When your baby is very little, it can be very difficult to put him down to sleep. You aren't sure how he'll sleep on his own, and you constantly worry about something bad happening while you're not there. Your baby is liable to squirm around and may end up on his stomach, potentially creating an unsafe situation.
Ideal Sleeping Position
Putting your baby on her back to sleep is by far the safest position at bedtime. At 4 months old, your baby is at significant risk for SIDS, a risk that is heightened by placing her on her stomach. According to 2001 information from the Keep Kids Healthy website, as the safety benefits of placing a baby on her back to sleep has spread, SIDS casualties have decreased significantly.
Sleep Positioners
To ensure that your baby stays on his back, you may want to use a sleep positioner, as this will help keep him in place on his back as he sleeps. Depending on which model you buy, the positioner may also give him a slight elevation that can support him overnight. A sleep positioner gives you the option of placing your baby on his side to sleep, which is a safer position than on his stomach, though not as safe as he'd be sleeping on his back.
Sleeping Habits at 4 Months
Your baby may or may not be sleeping through the night at 4 months. Most babies sleep anywhere from 9 to 12 hours a night, according to Pampers.com; however, this amount of sleep might not be achieved all at once. At 4 months, your baby will also take three naps on most days. While her naps might not always be in her crib, she'll spend plenty of time in her crib at night -- and she might be starting to find her way around the crib.
Rolling Over
When your baby is 4 months old, he should be able to roll over in at least one direction. Most babies learn how to roll from front to back first, which will allow him to get off his stomach if he ends up sleeping on his tummy. If he masters rolling over, it's okay if he sleeps on his stomach. In fact, you may find that you put him on his back at night and he ends up sleeping on his stomach.
Crib Safety
If your baby can roll over and sleep on her stomach without difficulty, that doesn't mean she's totally safe just yet. There are plenty of potential SIDS risks, such as blankets and crib bumpers, which you might not even realize are dangerous. If your baby can move around, she's more likely to be exposed to these hazards, so be extra careful when using these items.
