My Baby Won't Fall Asleep Because She Keeps Rolling Over!

Updated on March 20, 2008
B.S. asks from Columbia, MO
30 answers

My 6 1/2 month old daughter was sleeping wonderfully (12 hours a night) until just recently when she learned to roll over onto her stomach. Now when I put her down for a nap or to bed at night, she flips over onto her stomach and then cries because she can't flip back. So I have to go into her room and flip her onto her back again. This happens a few times in a row, until I give up and swaddle her. Then she cannot roll over and she finally falls asleep. I feel like swaddling her is taking a step backwards, since she has not needed the swaddle to sleep for a month now. What should I do? Do I have to make her cry it out on her stomach until she falls asleep? It seems wrong to let her fall asleep on her tummy.... But everything I have read says put her to sleep on her back and then if she flips over in the night, it is not a problem. I need some advice on how to overcome this rolling over problem!

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So What Happened?

Thank you so much, everyone, for your advice and comments. I really appreciate the time everyone took to help me out! I ended up leaving her un-swaddled and she has been so tired the last several nights that she is not even trying to flip over anymore when going to bed. I think she maybe realized that it is more of a "fun activity" to do during the day, and not so "fun" at bedtime to be on her tummy! It seems like she was just so excited when she first learned her new trick of rolling over, that she wanted to do it ALL the time! Now the novelty has worn off, and she doesn't try to roll over at bedtime (only during the day at play time.)She is back to sleeping 12 hours with not a peep, and that means I am sleeping too. :) Thanks again to everyone!

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C.P.

answers from Topeka on

Walmart sells a foam sleeping pad that has sides in it to help prevent rolling over. Sorry I don't remeber what it is called, but it should do the trick!

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S.T.

answers from Columbia on

They make these pillow type sleep positioners to keep them from rolling over. I used one with my son as a newborn for SIDS prevention. Here is a link to one on Target for not much money at all. http://www.target.com/Sassy-Deluxe-2-in-1-Back-Positioner...

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A.P.

answers from Wichita on

I want to start off that this is my opinion. My boys were sick and in the nicu for almost all of their first month of life. The NICU puts them on their tummys to sleep!!!!! All my kids sleep on their tummys including my almost 4 month old daughter. I have the problem now of Chloe flipping over to her back and waking up. I would just give her a pasifyer if you use one, or rock her to sleep and put her on her tummy.

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J.M.

answers from St. Louis on

And the initiation begins!!! :) I used a great product when mine were little. It is two foam wedges covered with cloth, and they are connected..the baby sleeps in between them. It keeps them from being able to roll over. The cloth cover comes off so you can throw it in the washer. I don't remember where I got mine. You might check the usuals..Wal-Mart, Target, Babies r Us on-line, or the baby store at Parenting.com...they have great stuff! Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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B.N.

answers from St. Louis on

In the baby section of most department stores (and Babies R Us), they sell a wedge shaped object and keeps your baby from rolling over at night. The wedges are just sponges that fit around the baby and doesn't allow them to roll over. Worked for me!

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S.W.

answers from Kansas City on

I too was in the same situation. Our child got used to not being swaddled, but she would get stuck on her stomach and not like that she couldn't get back over. We used a positioner that kept her from rolling over--it was under $20. We did this for a few weeks until she was able to roll back and forth. Now, her favorite position is on her stomach!!

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A.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Personally, I would do what ever I could to make everyone sleep. I really like sleep though. Whe my girls did this, I worked on helping them learn to roll back over durring the day, usually before nap time so they would be good and tired. This is just the beginning. My girls would stand up in the crib and then cry because they could not sit back down. Ect... Good luck!! This is such a great time in your child's life! Btw-the great thing is now that she can flip (even one way) the chances of SIDS are decreased. Just one less thing to worry about (WHEW!!!)

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E.M.

answers from Lawrence on

Swaddle her. I swaddled my second child until she was 6 months old, because it calmed her down. If it helps her sleep, then I don't see anything wrong with it. She'll soon learn how to roll the other way and self soothe, so its not like you'll be swaddling her forever.
Good luck.

