When Can Babies Tummy Sleep?

After weeks or months of carefully laying your swaddled baby down on their back on a firm mattress, you might be a little startled or paranoid when they start rolling over on their own. Is this safe? Should I keep rolling them back over? At what age can babies safely sleep on their bellies?

First, let's make the distinction between tummy-to-back rolling and back-to-tummy rolling.

• Tummy-to-back rolling is the first type of rolling that babies do, and they can start doing this around 3 months. You may see them rocking from side to side or rolling to their sides during tummy time, as they practice strengthening their muscles and increasing their range of motion. You still have to lay them down on their backs to sleep.
  

• Back-to-tummy rolling is a much greater sign of physical strength and development, and this typically happens around the 6 month age range. This is when you may start noticing that your baby has rolled over in the crib to lie on their tummy, and feel a little alarmed!
  

Once babies have mastered BOTH kinds of rolling, this indicates that they have developed enough head and neck strength to move themselves if they need more space to breathe while tummy sleeping.

You can still lay them down on their backs, but do not worry if they roll themselves over onto their tummy in the crib at some point.

If your baby shows any signs of rolling and has still been in a Merlin suit or Snoo, make the transition now. They need to have enough range of motion to develop their muscles and tummy sleep safely when that time comes. You can still dress them in an arms-out sleep sack for warmth, comfort, and containment for good stretches of sleep.

Many older babies actually prefer to sleep on their tummies, so rest easy when they have reached these important developmental milestones!

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