What If Baby Looks Uncomfortable?

When you are sleep training, one of the top goals is to teach your little to develop the ability to fall asleep on their own. So when you look at the monitor and see your baby looks uncomfortable sleeping along the crib rails, it can cause an internal debate of “should I or shouldn’t I”. Maybe they have somehow ended up squished in the corner of their crib, and you can’t imagine how that can possibly be comfortable.

This issue comes up often if babies who have just spent months falling asleep in Mom’s arms and always placed in the crib fast asleep. This baby has never had the opportunity to experiment and explore sleeping positions on their own. So, that is what is happening in the early days and weeks of sleep training. You can expect that your baby will be in some very uncomfortable looking positions as they explore and discover what is comfortable to them. While they are learning what positions are comfortable for sleep, it wouldn’t be uncommon for them to fall asleep sitting up, bum in the air, or even while standing up.

So, at what point should you intervene when baby looks uncomfortable?

The number one priority is always safety, so yes, you should definitely go in and reposition your child if they fall asleep in an unsafe position. In this scenario, you will want to go into their room, and quietly and quickly move them to a safe sleeping position. If they do wake up while you are moving them, reassure them that they are safe and it’s time for sleep. The least amount of interaction is best so that you don’t stimulate them to a full waking.

Now, it’s important to understand that there is a difference between an unsafe position and an uncomfortable position.

There may be times where your baby manages to squirm themselves into the corner of the crib. Although your baby looks uncomfortable sleeping along the side of their crib, it’s not a dangerous sleeping position, per say. It’s very common for babies to routine position themselves in the corner of the crib or laying against the side of the crib. To us, it seems uncomfortable, but to babies this is comforting. It may be that it gives them a sense of security or a feeling of being next to someone.

So, if your little one is safely sleeping in an uncomfortable-looking ball in the corner of the crib, your best bet is to let them sleep.

Remember, our number one concern is always safety, so if your child has a limb hanging between the bars or has gotten into a position that might make it difficult to breathe, then please, go in and reposition them. Quick and quiet! Try not to disturb their peaceful slumber by stimulating them too much.

Help! My baby rolled onto their stomach!

If you have a little wee babe that is just starting to maneuver about their crib, you may be extra nervous and cautious around sleep positions, as you should be! There is nothing more nerve racking than seeing that your sweet babe has flipped themselves onto their stomach during their sleep. We know that “back is best” for infant sleep. And you must always, always, always place baby on their back to sleep. But you may be wondering if you need to flip them back over if they roll onto their stomach by themselves during sleep.

Here are a few guidelines around this:

• If your baby is able to roll both ways on their own, you can let them sleep in their assumed position. But ALWAYS put them on their back to sleep, let them roll onto their tummy if they choose.
• If your baby is not a pro-roller yet, then yes, you will want to flip them onto their back again. Use every opportunity to practice rolling while they are awake during the day. Chances are that if they are rolling from back to front, it won’t be long before they’ve mastered the complete roll!

I hope you feel more confident now as to whether or not to intervene if baby looks uncomfortable sleeping. As for what to do when your partner gets into a position that leaves you with only six inches of the bed? You’re on your own for that one!