Parenthood arrives, and suddenly you’re contemplating things you never had to think about before. One such topic is your baby’s sleep position. If you’re wondering what’s best, your baby sleeping on their side or their back, you’re in the right place.
In this article, we’ll discuss what’s best for your little one when it comes to putting them down for naps and nighttime.
Key Takeaways
Table of contents
- Baby sleep positions
- What if your baby rolls to their side or stomach at night?
- What if your baby develops a flat head?
- What is the “newborn curl”?
- Recommendations for safer sleep
Baby sleep positions
Your sweet, snoozing little one is adorable no matter how they fall asleep. But it’s important to remember that when it comes to safety, not all sleep positions are the same.
You may have heard that “back is best” or be familiar with the “back to sleep” campaign. It’s true: putting your baby to sleep on their back is the safest option. But with that said, the sleep positions that are OK for your little one depend on their age and development.
Let us explain by reviewing the three sleep positions.
Baby sleeping on back
We’ve already mentioned the fact of the matter: the safest sleep position for babies is on their back. This was first recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 1992 and has been the recommended sleep position since.
When a baby sleeps on their back, their airway stays clear and the chance of rebreathing air, which can cause oxygen deprivation, is reduced.
It’s the best option until your baby learns how to roll over without help, and on their back is the position that you should always put them in when you lay them down. It’s a good idea to communicate this to your baby’s other caregivers like aunts, uncles, grandparents, and babysitters.
Although your baby sleeping on their back is the safest position, it’s not safe to use a positioner, wedge, or pillows to attempt to keep your baby on their back while they sleep. These pose a risk for entrapment or suffocation.
Baby sleeping on side
Lots of baby pictures feature little angel babies curled up on their side, sleeping serenely. However, putting your baby on their side to sleep (whether for naps or nighttime) is not the safest option.
That’s because there are several risks associated with side sleeping. Let’s take a look.
Rolling onto their stomach
When your baby is sleeping on their side, it’s too easy for them to roll over onto their stomach, which could increase the risk of suffocation. That’s because newborns haven’t yet developed the muscles or skills to roll over again onto their back.
What if your little one spits up at night? Many parents worry that there’s less of a chance that their baby will choke on spit-up if they’re sleeping on their side.
However, side sleeping is not recommended. It’s an unstable position that makes it easier for a baby to roll onto their stomach. Always place your baby on their back to sleep, even if they spit up.
Flat head syndrome
If a baby side sleeps for too long, they can get flat spots on their head. This, of course, can also happen with back sleepers. The good news is that it normally resolves after a short time. We’ll discuss flat head in more detail below.
Torticollis
Torticollis, or “wry neck,” is a condition that causes a baby’s head to twist and tilt to one side as a result of contracted neck muscles. This can be caused by genetics or by a muscle spasm or trauma to the neck muscles. Babies with torticollis may favor turning their heads to one side.
Harlequin color change
Babies who side sleep can also experience harlequin color change, a condition that causes their face to redden as blood pools on the side they’re sleeping on. Luckily, this is a harmless condition that goes away after a couple of minutes.
Baby sleeping on stomach
What about your baby sleeping on their stomach? Forty or 50 years ago, this was the recommended sleep position. But that changed in 1992 when, as we mentioned, the AAP advised that babies sleep on their back.
Like side-sleeping, a baby sleeping on their stomach risks re-breathing air, which can cause hypoxia (low oxygen) and hypercapnia (high carbon dioxide), the combination of which can lead to oxygen deprivation.
Stomach sleeping can also raise the risk of overheating and accidental suffocation.
What if your baby rolls to their side or stomach at night?
Always place your baby on their back to sleep. However, once they can independently roll from back to stomach and stomach to back, you can allow them to remain in the position they choose.
Also, the best way to keep them safer is to keep the crib free of any other objects and follow safer sleep practices (which we will go over at the end of this article), especially when they start rolling over.
What if your baby develops a flat head?
