Evie Summers
The safest sleeping position for a baby is on their back, as it reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Research has shown that babies who sleep on their front have a greater risk of SIDS. However, once a baby can move themselves from their back to their front and back again, they can find their own sleeping position. If a baby rolls over during sleep, they should be gently returned to the back-sleeping position until they can roll over easily in both directions unaided.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Safest sleeping position for newborns | On their back |
| Sleeping on the stomach | Increases the risk of SIDS |
| Sleeping on the side | Increases the risk of SIDS |
| Sleeping on the front when unsupervised | Increases the risk of SIDS |
| Sleeping on the stomach at least until the age of | 1 year old |
| Risk of SIDS when the baby is 6 months or older | Lower |
| Risk of SIDS when the baby is older | Much lower |
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What You'll Learn
- The risk of SIDS is higher when newborns sleep on their front
- Babies should sleep on their back from day one
- Babies should sleep in the same room as their parents for the first six months
- Babies should be placed with their feet at the foot of the cot to prevent wriggling under bedding
- Babies should not sleep on their side or stomach
The risk of SIDS is higher when newborns sleep on their front
The safest way to put your baby to sleep is on their back, on a flat, firm, and waterproof mattress. Research has shown that babies who are usually slept on their backs but sometimes on their fronts have a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Sleeping on the stomach can increase the risk of SIDS due to abnormalities in the brain's control of head and neck movement, breathing, heartbeat, and the body's responses to oxygen deprivation.
It is recommended that you place your baby on their back for every sleep, day or night, and this should be done from the very first day to establish a routine. This is because babies who are normally slept on their backs but are sometimes slept on their fronts are at a high risk of SIDS.
If your baby rolls over during sleep and ends up on their stomach, gently return them to the back-sleeping position. You can continue doing this until your baby can roll over easily in both directions unaided. At this stage, they will be able to find their own sleeping position, and you won't need to worry about them always sleeping on their back.
It is important to note that SIDS is much less likely in older babies. Once your baby is around six months old, they will likely be able to turn their face to the side when sleeping on their stomach, improving their breathing, and will also be able to roll back onto their back.
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Babies should sleep on their back from day one
It is important to place your baby on their back to sleep from day one and keep this going for every sleep, day and night. This should be continued until your baby can move themselves from their back to their front and back again. The Lullaby Trust recommends that this practice be made into a routine as babies who are normally slept on their backs but sometimes slept on their fronts are at a high risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Research has shown that babies who are usually slept on their backs but sometimes slept on their fronts or sides have a higher risk of SIDS. Sleeping a baby on their side or stomach increases the risk of SIDS, so sleeping them on their backs is the safest option unless your healthcare professional has told you otherwise. This is because of a developmental abnormality in babies, especially in premature babies and in boys, which has been directly linked to cases of SIDS.
The safest way to put your baby to sleep is on their back, on a flat, firm, and waterproof mattress. Keep their cot clear of items such as toys that could cover their face, to keep their airways clear, and for the first six months, they should sleep in the same room as you. This is the safest baby sleep position.
If your baby rolls over during sleep, gently return them to the back-sleeping position. Continue to do this until your infant can roll over easily in both directions—back to stomach and stomach to back—unaided. Even then, experts advise that you continue to put your baby down to sleep in the cot on their back.
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Babies should sleep in the same room as their parents for the first six months
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies sleep in the same room as their parents for at least the first six months, and ideally for a year. This is because room-sharing can halve the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Being in the same room allows parents to monitor their newborns' breathing patterns, quickly attend to their needs, and reinforce feeding practices, especially if breastfeeding. Transitioning a baby to their own room too early could present challenges and risks, including safety and feeding concerns.
