No, for newborn sleep, place babies on the back for every nap and night to lower the risk of SIDS and suffocation.
New parents hear a lot of mixed tips about sleep. Some relatives swear their babies rested longer on their tummies. Pediatric groups point the other way. Here’s the plain truth backed by research: for the first year, back-sleeping is the safe default. This guide explains why face-up sleep lowers danger, when tummy time fits in the day, and how to build a simple, safe crib setup.
Why Back-Sleeping Is Safer In The First Year
When a baby lies face-up, the airway stays open and the head tilts back a touch. During stomach sleep the jaw presses down, the tongue shifts backward, and rebreathing of exhaled air can happen in soft bedding. Back-sleeping cuts the odds of a sleep-related tragedy and has done so across many countries since the early 1990s campaigns.
Medical groups recommend placing a healthy infant on the back for every sleep, naps and nights, on a firm, flat surface with no soft items. This routine matters at home, at daycare, and during travel. Each sleep period counts, so the best habit is the same position every time.
Here’s a quick view of common positions and what they mean for safety during the first months.
| Position | Safety Note | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Back (Supine) | Lowest risk when crib is clear and surface is firm | All naps and nights |
| Side | Unstable; baby can roll forward to prone | Not for sleep |
| Front (Prone) | Higher risk of rebreathing and airway obstruction | Never for sleep |
| Inclined Devices | Head can slump; airway may narrow | Do not use |
| Tummy Time | Only while awake and watched | Short play sessions |
Is Tummy Sleeping Okay For A New Baby—What Doctors Advise
Short answer: not for sleep. A baby can practice prone play only while awake and watched closely. Daytime tummy sessions build neck and shoulder strength so the head can lift and turn with ease. Start with a few minutes at a time and add more in small steps across the first weeks.
Back-sleeping does not raise the risk of choking from spit-up. Healthy reflexes protect a baby in the face-up position, and large studies show lower death rates with this setup. Side-sleeping is not a safe shortcut since a small roll forward can land a baby prone.
Safe Sleep Setup: The Simple Checklist
Use a safety-approved crib, bassinet, or play yard with a tight fitted sheet. The surface should be flat, not angled. Sleep products with an incline or soft walls raise hazards. Keep the sleep space in your room for the first six months or longer, but give the baby a separate surface.
Skip pillows, quilts, loose blankets, positioners, bumpers, nests, and stuffed toys. If the room feels cool, dress the baby in a wearable blanket that is not weighted. Keep cords, strings, and monitor wires away from the crib.
Feed the baby, burp gently, and place down face-up while drowsy. A pacifier at sleep time can help reduce risk; offer it once nursing or bottle feeds are established. Maintain smoke-free air and keep the room comfortably cool.
Rolling Milestones And What To Do
Most babies start rolling between two and six months. The first flips are often from tummy to back, then the other way. Once a baby shows strong rolling both ways during the day, you still place the baby on the back to start sleep. If the baby later rolls over during the night, you do not need to keep flipping the baby back, provided the crib stays clear and the mattress is firm.
Do not use wedges or positioners to hold one pose. Those gadgets can block air or trap a baby. Keep swaddling only in the first weeks, and stop as soon as a baby tries to roll. When swaddling ends, a warm sleep sack is a safer wearable layer.
What About Reflux, Spit-Up, Or Flat Spots?
Parents who live with reflux fear choking when the baby lies on the back. Studies and expert reviews show gag reflexes protect the airway in this position. Healthcare teams still use the face-up pose even in reflux cases unless directed otherwise for specific medical conditions.
Flat areas on the head can appear during the first months due to long periods on one surface. This head shape change is common and usually fades with time. Increase supervised tummy time during the day, vary head turns in the crib, and use a baby carrier during wake windows to reduce pressure.
If neck tightness or a strong head preference shows up, ask your pediatrician about simple stretches. Early attention helps balance movement. Helmets are rarely needed and are reserved for marked cases.
Swaddles, Sleep Sacks, And Gear To Skip
Swaddling can calm a newborn in the first weeks by limiting sudden startles. Always place a swaddled baby on the back. Stop swaddling at the first sign of rolling. Choose a light fabric with the hips flexed and room for natural leg motion.
Weighted blankets, weighted swaddles, and weighted sleepers are not safe for infants. They can press on the chest and change breathing. Skip inclined sleepers, loungers, and car seats for routine sleep because they tilt the head forward and can block the airway.
For warmth, switch to a sleep sack sized to your baby. Pick a tog level that matches the room and dress in thin layers under the sack. Check the chest and back of the neck; if the skin feels sweaty, remove a layer.
Daytime Tummy Time: How To Start And Progress
Place the baby on a blanket on the floor while awake and watched. Start with two to three short bouts daily, then add minutes as strength builds. You can lay the baby on your chest while you recline, or roll a small towel under the chest for a brief boost.
Make it playful: sing, talk, and place a crinkle toy within reach. Keep sessions short and upbeat. If the baby fusses, roll to the side, pick up for a cuddle, and try again later. Across the first two months, work toward 15 to 30 minutes total per day split into many small sets. A clear parent-facing guide on tummy play from the AAP’s family site is handy here—see AAP tummy time tips.
Travel, Visitors, And Caregivers
Share your plan with grandparents, babysitters, and daycare staff. The rule is simple: every sleep starts face-up in a clear crib. Bring a fitted sheet for a travel crib and skip playpens that are missing parts or have soft sides.
During family visits, keep soft couches and adult beds off-limits for infant sleep. If you feed in a chair late at night and feel drowsy, set an alarm or move to a bed with no pillows or covers near the baby, then place the baby back in their own sleep space once you wake.
When To Call Your Pediatrician
Reach out if breathing sounds labored during sleep, if skin looks bluish or gray, or if long pauses in breathing appear. Touch the baby to check for a response and call emergency services if you cannot rouse the baby. Also call for feeding trouble, poor weight gain, or ongoing reflux symptoms that bring pain or back-arching.
Keep routine well-child visits and shots on schedule. Immunizations lower the risk of sleep-related death. If you smoke or vape, ask for help with quitting; clean air matters for infant health and safe sleep.
Here are quick yes/no calls on common myths and practices parents ask about during the first year.
| Claim | Safe Reality | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| “Prone sleep helps reflux” | Back-sleeping still safer for reflux in healthy babies | Use back pose; ask doctor for severe cases |
| “Flat spots mean brain trouble” | Head shape change is usually cosmetic | Add tummy time; vary head turns |
| “Side sleep is a good middle ground” | Side is unstable and can roll to prone | Place baby face-up every time |
| “Weighted swaddles are soothing and safe” | Weight on the chest can hinder breathing | Use a standard sleep sack |
| “Bed sharing keeps baby safer” | Shared surfaces raise suffocation risk | Room-share, not bed-share |
Step-By-Step Bedtime Flow You Can Rely On
1) Feed and burp. 2) Zip into a sleep sack. 3) Lay the baby on the back in a clear crib. 4) Offer a pacifier if your baby likes one. 5) Darken the room and start a simple sound, like a steady shush or soft fan noise. 6) Leave the room and give a few minutes for the baby to settle. Over time this steady routine teaches the body that night sleep is starting.
Safe sleep is not complicated. It is a set of small, steady habits that stack up to lower risk while your baby grows stronger by the week. Share these steps with anyone who puts your baby down to nap, and keep the setup the same from one place to the next. For a clear checklist that matches public health advice, see the CDC’s guidance on safe infant sleep here: CDC safe sleep recommendations.