Babies should always be put to sleep on their back for the entire first year, and stomach sleep is only considered okay once a baby can reliably roll both ways on their own and chooses that position during sleep. Even then, caregivers should continue to place the baby down on their back and keep the sleep space firm and empty of loose items.

Quick Scoop: Safe Ages & Rules

  • Most pediatric and sleep experts say:
    • Always place baby on their back to sleep until 12 months of age.
* Newborns and young infants (especially under 4–5 months) should not sleep on their stomach because it raises the risk of SIDS.
  • Tummy sleep becomes less risky once:
    • Baby can purposely roll from back to tummy and tummy to back on their own, usually around 5–6 months, though timing varies by child.
* At that stage, many doctors and sleep educators say you can leave baby if they roll to their stomach, as long as you always put them down on their back and the sleep setup is safe.

When Can Baby Sleep On Stomach?

  • There isn’t one exact “age,” but rather a skill :
    • Safe tummy sleep is generally considered acceptable when baby can consistently roll both ways without help and has good head and trunk control.
* For many babies, this happens sometime before 1 year, often between 5–8 months, but later or earlier can still be normal.
  • Even after 1 year:
    • Guidance is to keep placing your child down on their back, but it is fine if they roll into their preferred position, including their stomach, during sleep.

Why Stomach Sleeping Is Risky Early On

  • Stomach and side sleeping are strongly linked to a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Large studies and campaigns like “Back to Sleep” have shown SIDS rates fall dramatically when babies sleep on their backs.
  • Key risk factors with early tummy sleep include:
    • Breathing in the same air (too much carbon dioxide, not enough oxygen).
* Overheating, since warm air can build up around baby’s face and they can’t move away.

* Softer surfaces or loose items (blankets, pillows, bumpers) increasing suffocation risk.

Safe Sleep Setup (Especially If Baby Starts Rolling)

  • Always:
    • Put baby on their back for every sleep until at least 12 months.
* Use a firm, flat crib or bassinet mattress with a fitted sheet only; no pillows, blankets, bumpers, or stuffed animals.

* Stop swaddling once baby shows signs of rolling and have them sleep unswaddled if they might end up on their tummy.
  • If baby rolls to tummy on their own and can roll both ways:
    • You do not need to keep flipping them back all night; just ensure the environment is safe and they are unswaddled.

Tummy Time vs Tummy Sleep

  • Tummy time is encouraged during the day when baby is awake and supervised to build neck and core strength.
  • This is different from stomach sleeping:
    • Tummy time: awake, watched, firm surface.
    • Tummy sleep: unsupervised and higher risk before baby can roll and reposition, so it must be avoided until those skills are solid.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.

For any baby under 1 year, it is essential to confirm individual readiness and special conditions (like reflux, prematurity, or breathing issues) with a pediatrician before allowing regular tummy sleep.