3 Steps to Help your Baby Sleep Better When Learning to Roll
Once your baby is about 8 weeks old they may begin showing signs of rolling, while some babies may not show signs of rolling until about 3-4 months old. This is also the time that you can transition your baby from swaddling to a sleep sack. Check out the previous blog post on that topic. This is a big change and it can cause a whole new regression for their sleep as they are now free to roll in thier new sleep attire.
Your baby may struggle to fall back to sleep if they roll. Since this is something new for them, they often aren’t sure how to sleep in this position yet.
Here Are 3 Steps To Help Your Baby Sleep Better When Learning To Roll
1. Support Independent Sleep
Help your baby learn how to fall asleep independently by always placing them on their back when you put them down to sleep.
2. Give Them Time!
They may cry or fuss at first when they roll onto their side or stomach. Give your baby time and support them through these struggles versus rolling them back to their back. When going in for checks, rub their back, make shushing noises and allow them time to fall asleep in these new positions. It may take some time, but once they are able to fall asleep on their side or stomach, it will improve their sleep. If you keep going in and rolling them back to their back, they will keep waking up, needing help in the night or have short naps because of it.
3. Practice Makes Perfect
Allow them time to practice during the day so they are able to safely roll to their stomach and back onto their backs. Give them lots of floor time in the day, practice rolling from their back to their belly, and give them tummy time to strengthen those muscles as well.
If your baby seems to be in pain on their tummy or if they’re only rolling one way, or prefer to nurse on one side or be held one way, you may want to see a chiropractor to help. Birth can cause trauma to your baby’s body as well as yours and a chiropractor can help with many of these problems. For more information, you can read a blog by Dr. Tessa van Leeuwen-Tyler about colic.
Remember, if your baby rolls to their belly or side on their own, they are safe to sleep in these positions. You do not need to keep going in to roll them to their back. If you are practising safe sleep (nothing else in the crib, having a flat, firm mattress with a fitted sheet) then it is safe for your baby to sleep on their stomach.
It takes time but they will get there! With consistency, you can help your baby to learn to sleep independently.