How to Keep My Baby From Flipping on It's Stomach

A way to lessen the risk for SIDS is to have your baby sleep on his stomach.

Babies who sleep on their backs have a lesser rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which is the sudden and unexplainable death of a baby younger than one year. Once babies are able to roll over, the SIDS rate goes down, but many parents still feel uneasy with their child sleeping on his stomach. Whether you want to keep your baby from rolling over for safety or comfort, there are simple steps you can take to prevent your baby from flipping.

Things You'll Need

• Blankets
• Sleep positioner

Instructions

1. Swaddle your baby, if she is bigger or likes to have her arms free only swaddle her legs. Fold a blanket in half to create a triangle. Place your baby in the blanket with the shortest point toward her legs and the longest points of the triangles on her sides. Fold one side of the blanket over your baby, or her legs if only swaddling from the waist down. Fold the bottom of the blanket upwards. Fold the last side on top of the baby and tuck the excess underneath the baby. Consider buying a swaddling blanket, these blankets have Velcro which keeps the swaddle in place, alternately, make your own swaddling blanket by adding Velcro to a receiving blanket.

2. Buy a sleep positioner for your baby. Sleep positioners are sleep surfaces with foam wedges to prevent babies from rolling over. Place your baby on the sleep positioner. Check on your baby often while he sleeps, to make sure the sleep positioner stays in place.

3. Roll blankets and keep them together using elastic bands. Place the blankets on the sides of your baby. Place the rolled blanket from the waist down to prevent suffocation.

4. Cover your baby with a big blanket from the waist down. Tuck the excess blanket under the mattress to restrict movement and prevent your baby from rolling over.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider using a movement sensor or video monitor. These monitors can tell you when your baby is not moving, of if he has flipped over.

• Talk to your pediatrician before placing items in the baby's crib to prevent him from rolling over, some professionals believe once babies are strong enough to roll over they can do so safely.

• Never have blankets or other items close to your baby's face to prevent suffocation.

References

• American SIDS Institute; Reducing the Risk of SIDS
• Babycenter; Developmental Milestones: Rolling Over