How to Encourage Back Sleep Training
What if your baby protests any position except tummy-sleeping? It’s time to encourage back sleep training. Try these tips to encourage back or side sleeping:
- Let the tummy-sleeper first fall asleep on her stomach; then after she is soundly asleep gently turn her over onto her back.
- Rock or nurse baby off to sleep in your arms or while wearing baby in a babysling. As soon as she is about to drift off to sleep, place the half-asleep infant on her back. If she still refuses to fall asleep in this position, dangle an oscillating mobile (out of baby’s reach and moving around 60 rotations per minute) to entice the mobile-gazer to sleep.
- Promote the crib-sleeper to your bed. Following this nighttime upgrade, most solo-sleepers will prefer to sleep on their sides or backs for easier access to parents.
- Don’t worry if the back-sleeper persistently turns over onto her side or front to sleep. By the time babies are developmentally able to perform this flip, they are usually past the age of high risk for SIDS.
- If after trying all the above suggestions and your tummy-sleeper refuses to sleep on his back the best you can do is provide a safe sleeping environment for your front sleeper. Use a firm sleeping surface and survey baby’s sleeping environment for potential nose-blockers. Use fitted crib sheets. Remove cushy crib toys and pillows.