Evie Summers
As a new parent, you might be wondering when it's safe for your newborn to sleep on their belly. The answer is that it's generally recommended to place your baby on their back to sleep until they are at least one year old. Sleeping on the stomach increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), as it can cause a build-up of carbon dioxide, a decrease in oxygen levels, and overheating. However, once your baby can roll both ways and has the strength to return to a safe position, it's fine to let them sleep in the position they prefer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recommended sleeping position for newborns | On their back |
| Risks of belly sleeping | Overheating, rebreathing carbon dioxide, suffocation, SIDS |
| Safe age to sleep on belly | After 1 year |
| Safe position to sleep on belly | When the baby can roll both ways |
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What You'll Learn
Safe sleeping positions for newborns
The safest sleeping position for newborns is on their back. Sleeping on the back is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH's “Back to Sleep” campaign (now "Safe to Sleep") has helped reduce the number of SIDS-related deaths by 50% since its launch in 1994.
Placing babies to sleep on their backs lowers the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Sleeping on their stomach increases the risk of SIDS as it can cause a baby to breathe in too much carbon dioxide, leading to suffocation. It can also cause the baby to overheat due to the buildup of body heat, which is another risk factor for SIDS.
It is recommended to place babies on their backs for sleep until they are at least one year old. Even if they roll onto their bellies after you put them down, it is fine to let them sleep in that position as long as they can easily roll from their stomach to their back.
To help your baby build the strength to roll over, give them plenty of tummy time while they are awake and supervised. This will also help them avoid flat head syndrome, which can develop when babies spend too much time on their backs.
To ensure a safe sleep environment, always place your baby on a firm, flat surface with no loose bedding, toys, or other items in the crib.
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Reducing the risk of SIDS
The safest position for a baby to sleep is on their back on a firm, flat surface, and this practice is recommended until the baby is at least 12 months old. Sleeping on the back can lower the risk of SIDS by up to 45 times. It is also recommended to keep the baby in the same room as the caregiver, which can also reduce the risk of SIDS.
- Belly sleeping: Sleeping on the belly increases the risk of SIDS. This is because babies can breathe in their own exhaled breath, leading to a buildup of carbon dioxide and a drop in oxygen levels. It can also cause overheating, which is a known risk factor for SIDS. However, once the baby can roll over onto their tummy and back by themselves, there is no need to worry if they turn onto their tummy while sleeping.
- Safe sleep environment: Create a safe sleep environment for the baby by following recommendations from organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This includes using a firm, flat baby mattress and well-fitting, lightweight bedding to prevent overheating.
- Avoid soft surfaces and objects: Keep soft objects and bedding away from the baby's face to reduce the risk of suffocation and rebreathing exhaled air, which can increase carbon dioxide levels and lower oxygen levels.
- Temperature regulation: Dress the baby in lightweight clothing and maintain a comfortable room temperature to prevent overheating, which is a risk factor for SIDS.
- Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS.
- Pacifier use: Offering a pacifier to formula-fed babies may help reduce the risk of SIDS, but it is not necessary if the baby does not want one.
- Avoid smoking: Exposure to cigarette smoke, including secondhand smoke, increases the risk of SIDS. Keep the baby away from smoky places and ensure no one smokes in the same house.
- Room-sharing: It is safer to share a room with the baby than to put them in a separate room. This allows for easy access for feeding, comforting, and checking on the baby.
- Supervised tummy time: Place the baby on their tummy during supervised tummy time when they are awake and alert. This helps strengthen their neck, shoulder, and arm muscles, promoting safer sleep as they get older.
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Tummy time while they're awake
It is recommended that babies sleep on their backs until they are at least 12 months old. Sleeping on their stomach increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), as it may cause overheating, rebreathing of carbon dioxide, and suffocation.
However, this does not mean that newborns should never be on their bellies. In fact, tummy time while they are awake is important for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to prevent flat spots on the back of the head, which can occur when babies spend too much time on their backs during the first few months of life. Tummy time encourages babies to look around and move their heads, strengthening their neck, shoulder, and arm muscles. It also helps babies prepare for crawling, sitting up, and rolling over, which can lead to safer sleep as they age.
- Start slowly, placing your baby on their belly for 1-5 minutes at a time, several times a day. Gradually increase the duration and aim for a total of about 1 hour of tummy time per day by the time they are 3 months old.
- Always stay with your baby during tummy time and ensure it is carried out on a safe, flat, and low surface, such as a blanket on the floor or a firm mattress. Avoid soft surfaces like sofas or beds, where the baby could roll off or suffocate.
