{"id":"788b624101da93e248c3d202cefea0f7","slug":"when-should-my-baby-sleep-on-their-back","question":"When should my baby sleep on their back?","answer":"Your baby should sleep on their back for every sleep — naps and nighttime — until age 1. This is the safest position across the board, and it's what healthcare professionals consistently recommend to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths.\n\nThe setup matters just as much as position: a firm surface like a crib or bassinet, in your room but in their own bed for at least the first 6 months, with nothing else in the crib — no pillows, blankets, bumpers, or stuffed animals. A bare crib might feel stark, but it's genuinely what keeps them safest.\n\nBack sleeping for sleep is different from awake time: tummy time while you're supervising them is actually crucial for their development, so that's the time for them to be on their belly and build those muscles.\n\nMake sure anyone caring for your baby — whether that's a partner, grandparent, or caregiver — knows back sleeping is the rule for every single sleep, not just nighttime.","sources":"[{\"title\":\"Effectiveness of the 'Back-to-Sleep' campaigns among healthcare professionals in the past 20 years: a systematic review.\",\"journal\":\"BMJ open\",\"year\":\"2016\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27694485/\",\"score\":0.83},{\"title\":\"Sleep from Infancy Through Adolescence.\",\"journal\":\"Sleep medicine clinics\",\"year\":\"2023\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37120156/\",\"score\":0.8},{\"title\":\"Evidence Base for 2022 Updated Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment to Reduce the Risk of Sleep-Related Infant Deaths.\",\"journal\":\"Pediatrics\",\"year\":\"2022\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35921639/\",\"score\":0.8},{\"title\":\"AAP — Safe Sleep (Part 1 of 5)\",\"journal\":\"AAP Clinical Guidelines\",\"year\":\"2022\",\"url\":\"https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/A-Parents-Guide-to-Safe-Sleep.aspx\",\"score\":0.8},{\"title\":\"Infant positioning: A brief review.\",\"journal\":\"Journal of applied behavior analysis\",\"year\":\"2020\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32681528/\",\"score\":0.79}]","view_count":0,"created_at":"2026-06-26T15:08:12.785Z"}