Put your baby on their back for all naps and at night.
Additional Info
- The problem with the side position is that the baby can roll more easily onto the stomach. Some parents worry that babies will choke when on their backs, but the baby’s airway anatomy and the gag reflex will keep that from happening. Even babies with gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) should sleep on their backs.
- Newborns should be placed skin-to-skin with their mother as soon as possible after birth, at least for the first hour. After that, or when the mother needs to sleep or cannot do skin-to-skin, babies should be placed on their backs in the bassinet. While preemies may need to be on their stomachs temporarily while in the NICU due to breathing problems, they should be placed on their backs after their problems resolve, so that they can get used to being on their backs and before going home.
- Some babies will roll onto their stomachs. You should always place your baby to sleep on the back, but if your baby is comfortable rolling both ways (back to tummy, tummy to back), then you do not have to return your baby to the back. However, be sure that there are no blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, or bumper pads around your baby so that your baby does not roll into any of those items, which could cause blockage of airflow.
- If a baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, swing, infant carrier, or sling, you should move him or her to a firm sleep surface on his or her back as soon as possible.
Learn More
Babies who sleep on their backs are much less likely to die suddenly and unexpectedly than babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides. The problem with the side position is that your baby can roll more easily onto their stomach. Some parents worry that babies will choke when they’re on their backs. But your baby’s airway anatomy and their gag reflex will keep that from happening. Even babies with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) should sleep flat on their backs.
Also keep in mind:
- A newborn should be placed skin-to-skin with their mother as soon after birth as possible, for at least an hour. After that, or when the mother needs to sleep or take care of her other needs, the baby should be placed on their back in a bassinet with no incline.
- Preemies may need to be on their stomachs temporarily while they’re in the NICU, but you should place them on their backs as soon as they’re medically stable. This helps them adjust to sleeping on their backs before going home.
- Some babies will roll onto their stomachs. You should always place your baby to sleep on their back, but if they’re comfortable rolling both ways (back to tummy, tummy to back), then you don’t need to keep turning your baby to their back again. Be sure that there are no blankets, pillows, stuffed toys or bumper pads in your baby’s bed, though. Your baby could roll into any of these items, which could block their airflow.
Common Questions
No. Many parents worry that their baby will choke when sleeping on his or her back, but this is not true. Infants are actually less likely to choke when placed on their backs. Babies have a reflex to keep their airway clear and avoid choking. They will cough up or swallow any fluid or spit up.
Some parents worry that babies will choke when on their backs, but the baby’s airway anatomy and the gag reflex will keep that from happening. Even babies with gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) should sleep on their backs.
Newborns should be placed <skin-to-skin with their mother as soon after birth as possible, at least for the first hour. After that, or when the mother needs to sleep or cannot do skin-to-skin, babies should be placed on their backs in the bassinet. While preemies may need to be on their stomachs temporarily while in the NICU due to breathing problems, they should be placed on their backs after the problems resolve, so that they can get used to being on their backs and before going home.
Some babies will roll onto their stomachs. You should always place your baby to sleep on the back, but if your baby is comfortable rolling both ways (back to tummy, tummy to back), then you do not have to return your baby to the back. However, be sure that there are no blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, or bumper pads around your baby, so that your baby does not roll into any of those items, which could block airflow.
You should move him or her to a firm sleep surface on his or her back as soon as possible. Car seats should be used for infants’ safety when riding in passenger cars, and not as a substitute for a crib. If an infant falls asleep in a car seat or other inclined seat, he or she should be transferred to a firm, safe sleeping surface on his/her back as soon as possible.
Yes, as parents we did what we thought was best at the time, but over the years we have learned more and more about what are the best ways to keep a baby safe while they sleep. Research has shown time after time that placing a baby on their back for sleep for their first year of life is one of the best things you can do to help keep them safe.
Back sleeping is so important because stomach sleeping is believed to:
- Increase the chance that the baby rebreathes his or her own exhaled breath, leading to carbon dioxide build-up and low oxygen levels–click HERE for a short video to learn more
- Block upper-airway, making it hard for baby to breath
- Cause overheating
- Causes not enough oxygen to get to the brain.
All of these issues can add up to greater risk of a baby dying.
Research has found that babies that usually sleep on their backs, but who are then placed to sleep on their stomachs or sides, like for a nap, are at very high risk of sleep-related deaths. This means it is important that all people taking care of your baby should place baby to sleep on their backs for every sleep. Click HERE to read more about talking to caretakers about safe sleep.