We mentioned this briefly a little earlier in the article, but you may have been wondering what to do if your baby develops a flat spot on their head.
The bottom line is this: Changing your baby’s sleep position and putting them down on their side or stomach is not a safe way to address head flattening. A little bit of flattening due to sleeping in the same position is normal and usually goes away with time.
One thing you can do if you are worried about your baby developing a flat head is to change the crib position or the direction that your baby faces in the crib. This way, when they turn their head to look at something, it won’t always be to the same side.
The key is to keep your baby’s “view” the same but put them down differently so that they have to move to see their preferred view.
It’s also essential that your baby has plenty of tummy time when they’re awake, gets to cuddle in your arms, and doesn’t spend too much time in their car seat.
What is the “newborn curl?”
There’s one more thing we’d like to mention about baby sleep positions. You might have heard of something called the “newborn curl.” This is the position that newborns are used to from being in mommy’s tummy. Basically, it’s the fetal position.
This muscle tone develops later on in pregnancy, which is why premature babies might not put themselves in the fetal position as much as their full-term counterparts.
While there’s nothing wrong with your baby snoozing in this position with their arms and legs tucked in, it needs to be on their back.
Recommendations for safer sleep
We’ve covered one of the most important baby sleep safety recommendations: putting your baby to sleep on their back. So, to wrap up, we’d like to go over a few other tips that go hand in hand with that.
Use a firm crib mattress.
As cozy as a soft mattress might seem to you, it’s not the best option for your little one. Always use a firm crib mattress that fits snugly in the crib. But firm doesn’t have to mean uncomfortable!
Our Newton Crib Mattress provides just the right firmness for babies while also offering comfort for toddlers. And there’s no need to flip the mattress as your baby grows.
Our unique breathable mattress design was created to reduce the risk of suffocation* if your baby were to roll over to sleep on their stomach. They’ll rest easy, and you can, too. Plus, our mattress is UL GREENGUARD Gold Certified for low chemical (VOC) emissions.
*Based on independent testing
Keep the crib clear.
Another important recommendation for safer sleep is to keep your baby’s crib free of anything other than the mattress, a fitted sheet, and, of course, your baby! Sleeping with toys, pillows, blankets, crib bumpers, and the like poses an unnecessary risk.
So, outfit your baby’s bed with a crib sheet, like our Organic Cotton Sheets, and skip the rest. Designed to pair perfectly with our crib mattress, our ultra-breathable, supremely soft organic cotton muslin sheets feature a snug fit for any crib mattress.
Choose from cute patterns as well as solid colors, and you’re sure to find one that goes perfectly with your nursery design.
Opt for a swaddle instead of a blanket.
If you can’t use a blanket to cover your baby while they sleep, how are they supposed to stay warm during the night? Simply wrap them in a swaddle or sleep sack.
Swaddling your newborn can help them feel safe and secure in addition to keeping them warm. If you’re not sure how to wrap your baby in a swaddle, you can read our article here.
(Note: It’s important to stop swaddling by the time your baby is able to roll over, usually between two and four months, and opt for a sleep sack instead.)
Share your room.
The AAP recommends that you share your room, but not your bed, with your baby for at least the first six months of their life. This simply means putting their bassinet or mini crib in your room so that your baby is nearby and you have easy access to them during the night.
Never use inclined sleepers or sleep positioners.
The Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2021 banned inclined infant sleepers with sleep surfaces greater than 10 degrees, effective November 12, 2022. The AAP also recommends avoiding sleep positioners.
This is because products angled more than 10 degrees can cause a baby’s chin to drop forward, create a risk of rolling, and may pose a suffocation hazard. Additionally, if your baby is particularly active, their movement can cause the sleeper to tip, and they could get hurt.
Keep an eye out for overheating.
