6 month old baby wont sleep on back!

msb5262

Reply to lunareclipse in post #41 -
the advice given is not just for newborns.
Statistics suggest that 90% of cot deaths occur in babies aged 6 months or less, but the definition of cot death is a sudden unexplained death in a child aged 12 months or less - therefore 10% of cot deaths involve babies aged 6 months to one year.
In answer to the question, yes. There is potentially a problem with six month old babies sleeping on their tummies which is why most mums with this problem discuss it with their health visitor.
Official advice is as follows:
"At around five to six months your child may start to roll around in bed - if you find them lying on their front, gently turn them onto their back again. While your child is awake it is perfectly safe for them to play on their front, and in fact this will help them with muscle development." quote from Dr Stuart Flanagan on parentscentre.gov.uk website.
Personally I think parents should always take advice with a pinch of salt and use their own judgement, but it's obviously important to be aware of what current advice is...then we can make informed decisions.

skintchick

I think it's also worth recognising that the OP is bedsharing and therefore is in the perfect place (right next to baby) to react if there should be a problem during the night. Bedsharing mums sleep more lightly and wake to rearrange covers, etc., in a way you don't if baby is not in with you (according to research I've read).

I bedshare and find I am constantly waking slightly to cover lilia over or move her away from my pillow/armpit (she loves my armpit! lol).

I'm not saying it is more or less safe than other sleeping arrangements, just that it is highly likely that mum will wake if thers is a problem with baby's breathing as you are so aware of them when they are next to you, IME.

flower24

if they are getting themself in that position then it's fine hun, try not to worry, he should be able to get back onto his back if he managed to roll in the first place

flower24

skintchick wrote: »

I think it's also worth recognising that the OP is bedsharing and therefore is in the perfect place (right next to baby) to react if there should be a problem during the night. Bedsharing mums sleep more lightly and wake to rearrange covers, etc., in a way you don't if baby is not in with you (according to research I've read).

I bedshare and find I am constantly waking slightly to cover lilia over or move her away from my pillow/armpit (she loves my armpit! lol).

I'm not saying it is more or less safe than other sleeping arrangements, just that it is highly likely that mum will wake if thers is a problem with baby's breathing as you are so aware of them when they are next to you, IME.

my daughters best friend is called lilia, never heard of another one before! xxx

Happynewmum

Just had a chance to catch up on the thread!WOW!Lots of good advice.By the sounds of it I should just keep listeing to my intution and use common sense.Was worried about this more for when I finally put the little one in his cot to sleep at night.Thanx for everyone who's contributed to the thread.:T

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

gggeeeezzz louiseee! how a simple question has gotten so many people fired up! lol

I was also told that putting a baby on their back could in crease the risk of them choking. I was advised by HV to put DD on her back, my mum said no her belly. in end she just slept which ever way she wanted lol

I noticed someone has asked "why is eveyone saying 'ask the HV', what is she gonna do" << The reason we are saying speak to HV is because WE ARE JUST INTERNET PEOPLE we do not know the baby, or the mother, and can only offer advise on our own experiences. Alot of people rely on the HV for more information and to be put at ease, hence the - speak to HV.

each person is different, we all have our own opinions and others may not agree with them. I can remember the look of horror on a parents face when i said i wouldnt use sudacream on DD's bottom whebn changing a nappy. When DD was born (in '07) a nurse saw me with sudacream in my bag and said "i hope your not going to be using that!" I looked confused (DD is only child and i had always used sudacream on my sisters kids) nurse explained that sudacream soaked into nappy which stopped nappy from soaking up wee which then caused nappy rash. DD never ever had nappy rash and i think thats why!

Good luck with the sleep arrangements OP - although i noticed you bed share i hope you have a "block" to stop you/partner rolling onto the baby x

astonsmummy

on the sudacrem front, its a cream for treating nappy rash, so why anyone would use it at every change is beyond me??????

abbecer

Anyone using Sudocrem should only apply a very thin layer. If too much is put on it affects the nappies absorption and holds the urine against the skin.

Becles

I think the use of cream at every change goes back to the olden days when babies were mainly in towelling square cloth nappies. They didn't take the wetness away from the skin like modern nappies do, so babies needed a barrier cream on their bottom to prevent nappy rash.

These days disposable and cloth nappies with liners in are much better at keeping wetness away from the bottom, so barrier cream isn't needed.

When they do get nappy rash,a thin layer of Sudocrem or similar does help clear it up though.

astonsmummy

I would of thought vasaline was a better barrier, i used it and ryry has never had nappy rash.