A child rolls over on his stomach in his sleep: causes, developmental norms, advice from doctors and parents

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-10 03:56

Isn't it exciting to watch how a small child grows, develops and acquires new skills? For most parents, one of the first major developmental milestones that gets excited is watching babies learn to roll over. The first time you see a baby arch its back, raise its head, lean to the side, and then suddenly, flip! So cute and exciting though! Unless it happens that the child is sleeping and rolls over on his stomach. Then it's frustrating and tiring. Why? Because a baby who is just starting to roll over is a baby who is awake.

Baby rolls over on stomach in sleep: safety first

Can a baby sleep on his stomach? Short answer: no. child sleepingon the stomach, inhales less air. This increases the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). About 1,600 children died from this cause in 2015!

Now, as to how to help a child get through this stage and maximize everyone's sleep: first of all, remember that there is no "cure" for this. Baby rolling is a completely natural part of their growth and development, so there is no way you can fix or stop the process.

However, some parents find that turning the baby every time the baby rolls onto their stomach in sleep is a great way to help the baby get through this stage. This is especially true for children who can only roll one way but can't yet learn the other, and who don't really like to "freeze" in a certain position. Since this stage is usually short-lived (usually 2-3 weeks), this is an easy, short-term solution.

First of all, it is important to make sure that the child's new-found mobility does not create a dangerous situation while the baby rolls over on his stomach in his sleep.

It is known that children should always be put to sleep on their back, but if they lie on their tummy, then depending on age and ability, you can either return it back face up or leave it in this position.

The safest place for a baby to sleep is in his crib in the same room as his parents or adults. But what if the baby rolls over on his stomach in his sleep? Do you need itstill return back?

Why is sleeping on your back so important?

Infant deaths attributable to sudden unexpected death (SIDS) have fallen by 80% since the introduction of safe sleep campaigns in the 1990s. Experts estimate that 9,500 lives of babies have been saved in Australia alone.

Currently, there is strong evidence in many countries that the position when the newborn rolls on his stomach during sleep significantly increases the risk of his sudden death. Research has also revealed instability in the side sleep position, with many babies found on their stomachs after being placed to sleep on their side. Babies born prematurely are at higher risk of sudden death.

The good news is that the risk of SIDS decreases significantly before your baby's first birthday. It peaks between 1 and 4 months of age and then begins to decline. In fact, 90 percent of SIDS cases involve children under 6 months of age.

Why does a baby roll over on his stomach in his sleep? The position in which we sleep determines how easily and how often we wake up during sleep. Awakening is a physiological defense mechanism thought to be deficient in children who succumb to sudden and unexpected death.

What causes SIDS? What we know, don't know and suspect

When we fall asleep, blood pressure, heart rate and respirationslow down, pauses in breathing (apnea) are possible. Brief awakenings increase all these indicators.

Studies done on babies have shown that placing a baby on the stomach not only makes it harder to wake up, but also reduces blood pressure and the amount of oxygen available to the brain. Parents sometimes put their baby on their stomach as the baby “sleeps better this way.” This is because babies don't wake up in this position as often.

However, be aware that sleeping on your back improves airflow.

Does sleeping on your back prevent spitting up?

Some parents are concerned that when a baby rolls over on their stomach while sleeping, they are in danger of choking on their vomit (baby burps are inevitable at this age). But a careful study of the child's airways has shown that children who fall asleep on their backs are less likely to choke on vomiting than those sleeping on their stomach, no matter how paradoxical it may sound.

In the supine position, the upper airways are above the digestive tract. Thus, the milk spit up by the baby, rising up the esophagus, is again easily swallowed and does not enter the respiratory tract. When the child is placed on his stomach, the esophagus is located above his upper respiratory tract. If a baby spits up or vomits milk, the milk or liquid is inhaled relatively easily into the airways and lungs.

At what age can babies sleep on their stomachs?

Babies begin to learn to roll over from their back to their stomach as early as four months. But maybeit will take longer until the baby is about five or six months old because it requires stronger neck and arm muscles.

Therefore, pediatricians recommend sleeping on your baby's stomach no earlier than when he reaches one year of age. As a rule, at this stage, children can already sit without support and roll over freely. During this period, the child is already strong enough to roll to safety if necessary.

Don't overdo it, be calm and confident

Children should always be laid on their backs. But once the baby can confidently roll over or up, he can be left in the position he prefers to sleep in (usually around five to six months of age). If babies are not yet able to roll over on their own, they should be placed on their back if they are found to be sleeping on their stomachs by their parents.

Prevention measures

• Encourage tummy time play when baby is awake, let him practice and lie down on his back as long as you can control him.
• Don't stop breastfeeding until at least 6 months.
• If you are still swaddling your baby, stop as soon as he starts to roll over. Also, all this rolling will no doubt loosen the diaper, which can be a big risk of suffocation. Instead of swaddling, try a sleep bag.

Don't overheat the room, don't overdress your child, and don't let anyonesmoking next to him

Baby bed

Recommendations for organizing a place for a child to sleep:

• Keep the crib away from toys and blankets (unless you are swaddling) and use thick bedding. Loose blankets may increase the risk of SIDS.
• Use a sturdy crib mattress and make sure it meets safety standards.