Research shows that babies who room-share beyond four months of age are four times more likely to be pulled into their parents' bed during the night, and twice as likely to have pillows, blankets, and other unsafe sleeping materials close by. Pulling a baby into bed and sleeping with loose bedding is known to increase the risk of SIDS. However, some experts say that scientific evidence does not back up the guidelines, and that babies get less sleep at night and sleep for shorter stretches when they sleep in their parents' room after four months old.
It is recommended that babies are put to sleep on their back, on a flat, firm, and waterproof mattress, to further reduce the risk of SIDS. This is because sleeping a baby on their side or stomach increases the risk of SIDS, as they may not be able to turn their face to the side when sleeping on their stomach, which keeps their mouth and nose free for better breathing. Once your baby can move themselves from their back to their front and back again, they will be able to find their own sleeping position.
It is important to remember that there is no exact age for when your baby should sleep in their own room, and this decision is unique to every baby and family.
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Babies should be placed with their feet at the foot of the cot to prevent wriggling under bedding
It is recommended that babies are placed with their feet at the foot of the cot to prevent them from wriggling under the bedding. This is known as the "feet to foot" position. By placing the baby at the bottom of the cot, they cannot move further down the cot and are prevented from slipping under the blankets. This position is recommended by the NHS and the Lullaby Trust.
To further prevent the risk of wriggling under bedding, it is recommended that blankets are tucked in securely under the mattress and that they do not exceed the baby's shoulder height. Lightweight, breathable blankets are preferable as they allow for airflow and reduce the risk of suffocation. The Lullaby Trust recommends that the room temperature is kept between 16°C and 20°C.
The safest way to put your baby to sleep is on their back on a flat, firm, and waterproof mattress. This sleeping position significantly reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It is recommended that babies sleep on their back from the very beginning for every sleep, day and night, to establish a routine. Once the baby can roll over onto their front and back again by themselves, there is no need to worry if they turn onto their tummy or side while sleeping.
It is important to note that babies should not sleep on their side or tummy unless advised by a medical professional. Sleeping on the front increases the risk of SIDS. Additionally, it is crucial to keep the baby's room smoke-free, as exposure to smoke increases the risk of SIDS.
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Babies should not sleep on their side or stomach
It is recommended that babies sleep on their backs, as this is the safest position. Sleeping babies on their side or stomach increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and suffocation. Babies who sleep on their backs are also less likely to choke than babies who sleep on their stomachs. This is because, when a baby is sleeping on their back, the opening of the tube to the lungs (also called the trachea or windpipe) sits on top of the opening of the tube to the stomach (called the oesophagus). Fluids that come from the stomach have to work against gravity to get into the windpipe and cause choking.
Babies who are placed to sleep on their sides are more likely to fall onto their stomachs, the position associated with the highest risk of SIDS. Even babies with gastroesophageal reflux should be placed on their backs to sleep. Research shows that raising one end of the crib or crib mattress is not effective at reducing reflux or reflux symptoms. This practice is also dangerous for babies because they may slide down in the sleep space, which could affect their ability to breathe properly.
Babies who are placed on their backs to sleep from day one will adjust to the position more quickly. It is important to make this a routine, as babies who are usually slept on their backs but sometimes slept on their fronts are at a high risk of SIDS. Once a baby can move themselves from their back to their front and back again, they will be able to find their own sleeping position.
If a baby rolls onto their front during sleep, there is no need to panic. It is a sign of their development and them finding a comfortable sleeping position. However, it is recommended that caregivers always place babies on their backs to sleep, even if the baby seems less comfortable or sleeps more lightly in that position.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it is not safe for newborns to sleep on their front. Sleeping on their back is the safest position for newborns as it reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
If your baby is still young and cannot roll over unaided, gently turn them back onto their back. However, once your baby can roll over in both directions unassisted, you do not need to turn them back onto their back.
Yes, in addition to placing your baby on their back for every sleep, you should keep their cot clear of loose bedding, toys, and other items that could cover their face and restrict their breathing. It is also important to ensure that your baby does not get too hot and that they are not exposed to a smoky environment.
