Rolling Infant Less Than Five Months Old - Is This Dangerous?

[SignMeUp]

So. The regulation here now is that we need parental confirmation if a baby less than six months old rolls over in their sleep. If under six months and no confirmation, we must put them back on their back for remainder of nap.
If over six months, no parental confirmation necessary.

I now have my first "roller" since this regulation took effect.

The QUESTION:

Is there thought to be any more DANGER to the infant, hence the new regulation?
Or is it simply that licensors then have confirmation that the infant can roll, and then they will not fine us if they find the baby on their tummy at naptime?

Edited to add: Where I live, we don't get actual responses from licensing. They only point us to laws and regulations. Not helpful for questions like this.

[Heidi]

Honestly, when my last ones started rolling over, I sent a text message along the lines of "guess what Jr just did!" They replied "yea!", and so I had confirmation. It's not a regulation here; but I did it to cover my butt, so no one could say later I laid baby down on his tummy.

[SignMeUp]

Honestly, when my last ones started rolling over, I sent a text message along the lines of "guess what Jr just did!" They replied "yea!", and so I had confirmation. It's not a regulation here; but I did it to cover my butt, so no one could say later I laid baby down on his tummy.

Yep, and I have that confirmation too. But DCM is wondering IF she should sign the form. I don't want to turn baby back over, but I also don't want to give her inaccurate information about the level of risk, kwim?

[AmyLeigh]

It's my understanding that once a baby can roll over, the risks decrease, especially if the baby is getting tummy time, can hold his head up well and if he can roll from tummy to back, also. My oldest dd was an early roller, about 3 months, and that is what my ped told me. If that is still the current belief (You know how things like this can change and I haven't had any infants in a long time), maybe you can find a resource that clarifies that for mom's peace of mind.

[SignMeUp]

It's my understanding that once a baby can roll over, the risks decrease, especially if the baby is getting tummy time, can hold his head up well and if he can roll from tummy to back, also. My oldest dd was an early roller, about 3 months, and that is what my ped told me. If that is still the current belief (You know how things like this can change and I haven't had any infants in a long time), maybe you can find a resource that clarifies that for mom's peace of mind.

I can't find anything about further risk. This baby gets tummy time and holds head up well, but does not roll tummy to back.

[AmyLeigh]

The info is out there. For example, this is from Dr. Sears' website: http://www.parenting.com/article/ask...sids-risk-baby (I pasted part of his response here)

Q. Our baby girl likes to sleep on her stomach, even if you put her on her back or side. She's 5 months old and has been sitting and rolling since 4 months. Should we worry about sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?

A. Even though SIDS is high on a parent's worry list, it is actually a rare tragedy, occurring in approximately 1 out of every 1,000 babies. SIDS most commonly occurs between 2 and 4 months of age, and after 6 months the chances of an occurrence are even more unlikely. So, your baby is just about past the age where you need to worry.
It sounds like you have a precocious baby who will assume her favorite sleeping position regardless of how you put her to sleep. Even though back-sleeping has been proven to be the safest sleeping position, some SIDS researchers believe that babies will intuitively try to find their own individual safest position. That sounds like what your baby is doing.

Your new reg may be just to cover your butt regarding a child on his belly during nap, like Heidi said.

[Heidi]

Our regs actually say that once they can roll over on their own, they are free to choose their own sleep position. We can also use blankets, but are supposed to put them to bed on their backs, with their blanket secured under their arms and under the crib mattress all around.

Of course, none of my dck's leave it there any more.

[MCC]

I have a 13 week old boy here who started rolling this past weekend. You put him on his back, and he rolls to his stomach immediately. There is no way I'm standing over his crib the entire nap time, he wouldn't get any sleep. I put him on his back and he rolls over, goodnight.

I believe that once they are doing it on their own, they are fine.

[craftymissbeth]

Yep, and I have that confirmation too. But DCM is wondering IF she should sign the form. I don't want to turn baby back over, but I also don't want to give her inaccurate information about the level of risk, kwim?

