Miya Pearson
Sleeping on the stomach is not recommended for newborns and infants. It is considered unsafe for babies, especially newborns to 5-month-olds, as it increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Babies who sleep on their stomachs may have trouble getting enough oxygen and can inhale their own exhaled breath, increasing the risk of suffocation. The safest option is to put babies to sleep on their backs for at least the first 12 months, including during daytime naps. However, if a baby can roll onto their stomach by themselves and roll back, it is generally considered okay to leave them in that position. Supervised tummy time while the baby is awake is recommended for the development of motor skills and to prevent flat head syndrome.
Can newborn sleep on stomach supervised?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Safe sleep position for newborns | On their back |
| Risk of sleeping on the stomach | Increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) |
| Safe age to sleep on the stomach | After 1 year old |
| Safe alternative to sleeping on the stomach | Tummy time during waking hours |
| Safe alternative to sleeping on the stomach | Swaddling |
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What You'll Learn
Sleeping on the stomach increases the risk of SIDS
It is unsafe to let babies sleep on their stomachs before they turn one. Sleeping on the stomach increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants one month to one year old. It affects about 3,400 babies in the United States each year.
Research has shown that placing babies on their backs to sleep can help prevent SIDS and lower the risk of the condition. Sleeping on the stomach can obstruct a baby's breathing and increase their risk of suffocation. When a baby sleeps on their stomach, they may press their face into the mattress, which can block their airway and cause them to inhale expired air, leading to too much carbon dioxide and too little oxygen in their bodies. This increases the risk of suffocation.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all healthy infants younger than one year old be placed on their backs to sleep. The AAP's Back to Sleep campaign was launched in the early 1990s when research showed that putting babies under the age of 12 months to sleep on their backs reduced the risk of SIDS. Since the campaign began, the incidence of SIDS has decreased by more than 50%.
If your baby rolls onto their stomach while sleeping, you should gently roll them back. However, if your baby can roll back and forth on their own, they can choose their sleeping position, but they should still be put down on their back.
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Babies should always be put to sleep on their back
The safety of your baby is paramount, and one of the most important pieces of advice for new parents is about baby sleep positions. The short answer is that babies should always be put to sleep on their backs, and this advice applies to newborns and infants under 12 months for their daytime naps and at night.
The "Back to Sleep" campaign was launched in the early 1990s when research showed that putting babies to sleep on their backs reduced the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the leading cause of death for babies in their first year, and one of the main causes is thought to be babies sleeping on their stomachs. Research shows that putting babies under one year old to sleep on their back decreases the risk of SIDS, which is the sudden and unexplained death of a baby under one during sleep.
Placing babies on their backs to sleep can help prevent SIDS and lower the risk. When a baby sleeps on their stomach, they may press their face into the mattress, which can obstruct their breathing. They may also inhale the air they already breathed out, which can lead to too much carbon dioxide and too little oxygen in their bodies, increasing the risk of suffocation. This is known as "rebreathing".
Babies who are put to sleep on their backs are also less likely to develop a flat head. Tummy time when they are awake helps prevent this, too, and it also strengthens important muscles, supports development, and can help with digestion and gas.
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Tummy time is essential for development and motor skills
It is unsafe for babies to sleep on their tummies before turning one. This includes allowing little ones to sleep on their sides because they can easily roll onto their stomachs from this position. Tummy sleeping increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and suffocation.
Tummy time, on the other hand, is essential for your baby's development and motor skills. It is laying babies on their stomachs for brief periods while they're awake. It is an important way to help babies strengthen their neck, shoulder, back, and core muscles, and improve motor skills.
Tummy time can be started shortly after birth and continued throughout the first year. It helps develop the muscles babies need to roll over, sit up, crawl, and eventually walk. It also helps prevent flat spots on their heads from sleeping on their backs. Babies with neck conditions like torticollis (tight neck muscles) can benefit from tummy time as it helps them develop the muscles they need to turn their heads.
To start tummy time, place your newborn belly-down on your chest or lap for a few minutes at a time, two to three times a day. You can gradually increase the duration and frequency, aiming for about an hour a day by the time they're 3 months old. Always stay with your baby and watch them closely during tummy time.
As your baby gets used to tummy time, you can explore different positions and activities to further support their development. Tummy time is essential for your baby's growth and should be included in their daily routine.
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Babies should be placed on their back until they're one year old
It is important to place babies on their backs to sleep until they are one year old. Sleeping on the back is the safest position for a baby and can significantly lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the sudden, unexpected, and unexplained death of a baby under one during sleep. It is one of the leading causes of death for babies in their first year of life. Research shows that placing babies on their backs to sleep can help prevent this and lower the risk of SIDS by as much as 7 to 8 times.
Babies who sleep on their stomachs may struggle to breathe and may inhale expired air, leading to too much carbon dioxide and too little oxygen in their bodies, increasing the risk of suffocation. On the other hand, a baby sleeping on their back is able to get the oxygen they need without breathing in expired air. The risk of SIDS is also associated with a baby's inability to wake up. Placing babies on their backs to sleep can help prevent this and lower the risk of SIDS.
It is recommended to always lay babies on their backs for naps and nighttime sleep until they turn one year old. If your baby rolls over to their side or tummy by themselves and can roll both ways, it is okay to leave them in that position. Babies typically start to show signs of starting to roll over around 3 or 4 months old, but every child is different. Tummy time when the baby is awake is recommended to strengthen important muscles, support development, and prevent flat spots on their heads.
To ensure the safety of your baby, it is important to follow the recommendations of placing infants on their backs to sleep until they are one year old. This simple step can significantly reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related hazards, making it a crucial practice for new parents and caregivers to adopt.
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If a baby rolls onto their stomach, they should be gently rolled back
It is important to place babies on their backs when putting them to sleep to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). However, as babies start to gain mobility, they may begin to roll over in their cribs, landing on their sides or stomachs. If a baby rolls onto their stomach and can roll back onto their back independently, they can be left to sleep in the position they choose.
If a baby is not yet able to roll back and forth between their back and stomach independently, they should be gently rolled back onto their back. This is because babies who sleep on their stomachs may struggle to breathe and are at a higher risk of SIDS as much as 7 to 8 times. When a baby lies on their stomach, they may press their face into the mattress, obstructing their breathing. They also inhale expired air, increasing the risk of suffocation.
It is recommended that babies are placed on their backs to sleep for the first 12 months of their life. Studies have shown that placing babies under one year old on their backs to sleep decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 7 to 8 times. Once a baby can roll both ways, stomach sleeping becomes much safer.
To help babies develop the strength to roll over, they should be given plenty of tummy time when they are awake. Tummy time helps to strengthen important muscles, supports development, and can aid with digestion and gas. It also helps to prevent flat head syndrome, which can occur when babies sleep on their backs.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it is not safe for a newborn to sleep on their stomach, even if supervised. Babies should always be put to sleep on their back for at least the first 12 months, including daytime naps. Sleeping on the stomach increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and suffocation.
When a baby sleeps on their stomach, they may press their face into the mattress, which can obstruct their breathing and increase the risk of suffocation. They inhale the air they already breathed out, which can lead to too much carbon dioxide and too little oxygen in their body.
If your newborn rolls onto their stomach while sleeping, gently roll them back. If your baby can roll back and forth on their own, you do not need to return them to the back-sleeping position.
To help your newborn sleep safely on their back, keep their crib or bassinet free from blankets, pillows, toys, and other soft or loose objects. Swaddling can also help keep a baby wrapped snugly and reduce their ability to roll over onto their stomach.