- Make tummy time enjoyable by getting down to your baby's level, singing songs, reading books, or shaking a rattle to encourage them to look up and push up.
- Place a toy or mirror in front of your baby to encourage reaching and forward movement. This can also help treat torticollis and flat head syndrome.
- Help your baby bear weight through their arms by keeping their elbows under their shoulders and gently lifting their chest.
Remember, tummy time is important, but it is also crucial that your baby gets used to being on their back, associating it with pleasant experiences. Include some back-lying time during their active, awake hours, such as when they are playing or listening to a story.
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Signs your baby is too warm
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies sleep on their backs until they are at least 12 months old. This is because sleeping on their bellies increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and overheating, which is a known risk factor for SIDS.
Overheating can cause lethargy in babies, and it can be dangerous. If your baby's temperature is over 100.4°F, this may indicate that they are too warm and in need of medical attention. Here are some signs that your baby is too warm:
- Their ears are red and hot, and their neck is sweaty.
- Their skin is flushed, and they are sweating.
- They are restless and are experiencing heat rash.
To prevent overheating, it is important to monitor the room temperature and ensure your baby is dressed appropriately. Keep the room temperature between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 22.2 degrees Celsius). Dress your baby in one more layer than you are wearing, and remove a layer if they get too warm. Avoid bulky coats and snowsuits, especially in the car seat, as they can leave too much space under the harness and endanger your baby in the event of an accident. Instead, secure your baby in their car seat without a jacket and place a blanket over the lower part of their body. Remove the blanket once the car warms up.
Additionally, choose a firm and flat mattress for your baby's crib or bassinet. A soft mattress can increase the chances of rebreathing, leading to high carbon dioxide levels and low oxygen levels in the body. Also, ensure your baby's head and face are uncovered during sleep, and there are no loose blankets, comforters, or toys near their face that could block their breathing.
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How to get your baby to sleep
When to Put Your Baby to Sleep on Their Belly
It is recommended that babies always sleep on their backs for every sleep, including naps, during their first year of life. Sleeping on the stomach is unsafe as it increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). After your baby turns one, you can let them sleep in any position they prefer, although you should continue to place them on their back in their crib.
Creating a Safe Sleep Environment
To create a safe sleep environment for your baby, ensure that their crib or bassinet is free of loose bedding, soft toys, and pillows. These items can increase the risk of suffocation if they cover your baby's face or the baby rolls over onto them. Additionally, make sure that there is nothing else in the crib besides your baby. It is also important to invest in a good-quality, firm mattress that provides your baby with the necessary support and comfort.
Establishing a Bedtime Routine
Establishing a consistent bedtime routine can greatly help your baby fall asleep and get better sleep. This routine can include a gentle bath using cleansing gel or foam shampoo for newborns, followed by a massage with plant-based baby oil. Maintaining a consistent temperature in the baby's room, between 68° and 72°F, is also important. You can use a white noise machine to help cancel out outside noises and create a peaceful sleep environment.
Encouraging Back Sleeping
If your baby prefers sleeping on their belly, you can encourage back sleeping by including some back-lying time during their active, awake hours. They can lie on their back while playing with toys or listening to stories, associating this position with pleasant experiences. Additionally, providing tummy time while they are awake can help build their strength and encourage rolling over.
Calming Techniques
To calm your baby and prepare them for sleep, you can try swaddling, shushing, and rocking, which mimic the comforting sensations of the womb. However, once your baby shows signs of rolling, it is important to transition out of swaddling to prevent them from rolling into unsafe positions.
Rolling and Belly Sleeping
If your baby starts rolling onto their belly during sleep, you can gently return them to their back. However, if your baby is an expert roller and can roll in both directions (back to belly and belly to back), you don't need to reposition them. Make sure to always place them on their back initially until they are at least one year old.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended that newborns sleep on their backs on a flat and solid surface with no extra bedding or toys. This is because sleeping on the belly increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), overheating, and rebreathing—when a baby breathes in air they have exhaled, causing dangerously high carbon dioxide levels and low oxygen levels. Once your baby can roll over independently, they may sleep on their bellies.
Try swaddling your newborn, and make sure they sleep on a firm mattress. You can also try supervised tummy time when they are awake to help them build the neck and shoulder strength they need to roll over.
SIDS stands for sudden infant death syndrome, also known as sudden unexplained infant death (SUID). It is the unexplained death of an otherwise healthy infant under 1 year of age.
Aside from increasing the risk of SIDS, sleeping on the belly can cause your newborn to overheat, rebreathe exhaled air, and suffocate.
