flipping himself over during the night

[TOmom]

Anyone else experience this - my ds is just turned 4 mo and has added a new feature to his night time activities and I'm not sure what it means if anything or even if there's anything I can/should do about it. Whenever he wakes during the night he starts forcing his head sideways and he gets so forceful he flips himself over onto his tummy. I wondered if it was his way to tell me he wants to nurse but sometimes it happens just minutes after nursing as he's trying to get back to sleep (nursing doesn't usually put him fully to sleep) and he refuses the breast when I offer but continues the head thing. Sometimes I just have to pick him up and get him out of bed so he will stop - then I bounce him to sleep and lay him back down - if he stays asleep great but if not he will start the head thing again. I have tried giving him my finger to suck but he just chews on it and continues throwing his head - he seems very agitated. The only reason I worry is that a couple of times I haven't woken up and when I do he is sleeping on his tummy - isn't he too young for that? He doesn't roll over at all during the day, doesn't even attempt it.

[Gitti]

When he can turn himself over to make a choice about which position to sleep in, he is not to young and you don't have to worry about it. He is perfectly safe to sleep on his belly and evidently more comfortable.

[alegna]

I'm of the mind that if they can turn over and want to sleep on their tummy, by all means let him sleep on his tummy.

-Angela

[rachelmarie]

I'm in agreement that if he is trying to sleep on his tummy (and is at times) then he is old enough. My ds started doing that around the same age. He is 14 months now and it is one of his favorite ways to sleep. The head thing is probably him trying to flip over because tummy sleep is more comfortable for him.

[2tolove]

He is probably practicing his new found talent! Totally normal :) Ds just starte this a few days ago & that is ALL he wants to do at night.

This sort of thing happens when they start crawling, standing etc...

Personally I wouldn't worry about tummy sleeping at this age unless your bed/matterss is really soft & puffy ( ie feather bed )

[crlacey]

Sounds like he just might like sleeping on his tummy better.