Tummy sleep: when is ok for babies to sleep on their stomach
Tummy sleep is a hot button issue because of safe sleep guidelines for SIDS…but so many babies will flip over and want to sleep on their stomach and parents aren’t sure what to do! In this post, we’ll discuss when many pediatricians say it’s ok for babies to sleep on their stomach, how you can prepare and things not to use during this transition period.
When is it safe for a baby to sleep on their stomach
Many pediatricians say that there are two skills a baby needs to have in order for them to be able to sleep on their stomach: great head control and the ability to roll back to front and front to back easily.
The current guidelines recommend not laying baby down in the crib on their stomach until their first birthday. If a baby does roll over in his sleep, and has the skills mentioned above, then parents do not need to reposition them.
If your baby has good head control and can roll both ways, have a conversation with your pediatrician. Many will say that with those skills, babies can sleep on their stomach without the need to flip them over.
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What to do in preparation to have a baby sleep on their tummy
Make sure your baby is out of the swaddle
Once a baby starts showing signs of rolling, they should immediately be transitioned out of the swaddle. If a baby is swaddled and rolls over, it can be very dangerous!Practice rolling…A LOT!
We want your baby to master rolling both ways so they aren’t trying to master this new skill in the crib! Offer tummy time often, in between every nap if possible. Here are two videos that show how to practice rolling tummy to back and how to practice rolling back to tummy.
What you DON’T want to use to help babies sleep in a certain position
The items below are not recommended to be used by the AAP and/or become sleep props with continued use. Remember we want the safest possbile sleep environment while not having baby depend on products to get to sleep!
Sleep suits or similar motion-restrictive PJs
These make it impossible for a baby to roll over and I often see parents still using them (pre-sleep training, of course!) because their baby is starting to roll and they don’t want to go in 782 times and flip them back over! Once parents get the ok from the pediatrician that their baby has the skills needed to more safely sleep on their tummy, you want to make that transition to a sleep sack.Weighted sleep sacks
The AAP does not recommend using weighted sleep sacks.Positioners, pillows or rolled up blankets
For safety, there shouldn’t be anything in the crib with your baby, so don’t use any items that would restrict movement. Remember that the recommendations are 12 months of age to have a blanket in the crib and 24 months of age for children to have a pillow in the crib.
What babies should sleep in when they sleep on their stomach
Once babies are sleeping on their stomach, they should be out of the swaddle and in a regular sleep sack.
Use a sleep sack in fabric appropriate for the temperature of that season, without the swaddle flaps or weighted feature.
When in doubt, always reach out to your pediatrician with questions about whether it’s safe for your baby to sleep on his or her stomach!
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This post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you, your child and/or your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your child’s physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.