes to see if she would settle and she managed to turn onto her side (she still can't roll from back to front) but still couldn't sleep so I rolled her back.

I try to spend lots of time with her helping her roll over during the day, but most of the times she just gets too frustrated and quits.

I read somewhere someone suggesting rolling up a blanket, putting it in a stocking so DD cannot pull it over her head or anything and sticking it behind her in the cot so she doesn't roll over... I haven't tried that yet, but I think she would just wiggle herself out of it and end up on her back again.

Is the only way to deal with this, just to let it happen and wait for her to be able to roll back????

 

[TTC First]

I am not sure what they recommend in other countries however in Canada is never recommended to add anything to a crib. We just use a mattress with a sheet, everything else is a no no. Personally I wouldn't put anything in the crib to prevent rolling.

I am confused a little by some of your comments. You say that the baby keeps rolling but you say that she can't roll back to front. You also mention that you tried having her nap on her back but that only lasted 10 mins. Are you putting her down to sleep on her belly? I know in Canada that is a major no no as it can lead to SIDS.

I have a 6 month old and she is just going through the rolling stage. There were a couple times where she was put down on her back and then rolled to her belly and got really upset. It just takes time for them to get used to this new position. I only had to flip her once or twice.

If your lo is not used to being on their back, I would put her on her back as much as possible throughout the day so that she gets used to it. She will cry when on her back, don't turn her right away....just give it a minute or so before turning her.

 

[wifey2013]

Usually babies sleep better on their tummies, but its best to let them get there on their own. My LO started rolling at 3 months (that's when we moved him into his own room in his crib). For us, he learned to roll from back to tummy first. Like the PP said, it's a big nono to put them to sleep on their tummy. Always start on the back, if they can turn on their own, you can leave them be.

Can you try and let her cry for a bit and see if she settles back to sleep? Obviously I wouldn't let her get to wailing, but if she fusses for a bit, can she settle back to sleep?

 

[ElizabethK_]

I do spend a lot of time with her on her back while playing and I try to get her attention with a toy but she usually quits and starts crying. And when I say she quits, I mean she just lays there crying till I pick her up.

So I was just wondering if there was another way to help her roll. She never slept on her back really so I don't expect her to do that now. I want her to get as much quality sleep as possible.

I guess there's not much I can do really than wait it out..

Also please do not respond if you are only going to tell me that tummy sleeping is a no no. I made my decision and baby is a tummy sleeper since the day I passed out from exhaustion and sleep deprivation.

 

[LoraLoo]

I think you have to do what you have to do. I'm a big advocate of safe sleeping but you know of the risks and it's you're choice. Id say baby sleeping on tummy is safer than you being so exhausted that you fall asleep with her etc.
what do you put her to bed in? A sleeping bag, blankets etc? If a bag it may be worth trying blankets/ the weight on the tummy makes them feel more secure as if in tummy position. I can't really think of anything else I think it's just one of those cases of sticking it out unfortunately! Hope you get some sleep soon.

 

[ElizabethK_]

Thanks LoraLoo!

Unfortunately it's very hot here right now so she's in a vest and nappy only right now. So I can't benefit from blankets or anything...

Bleh she did it again all night last night... I'm so tired

 

[mel28nicole]

4 months is a big sleep regression phase, and with her learning to roll that may disrupt sleep as well. I always laid DD on her back but she would roll to her side. Now at 11 months she's on her belly 80% of the night. You could possibly wait til shes fully asleep and try to lay her down. Other than that I don't have much advice. When DD regressed at 5 1/2 months (when she really start rolling and sitting on her own) the regression lasted 2 weeks

 

[ElizabethK_]

We practice every day and I hope soon she'll be able to roll to her tummy. She has managed to roll to her side, which is helping a little so I'm hoping soon she'll master going the whole way!

Also i can't have her sleep on my. I've sleep trained her and she prefers to fall asleep in her bed now so I can't really put her down asleep on her back.

 

[mel28nicole]

That's understandable! It's great she falls asleep on her own! (Mine still needs a bottle and rocking ugh) But I do think it's just her learning a new skill, and once she has mastered it then sleep will go back to normal

 

[ElizabethK_]

Good news on this! Yesterday DD rolled from back to tummy for the first time!! And today she did it multiple times, so she's finally learnt it! She can only do it on one side for the moment so I am now focusing on going the other way, but I do hope this means she can sleep better at night soon!

I wonder how long it will be till she can do it in her sleep too?