My 4 mth old is flipping over on her stomach at night and crying for me to flip her back! ?

Question

This happens about 6-7 times a night and I am so exhausted. One time I let her cry it out and went in and her face was straight down in the mattress. She won't turn her head to the side and lay on her stomach. She can flip during the day sometimes from stomach to back but I guess since she is tired she is not flipping back. I know I am not supposed to put things in the crib but should I put those bumpers that are for newborns in there to prevent her from flipping??

Answer 1

Co-sleeping would let you respond to her while barely waking up; there are many nights I can't even say how many times my daughter's woken up because she's right next to me and I don't have to get up to tend to her.

"Crying it out" should not be an option; it's a SIDS risk for young babies, among other problems.

Alternately, can Daddy not go in a few times...?

A frustration, but one of extremely limited duration; she'll learn to roll herself back over fairly quickly.

Answer 2

You could either put a sleep-positioner in the crib with her, which will hold her on her back and not allow her to roll over (they ARE safe for a crib!)

Or co-sleep as others have suggested.

I personally co-sleep with my son, and he'll sometimes roll to his side or stomach but I wake right up and flip him back over.

The main reason that its advised that babies NOT sleep on their stomach is because something may block their little noses and suffocate them. Babies can't breathe out of their mouths until they are a few months old, and if something blocks their nose (a pillow, blanket, etc) and they can't roll over -- they can very easily lose oxygen.

A sleep positioner is safe because it will prevent that from happening to her. If she won't turn her head to the side and has her face down into the mattress, that's NOT good at all!

Buy her a positioner or start co-sleeping immediately!

Good luck! <3

Answer 3

Have patience.  Just keep flipping her for now, and give her plenty of time to practice flipping over during the day.  Eventually she will do it on her own at night  :)

Do not use a sleep positioners - those are still questionable whether or not they are a SIDS risk.

Answer 4

Wow...my daughter (also 4 months) does this during the day on her activity mat while I'm cleaning, folding laundry, etc. and she doesn't let me get anything done. But I feel so bad for you having to deal with it at night. I've always had my daughter in a sleep positioner. I received it as a baby shower gift and almost gave it away. But it's been a lifesaver. She's always loved to be swaddled but it was just too hot, so I found she felt secure in the positioner as well and I didn't have to swaddle her. I'm sure if she didn't sleep in it she would be doing the same thing. You should try one. I'll try to post the link to the one I have. Good luck!

Answer 5

You need to help her for the time being.  You can try the sleep positioners that are breathable.  If you're concerned about SIDS then you certainly don't want to leave her to cry it out face down.  I'd try the sleep positioners first.  

You should also give her tummy time in her crib sometimes so she learns how to flip from stomach to back in her crib.  The crib is a different surface from the floor so it's harder.  It's a skill she needs to master, but she needs your help to do it.

Same thing when she learns to stand up in her crib and can't put herself back down.  Play with her in her crib and help her learn to get down alone.

Good luck!

Obber has a good point about co-sleeping too.  That was how we all survived the long nights of infancy!

Answer 6

Once she can flip over, the sleep positioners are no longer safe.  She can roll and get *stuck* in the sleep positioners.

I know it is tiring, but keep flipping her back over if she needs the help.  I will not last long!

Answer 7

well even though I'm not an expert i can tell u that u should put a bumper thing because u don't want  your baby to feel uncomfortable sleeping would u? and i suggest that u go to the doctors and ask y that is happening and ask for advices since your the baby's parents.

Answer 8

Our daughter is now 5 months old, and she was doing that when she was 4 months old too. And just like you said -- its EXHAUSTING. I talked to the doctor about it at her 4 month check up and he said that she wasn't quite ready yet to sleep on her stomach (like you said, they go face down and seem quite happy about it -- but are rebreathing their air which is a SIDS risk).  Honestly, we just kept flipping her like a little pancake... she just turned 5 months, and now when she rolls onto her stomach her face is always turned to the side and she's happy. I'm happy because she hasn't been doing that faceplant into the mattress, and she's happy on her tummy. (And she can roll back over if she wants -- that was another thing I required before I let her sleep on her stomach)

Sleep positioners are a bit of a hot topic. I know comsumer reports advises against them because they have not been thoroughly tested as safe. And I know that our daughter would likely scoot down into the positioner, and put her face right into it.

Same with the bumpers except those have been declared unsafe (because they put their faces into them). We got one of those breathable mesh Crib shields that keeps her arms and legs in the crib, so when she is flipping around I don't have to worry about her scooting into the side and suffocating.

That was an exhausting month or so we had where we were constantly flipping her, but it did resolve itself. My suggestion is just to keep doing it (dont risk putting something that is possibly unsafe in the crib with her). That is just my suggestion. I chose to give up some sleep to make sure she was okay.

Good luck with it, and believe me -- my husband and I understand!!