What can I do if I put my 5-month-old to sleep on his back and he rolls over?

I'm concerned about the sleeping position of my 5-month-old. He prefers to sleep on his stomach and I'm worried because I've read so much about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). I put him down on his back but he rolls over - and I always find him sleeping on his tummy. What can I do about this problem?

At the age when babies begin to move around the cot when they sleep, many parents become concerned about maintaining a back- or side-sleeping position. However, by the time a baby has learned to roll over, (in both directions) the risk of SIDS decreases. (SIDS - unexplained sudden death while an infant sleeps - occurs in one to two of every 1,000 births.) At night, do your best to get him settled on his back or propped on his side, but don't worry if he rolls over. Many babies are more content on their backs if they're wrapped snugly with their hands up by their mouths so they can comfort themselves. To decrease your son's risk of SIDS:

• Make sure he sleeps on a firm mattress. A softer mattress may allow your baby to sink in and have difficulty breathing. Thick quilts and sheepskins shouldn't be used as sleeping surfaces.
• Don't overheat your baby's room. If the temperature in your house is comfortable to you, it should be just right for your son.

It may help to remember that for many years, the majority of British babies were put to sleep on their tummies (even as newborns) and were perfectly fine. It was just a few years ago that Australian researchers, and then British and American investigators, discovered that the incidence of SIDS dropped substantially when babies were put to sleep on their backs, on firm bedding in normally heated (i.e. not overheated) rooms. Now, after a few years of this new directive, the incidence of SIDS has dropped in the United Kingdom. It's worth it for our youngest babies, but rest assured, your son is nearly out of the woods on this one.