When can she lie on her stomach?

When can she lie on her stomach?

All babies should sleep on their backs during the first year of life. This is important for naps in the day as well as at night-time and helps prevent sudden infant death syndrome (or SIDS). There are only a few simple rules to follow to protect your baby – see the latest recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. SIDS is thankfully rare but sticking to these rules significantly reduces the risk for your baby. If your older infant happens to roll over during the night, however, there is not much you can do. Once your baby starts rolling from her back to her tummy, practice helping her roll to her back during the day.

This does not mean that tummy time is off limits, however! Babies under one year of age benefit from tummy time when they are awake. This stimulates their motor development and helps to prevent positional plagiocephaly (flattening of the back of the head). Many countries now recommend at least 30 minutes of floor-based play across the day for babies that are not yet on the move.

So, give your baby some supervised fun time on her tummy in the day but remember always ‘Back to Sleep’ for daytime naps!