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E.G.

answers from Topeka on

When my son started doing that same thing I was besides my self with worry because of all the back to sleep things I heard. I spoke to the doctor and a nurse friend and they both said if he was able to roll over already I shouldn't worry. It gets scary because you fear SIDS so much but at this point if they can flip they are strong enough to lift their little heads or what not if needed. Give your little one a couple of weeks and they wont wake up crying anymore, these are all fun steps in the path of their milestones. Just for your own peace of mind keep an eye on them when they do cry out and you will see in a few weeks they will realize they can flip back and they will be fine.

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J.H.

answers from St. Louis on

Well you baby girl is definitely the opposite of my son. He loves to be on his stomach. He doesn't like to sleep otherwise. He's just like me. I have been that way since I was alittle baby and I am still that way now. I get my best sleep on my stomach but for your little girl she disagrees. My best recommendation is to try a positioner. They are about $10 or so and they will keep her on her back and not allow her to turn over unless you position her that way. It is probably the #1 baby gift I always give new mothers. I guess the best way to describe it is a retangular piece of fabric with 2 3D triangle pieces that move in and out depending on how big your baby is. The triangle pieces are soft but firm enough to hold them in place and most of them are covered with terry cloth so it won't irritate their skin. It's basically the safer way of putting 2 rolled up receiving blankets, one on each side of them. Hope that helps.

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R.W.

answers from Springfield on

What is wrong with swaddling her? If she is comforted and feels secure and helps her sleep, it might be the best thing for her.

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T.L.

answers from St. Louis on

I know there are cushions or padding you can put in her crib to keep her from rolling over...Can't remember the name or Price, but I know I have seen it in Babies r us

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R.S.

answers from Kansas City on

put the baby down ,tell her goodnight, and go to bed .if she can roll one way she'll roll the other wqay soon.let her sleep the way she wants to,shes old enough now.this has worked for my 2 children and my 7 grandchildren

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V.C.

answers from St. Louis on

I don't think swaddling her is a step back - you have to make her comfortable - give it time and she wil work out of the swaddle or do what she needs to sleep.

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B.S.

answers from Kansas City on

Yep, let her cry. It won't hurt her one bit! Just go peek every now and then and make sure she's ok though. She'll be just fine. If you're truly concerned you could also try a sleep positioner. Good luck!

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L.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi B.,
I had the same situation, only my boy was a tummy sleeper. He would roll over on his back and get mad. The only thing that worked for me was those wedges that keep the baby on their back. In my case it kept him on his tummy. In a few weeks your baby should be rolling from both tummy to back and back to tummy. Good Luck!
L.

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K.O.

answers from Columbia on

They make some triangular shaped cushions that keep your child from rolling over. Sometimes they help, but trying to help her learn to roll back over will be more beneficial in the long run.
Keep your chin up! K.

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M.N.

answers from St. Louis on

On the other side, because I don't agree with the "cry it out solution"--due to Brain Development Studies and Research. During the day or during whatever activity time you have with her--teach her how to roll over. Seriously, she will watch and mimic you rolling over. You roll over and over, then show her by giving her gentle pushes, don't over push her just give her some encouragement. Then within a couple of days she will be rolling along all by herself.
There are sleep positioners and they are AAP approved,. but usually once babies start rolling, the sp's usually get in their way.--. Other alternatives are; while she is learning to roll, like the first week or maybe two, take two small blankets/towels and roll them up on either side of her (keeping away from face), just to give her the comfort she needs. Some persons are anti-blankets in the crib because of the possibility of SIDS, then you can use two very soft, yet sizable stuffed animals, that will push away with her weight if needed and/or go back to the sleep positioner. Also, if she is just wimpering in her sleep, then she is fine, make sure you listen to her cries and sooth accordingly.
Some babies at this age still want to be swaddled for security it is part of the "9months in/9months out theory". You know her personality better than anyone, so go with your heart and instincts. Remember rolling over is the next stage in her physical growth pattern. She rolls today, she scoots later, then crawls, then pulls-up, then walks. She is growing, mommy--it is not a "problem" it is a great wonder. The sad thing is all the great wonders happen in their sleep and in their crib, first and foremost. Just like it all started in the womb. Oh, and the sitting up, I don't know if you have experienced this yet or not, but my son use to get "stuck" sitting up in his crib. I use to go in (sneak-in) and gentle lay him back down, now that was interesting.
Have fun being a new mom. Remember to breath, because everthing that comes up, this is a saying that is shared,
"it too shall pass". In His Love, M. N.

