How to Know When a Baby Can Sleep on Its Tummy

Tummy sleeping is not safe for babies. Even though 20 years ago, this was completely acceptable, and even advised, new research indicates that babies should not sleep on their stomachs. By following this simple advice, the risk of potentially fatal situations can be reduced.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Avoid putting a baby to sleep on his tummy until he's a year old. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has been directly linked to putting a baby to sleep on his stomach. It is never recommended to put a baby to sleep on it's tummy before this time.
2. Watch a baby closely at first. When a baby first starts rolling over, it is possible for her to roll over and get stuck that way. Check in on baby a little while after putting her to sleep to make sure she's still on her back. Another good way to prevent this is to use a positioner.
3. Wait until a baby can roll over both ways with ease. Once a baby is proficient at rolling over, it's no longer necessary to keep putting her on her back, or use a positioner.
4. Keep the bed free of toys, pillows and thick blankets. This way, when baby rolls over there is less of a chance of something being on his face. This reduces the risk of suffocation.
5. Let them sleep how they want once a toddler. If she is constantly flipping onto her tummy, don't worry. The risk of SIDS decreases dramatically after their first birthday, so there's less of a worry.