SAFE SLEEP: Should I Be Concerned if My Baby Flips from Back to Stomach during Sleep

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden death of an infant less than one year old that cannot be explained after medical examination. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants should always be placed in the back sleeping position to sleep. The exact cause of SIDS is unknown. Yet, there are safe sleep practices that can reduce the risk of SIDS. One recommendation from the AAP is that babies should be placed on their back to sleep.

Back to sleep is recommended for every sleep, even naps. Your baby should always be sleeping on their back, alone, and in a crib with nothing but a mattress and fitted sheet made specifically for that mattress. If you go to check on your baby during nap time or in the middle of the night, don’t be concerned if you see your baby has rolled onto their side or flipped onto their stomach. According the AAP, once an infant can roll from back to stomach and stomach to back, the infant can be allowed to remain the sleep position he or she is assumes.

We can all take action today to help more babies sleep safely. Visit our Safe Sleep page to learn more about how to reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS. You can also visit the safe sleep gallery!