Benefits of baby sleeping on tummy: what’s safe, what’s not

Your baby has been sleeping so well lately, their little face calm and content. But during your last crib check, your heart skipped a beat, and you found them fast asleep on their tummy. It’s enough to make any parent wonder: Should I turn them back over? Is this safe?

We explain when tummy sleeping becomes safe, its benefits and risks, how to set up a safe sleep space, and why “tummy sleeper pillows” are never a good idea. Along the way, pediatrician, certified sleep consultant, and founder of Sleepless in Nola, Dr. Nilong Vyas,  shares her expert tips to help you keep your little one safe while honoring their natural sleep preferences.

Why babies may sleep better on their tummy

Once your baby can roll independently, you might notice they drift off more easily and sleep more soundly on their tummy. Here’s why:

• Fewer startles from the Moro reflex
  Tummy sleeping can dampen reflexive movements like twitches and startles, meaning fewer awakenings and longer stretches of rest. Studies found that ventilated preterm infants, sleeping prone, showed fewer stress responses, including startles, tremors, and twitches, compared to supine sleepers. 
• More quiet, restorative sleep
  The same study showed that babies in the prone position also spent more time in restful, quiet sleep and less in active, restless states. 
• Comfort and calm
  Tummy sleeping often feels snug and soothing, like being gently held, helping some babies settle into deeper sleep more naturally.

Back is best, until they can safely roll.

For those first precious months, the safest place for your little one to dream is on their back. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reassures parents that keeping babies on their backs for sleep throughout the first year is one of the most effective ways to lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Why back is best

• Keeps your baby’s airway clear for easier breathing.
• Reduces the risk of SIDS, especially in the first 6 months.
• Babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to overheat.

Once your baby is rolling in both directions, from tummy to back and back to tummy, you no longer need to reposition them during the night. Let them settle in their preferred position, but continue to create a safe, clutter-free sleep space. Back is best, until they can safely roll. 

Why some babies love tummy sleeping

Many babies naturally gravitate toward tummy sleeping once they can get into that position themselves. Dr. Vyas explains, “Some babies prefer belly sleeping, and they sleep more soundly on their tummies.” It often feels more secure and calming, helping them stay asleep for longer stretches.

Tummy time during awake hours also builds the neck, shoulder, and core strength they’ll need for rolling and crawling, while helping prevent flat spots on the back of their head.

The risks of early tummy sleeping

Putting your baby on their stomach before they can roll independently is dangerous. Dr. Vyas cautions, “Before a baby is ready to sleep on its belly, it should be able to roll independently. Once it can do that, the developmental milestone that should be present will be good head and neck control.” 

Here‘s why, according to AAP,  the risk of SIDS and accidental suffocation. 

• Babies may rebreathe exhaled air, which can lead to lower oxygen levels.
• Soft bedding, like pillows or sleep positioners, can block their airway or trap heat.
• Airway obstruction: A baby’s nose and mouth can press against the mattress or bedding, making it harder for them to get enough air.
• Reduced arousal response: Stomach sleepers may be less likely to wake up when oxygen levels drop, which is a key reason why tummy sleeping is linked to SIDS.

Creating a safe sleep setup

Whether your baby is a back sleeper or a newfound tummy sleeper, a safe sleep space is non-negotiable. Dr. Vyas emphasizes, “For optimal safety, there should be nothing in the crib with the baby except the mattress and fitted sheet. So whether the baby is rolling or not, nothing should be in the crib.”

Here’s what that looks like:

• Place the baby on their back for every sleep until they can roll independently 
• Use a firm mattress with a fitted sheet, and nothing else in the crib.
• Stop swaddling as soon as your baby starts showing signs of rolling.
• Keep the room temperature comfortable to prevent overheating.

Why ‘tummy sleeper pillows’ are unsafe

Products marketed as tummy sleeper pillows or sleep positioners may sound helpful, but experts agree they are unsafe and unnecessary.

• In a major safety alert, the FDA and CPSC warned that these products increase the risk of suffocation and offer no proven SIDS protection.
• Recent data showed that over 160 infant deaths between 2010 and 2022 were linked to improper use of nursing pillows for sleep.

What to do if your baby rolls overnight

It’s common for parents to panic the first time they see their baby asleep on their tummy. Dr. Vyas recommends: “If a baby rolls over onto their belly overnight and they are crying as a result, it’s imperative to move them back to their backs. However, if the baby ends up on their belly independently and is happy to be there, you may leave them.”

Conclusion

It is exciting to watch your baby grow and hit milestones, like rolling over. Once your little one can confidently roll both ways, tummy sleeping becomes a natural (and safe) part of their development.

By keeping their sleep space simple and clutter-free, and skipping unsafe products like tummy sleeper pillows, you can rest easier knowing you’ve created the safest environment for your baby to snooze.

Like parenthood, sleep is a journey full of these little learning curves, but with the right information and a bit of preparation, you and your baby can sleep more soundly.

You may also like

• Ask the expert: Baby essentials and postpartum must-haves for moms
• When do babies start to roll over on their own
• Baby safety month: 5 myths parents still believe about sleep, swaddling, and monitors

Sources: 

• AAP safe sleep guidance for infants. HealthyChildren.org. 2025. “How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained” HealthyChildren.org
• 2-month developmental milestones. CDC. 2024. “Important Milestones: Your Baby By Two Months” CDC
• FDA stance on infant sleep products and SIDS claims. FDA. 2019. “Baby Products with SIDS Prevention Claims” U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• New safety standard for nursing pillows. CPSC. 2024. “CPSC Approves New Federal Safety Standard for Nursing Pillows to Prevent Infant Deaths and Serious Injuries”
• Sleep quality and stress in ventilated preterm infants (prone vs. supine). Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2002. “Effects of prone and supine positions on sleep state and stress responses in mechanically ventilated preterm infants during the first postnatal week”