thank u for your advice that was the main reason why i wasnt too keen on them sleeping on their fronts and i was constantly waking up to check they were ok but in the end i decided to turn them over which consequently woke them up. in future i will leave them aa they do seem to be more comfier on their fronts.

The reason that parents are advised to not to let babies sleep on their tummies is that sleeping in this possition increases the risk of cot death SIDS. SIDS is rare- about 750,000 babies are born in the UK each year and about 300 die from SIDS. Before parents were advised to put babies on their backs the number of deaths was over 500 a year.

90% of all babies who die due to SIDS are under six months old. By the time babies reach the age of your twins the danger has passed. Sleeping position probably influences deaths because it takes more effort to breath when lying on the tummy because when lying chest down a baby needs to lift his upper body with each breath- harder than just lifting the chest. Once children have stong chest muscles - which they must have to roll over-sleeping on the tummy is safe.

The advice given by those who study SIDS is that after six months children should be allowed to sleep in any position they find confortable.

You may have read that the risk of `SIDS is higher in boys and in twins. Boys are always more vulnerable to almost any illness (even as old men) but the increased risk of being a twin probably relates to low birth weight and an increased risk of prematurity. Risks that almost certainly no longer apply to your boys.

Relax! Put the boys down on their backs and if they roll over let them sleep.
Dorothy Einon

is it ok for 8 month olds to sleep on their fronts if they can roll back over themselves as if i try an turn them back over they wake up and wont go back to sleep x