6 month old baby wont sleep on back!

Happynewmum

Hi guys

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.Just to warn you this is slightly long...

My son's 6 months old and is still breast fed. Bar the first 2 weeks since he was born, he has slept with me.Both of us have been very happy and content. He gets sleep and fed when wanted and I do to. This did have a downside. When he was tired during the day he would ONLY go to sleep on ME!Not great for me sat down for however long he wanted to go to sleep for glued to the sofa. Anyway-got him a cot and have been teaching him to take his naps during the day in it but still sleep with me through the night for noe.Anyway-he now has 2 naps during the day but refuses to sleep on his back.I put him down on his back and he ALWAYS ends up on his front or side.Thats when he falls asleep.Iput him back on his back, he wakes up, goes back on front and falls asleep, normally clutching the cot or mattress for comfort.Obviously I want this sorted especially before he goes in his cot at night.

Any ides,,:mad:

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

hi hon, my DD wouldnt sleep on her back either so i spoke to HV who said that she doesnt see an issue of DD sleeping on her front as she could lift her head. I was worried but doctor said that years ago they recommended that abies slept on their fronts and not their backs! Have a word with HV and see what they suggest. x

jackieb

I used to roll a baby blanket or small towel up and place it at my babies backs. Maybe you could try one at the front and back so he feels more secure?

msb5262

Hello OP,
Been there, done that...given the T-shirt to Oxfam...I was told by my HV that as my baby was doing this himself at 6 months, it was fine. Mine was also breastfed and was born in April, so it was around this time of year. I just made sure that he wasn't overdressed and that the room was nice and cool. He's 15 now, by the way!
Try not to worry about it; it sounds as if you're doing a great job.
MsB

Happynewmum

Thank you guys SO MUCH!At the grand age of 29 hes my first child and really want to try to give him the best and was so worried that I was giving him these bad habits that could harm him. Feel much better:p

Happynewmum

Will have a chat with Health Visitor.THANKS GUYS

astonsmummy

SOrry, is there a problem with 6 months old babies sleeping on their tummys?
My son has slept on his tummy since he's been able to roll over, at just before 4 months old.
At the end of the day, maybe he doesnt feel comfortable sleeping on his back, I never sleep on my back, it feels horribble.

joflo_2

My first child would not sleep on his back. I cannot remember what age he was, but I do remember going from 20 mins to 2 hours proper nap once he was on his front. Once they are moving around there is not much you can do to stop them. My son is 8 now and sleeps on his front always, it feels more secure for him. You could try a sleeping bag thing, I think they are harder to roll with onto your front if you are concerned.

cmarkham

Trust ur instincts which I know is difficult with ur 1st, still difficult for me and I am on no 3!!!!!!!!!! My DD has slept on her front from being 5 mths old, always put her down on her back but 30 seconds later she would be on her front.

clairec79

He is older and able to roll therefore he's fine to be on his front, put him down on his back and he'll get into a position that is comfy for him, if he's got the physical powers to roll over he's mature enough to move his head if he runs into difficulty

fernliebee

My DD now 17 months, would also have her naps on me in the day (oops! First baby and easy to get into bad habits!) she did sleep in he rmoses basket at night though. However she would only sleep on her back if I rolled up blankets all around her so she was more grounded iyswim.

When I decided that she needed to have her naps off of me at about 5 months, she would always roll on to her front and has slept like this ever since. I never worried about is, as, like other posters have already said they can roll themselves back over or lift their head so it isn't really a problem. I think babies generally do sleep better on their fronts as they are more grounded and don't wake themselves up with their flailing limbs, however I do understand why the advice is to put them down on their backs when tiny.