Is she saying she might not sign it? Idk, I think I'd make it required. What if licensing showed up and the baby flipped to their tummy just in time for your licensor to see? I'd want it just to CYA.

or maybe I'm not understanding what the form is for

[SignMeUp]

Is she saying she might not sign it? Idk, I think I'd make it required. What if licensing showed up and the baby flipped to their tummy just in time for your licensor to see? I'd want it just to CYA.

or maybe I'm not understanding what the form is for

I do want it just for that, in case the baby is on tummy when licensing shows up.
The state form says that "use of the form for the parent statement is optional" and I think that makes the parent think that they do not have to sign. I'm not sure what it means either and licensing here generally does not answer questions.
But my understanding of the law is that if the baby is under six months, we are now required to flip them over UNLESS we have the signed statement.

I don't think she means to refuse to sign it, but I guess no, she doesn't want to IF it puts her baby at a higher risk. That's why I'm trying to figure it out.

Can't find an email address to the SID center either. If I get info, I would prefer to have it in writing, kwim? Hardly dare to do or say anything anymore

[playground1]

I do want it just for that, in case the baby is on tummy when licensing shows up.
The state form says that "use of the form for the parent statement is optional" and I think that makes the parent think that they do not have to sign. I'm not sure what it means either and licensing here generally does not answer questions.
But my understanding of the law is that if the baby is under six months, we are now required to flip them over UNLESS we have the signed statement.

I don't think she means to refuse to sign it, but I guess no, she doesn't want to IF it puts her baby at a higher risk. That's why I'm trying to figure it out.

Can't find an email address to the SID center either. If I get info, I would prefer to have it in writing, kwim? Hardly dare to do or say anything anymore

I don't understand. He rolls over, there's nothing yo can do about it. Just tell her that you need her to sign the paper or he can't come back because you can't stand over his bed.

[daycare_jen]

I don't understand. He rolls over, there's nothing yo can do about it. Just tell her that you need her to sign the paper or he can't come back because you can't stand over his bed.

Yeah, I don't believe the risk is higher. But if mom won't sign because she thinks it is, then you will need to refuse care until she signs. Does she stand over him all night turning him over each time he rolls?

[craftymissbeth]

I don't understand. He rolls over, there's nothing yo can do about it. Just tell her that you need her to sign the paper or he can't come back because you can't stand over his bed.

yup.

Of course, once babies can roll over consistently — usually around 4 to 7 months — they may choose not to stay on their backs all night long. At this point, it's fine to let babies pick a sleep position on their own.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/sids.html#

[Blackcat31]

My licensor said once they roll over, there isn't anything we can do about it.

As long as the baby is still sleeping in a crib or PNP with a firm mattress and nothing else in the crib it's fine.

We don't have to have the parent sign anything.

Just document yourself, that baby is rolling over.

Infants still need to be within sight and sound so he would still be supervised while he is sleeping so really there shouldn't be any additional risk...if that is what mom is thinking.

I would not roll a baby back over while they are asleep if they got onto their tummy on their own.

I don't know if the rules differ in your county but that ^^ is what my licensor told me so... hopefully that helps.

[Annalee]

My licensor said once they roll over, there isn't anything we can do about it.

As long as the baby is still sleeping in a crib or PNP with a firm mattress and nothing else in the crib it's fine.

We don't have to have the parent sign anything.

Just document yourself, that baby is rolling over.

Infants still need to be within sight and sound so he would still be supervised while he is sleeping so really there shouldn't be any additional risk...if that is what mom is thinking.

I would not roll a baby back over while they are asleep if they got onto their tummy on their own.

I don't know if the rules differ in your county but that ^^ is what my licensor told me so... hopefully that helps.

Same here in TN. Licensing tells us to try one time to roll the child back over just for sake of trying but once a kids starts rolling, they get into their own comfortable sleep positions.