Because newborns have difficulty regulating their body temperature, you need to be particularly careful about keeping them from overheating. Signs of overheating include:
- Flushed or hot skin
- Sweating
- Heat rash
- Elevated heartbeat
- Fussiness
- Lethergy
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
If you think your baby is overheating, move them to a cooler room, remove any extra layers, and offer breast milk or formula as appropriate. You can also put a cool washcloth on their forehead, neck, or chest.
If your baby is exhibiting severe symptoms of overheating, does not improve after you’ve done the above steps, or they’re younger than three months and have a temperature of 100.4°F or higher, contact your doctor immediately.
Dress your baby for the temperature.
It’s important to always dress your baby for the temperature in the nursery. The rule of thumb is no more than one layer over that which you would be comfortable wearing, considering the indoor temperature.
Keep in mind that the ideal room temperature for baby’s sleep is between 68 and 72 degrees, so make sure to set the thermostat within that range.
Try a pacifier.
The AAP also recommends pacifiers for safer sleep. That’s because studies show non-nutritive sucking may help a baby’s airway stay open and their tongue settle in the right position. Pacifiers also promote self-soothing.
If you decide to use a pacifier, make sure it is a single-piece one that has nothing attached to it like clips, cords, or strings, as these pose a strangulation hazard.
Additionally, if you’re breastfeeding, wait until breastfeeding is firmly established before introducing a pacifier. If your baby is not breastfeeding, you can offer a pacifier from birth.
Breastfeed if possible.
The AAP also notes that breastfeeding is positively correlated with safer sleep, decreasing the likelihood of a range of negative outcomes including chronic health conditions and sleep injuries.
They recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding supplemented with appropriate foods for at least two years.
Don’t smoke.
It goes without saying that smoking around a newborn baby will have a negative impact on their health. The AAP and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) both agree that smoking during pregnancy or allowing your baby to be around smoke exposes them to thousands of harmful chemicals that can weaken their lungs, brain, and immune system.
Practice tummy time.
Giving your baby supervised tummy time can strengthen their neck, shoulder, and arm muscles. This will help your little one as they start to sit up, crawl, walk, and develop motor skills.
You can start tummy time just a day or two after your baby is born. For a few minutes, two to three times a day, place your baby on their tummy. You can put a rolled-up towel under their arms to prop them up. Bring a toy and encourage them to reach out to it.
This is great for strengthening their muscles and bonding.
Back to safer sleep
Keeping your baby safe while they’re awake as well as while they’re snoozing is a top priority for you as a parent! Your baby sleeping on their side is a sleep safety no-no. Whether it’s for naps or nighttime, put your baby down on their back.
Other recommendations for safer sleep include using a firm crib mattress (like our Newton Crib Mattress), keeping the crib clear of anything other than a fitted sheet, and sharing your room for the first six months of your baby’s life.
By following these tips and guidelines, you can rest easy knowing that your baby is as safe as possible while they snooze!
Frequently asked questions
Why will my baby only sleep upright?
If your baby only wants to sleep upright, they may be uncomfortable from gas or reflux. They also may want to snuggle up against your chest, as it gives them comfort and reminds them of their time in the womb.
However, even though they seem to prefer sleeping upright, the only safe sleep position for them is on their back on a firm, flat surface. It’s best to talk to your doctor about other things you can do to address their underlying discomfort.
Can newborns sleep with their arms unswaddled?
Yes, as long as your baby sleeps on their back on a firm, flat mattress with no loose bedding or anything else in the crib, it is fine for their arms to be unswaddled. Swaddling itself is designed to keep your baby comfortable but is not required for safety.
In fact, with their arms out, your baby can self-soothe by touching their face or sucking on their fingers.
How long is too long to let a newborn sleep?
Newborn sleep and feeding needs vary. Ask your pediatrician whether you should wake your baby for feedings, especially during the first few weeks or if your baby has not regained their birth weight.
Contact your pediatrician if your newborn is feeding poorly or producing fewer wet diapers than expected for their age. Seek immediate medical attention if your baby is unusually difficult to wake.