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J.L.

answers from Kansas City on

Try putting her in a Wedge. They are soft foam-like triangles that keep her from rolling over. You can purchase them at Wal-Mart or Target.

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S.H.

answers from St. Louis on

I think my daughter started doing that in her sleep around the same time. I was the one freaking out NOT her! My husband or I would go in there and flip her over because we too were afraid of her sleeping on her stomach. What I can tell you is that she was fine sleeping that way and now (at 21 mths) still does. As far as her crying about, maybe you can use a rolled up towel and put it by the side of her so she doesn't roll over. I think they carry things at the store too for infants to protect them from rolling over. Otherwise, you could probably call your doctor and ask them what they think. Good luck!

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S.V.

answers from St. Louis on

keep doing what you're doing. She will be rolling over on her own pretty soon!

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T.P.

answers from Kansas City on

this is probably the last thing u want to hear but u gotta let her cry. if u dont let her comfort herself she will never learn. trust me my 7yr old slept in my bed with me till he was almost 2 because i was a single mom and i didnt want to damage him by making him deal with it and cry himself to sleep i finally had to let my mom take him for a week and she broke him of that habit quickly. now he still loves me all three of my boys are mamma boys. and i had to let each of them learn to comfort them selves. the earlier u do this the easier it will be. if she sleeps in a different room than u turn down the monitor to the lowest setting. if she really needs u she will make herself known.

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T.H.

answers from St. Louis on

My granddaughter has just turned 2. My daughter in law went through the same thing with her. What she did was just waited it out, and would go in when she woke up, flip her back over until she was to the point of flipping herself over. because really once they are moving from back to tummy, it's only a matter of maybe 2 wks. that they can turn completely over themselves. but I do remember her being very frustrated, because her baby was as still is a 12 hr. sleeper. So, that's all I know of, but I don't think it hurts to swaddle her either if she does'nt mind. Maybe only until you notice during the day that she can turn herself completly. Hope this helps somewhat.

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N.E.

answers from Kansas City on

My oldest son did the same thing.. sort of, he wouldn't sleep unless he was on his side.. so I used the positioner thing to keep in propped up on his side. My doc (Dr. Sheela Ananth/Indep. Peds) also did say that once they are old enough to roll over, you don't have to keep putting them back on their backs as the risk of sids and chocking are significantly less by that time because of the strenght they have gained. (not gone completely but less by a lot) So I wouldn't worry too much about the "back is best" thing for now. I would let her start to cry it out, otherwise she may want you to comfort her everytime she moves which wont give either one of you any sleep!

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L.W.

answers from St. Louis on

you might want to try just putting a rolled up towels next to her so she cant roll over easily...also giving her extra tummy time during the day will help her get used to being on her tummy.

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D.C.

answers from St. Louis on

You can buy small wedge shaped pillows to place on the sides of your baby.

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N.P.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi B. S. My name is N. P. I have three children 14/8/2. You can put her to bed on her side. Put a rolled up baby blanket behind her back to secure her from turning to that one side. I think she wants to feel something cozy next to her, that's why she likes to be swaddled. But a rolled up baby sized blanket and a baby blanket over her should make her feel really cozy. When I would do this with my babies they would stay in this position all night or they would roll over on their backs during the night and this is a good way for babies to sleep as well. Basically she wants to feel cozy, hopefully you try it and it works for you.

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H.B.

answers from Kansas City on

By the time my daughter was 5months old she was sleeping on her stomach all the time. I told her doctor the only way she is going to stay on her back is if I safety-pin her pjs down(joke I did not do this). The doc. seemed comforted that at least she slept with a pacifier. To this day (2.5yrs) she still sleeps on her belly. My mother raised her 6 kids all on our bellies. I say let your daughter cry it out. I think she will be just fine and you will get back to your full night of sleep.

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M.M.

answers from Columbia on

If she sleeps with a swaddle, I don't see anything wrong with that - it keeps her secure. My daughter liked to be swaddled for almost a year! If you're unsure about her safety if she flips over maybe you could keep swaddling her until she's capable of getting back on her back if she wants to. Good luck!

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S.P.

answers from St. Louis on

Dear B.,

Babies are so much fun. As long as baby can move her head, you can use a rolled up towel next to her body to prevent her from rolling over - when putting her to sleep she should be on her side. She is also at the age she may be getting her teeth that will also cause her to be waking up often. Best Wishes!

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