What if my baby will only sleep on their stomach or rolls over at night?

Always place baby down on the back. If you swaddle, stop swaddling the moment your baby shows any sign of trying to roll (often around 2 months). A swaddled baby who rolls onto their stomach cannot free their arms to lift their head. Switch to a sleep sack with arms free. Once your baby can roll both ways on their own, it is fine to let them find their own position, but keep starting every sleep on the back. Until then, gently roll them back if they end up on their tummy.

Can I use a blanket if the room is cold?

Skip loose blankets in the crib. Use a sleep sack or wearable blanket sized for your baby, and dress them in about one more light layer than you are wearing. You want them warm, not hot, and the head stays uncovered.

Is room-sharing the same as bed-sharing?

No. Room-sharing means baby sleeps in their own crib or bassinet in your room, which is recommended. Bed-sharing means baby is in your bed, which raises the risk and is not advised. Keep baby close but on their own firm, flat surface.

Sleep · Newborn

Safe Sleep Checklist: The ABCs, Every Nap and Night

Creator: ParentFlow
Published: 2026-06-14

Am I putting my baby to sleep safely?

He sleeps so much better in his lounger — is it safe to let him sleep there overnight? You only need to remember three things: Alone, on the Back, in a bare Crib. Do those three every nap and every night, and you have covered the most important part.

4 min read Sleep Updated June 2026

The ABCs of safe sleep

Alone: baby sleeps in their own space, never in your bed or on a couch, chair, or your chest while you sleep.
Back: always place baby flat on their back for every sleep, naps included.
Crib: a firm, flat surface (crib, bassinet, or play yard) with a fitted sheet and nothing else.

A bare crib means nothing else inside

No pillows, blankets, or quilts.
No bumper pads, even mesh ones.
No stuffed animals or loose toys.
No positioners, wedges, or sleep nests.
No inclined sleepers, loungers, or in-bed sleepers, and do not use a car seat, swing, or bouncer for routine sleep. The surface must be firm and flat; if baby falls asleep in a seat or swing, move them to the crib.
Use a sleep sack or wearable blanket to keep baby warm instead of a loose blanket.
If you swaddle, stop the moment your baby shows any sign of trying to roll (often around 2 months). A swaddled baby who rolls onto their stomach cannot free their arms to lift their head. Switch to a sleep sack with arms free. Always on the back, never on the side or stomach.

Quick do and do not

Do	Do not
Place baby on the back every time	Put baby down on the side or stomach
Share your room, not your bed, for at least the first 6 months (ideally up to 12)	Bed-share or sleep together on a couch or chair
Keep the crib bare and the mattress firm and flat	Add blankets, pillows, bumpers, or toys
Offer a pacifier at sleep time once feeding is going well	Attach the pacifier to a clip or cord in the crib
Keep the room comfortable, dress baby in one light layer	Overbundle or cover baby's head

If baby falls asleep somewhere else

Step 1Babies fall asleep in car seats, swings, and your arms. That happens to everyone.
Step 2As soon as you can, move them to their crib or bassinet, flat on their back.
Step 3Car seats, swings, and bouncers are not for sleep once you are home and able to move baby.

Call 911 now if

A breathing pause longer than about 20 seconds, OR any pause with blue/gray color, limpness, or not coming back to normal. Short pauses under 20 seconds with normal color and movement (periodic breathing) are common, but if you are ever unsure, call.
Lips, face, or tongue look blue or gray, or baby is gasping for air.
Baby is not breathing or not responding. Call 911 immediately and begin infant CPR now; the dispatcher will talk you through it.
A high-pitched cry with arching, stiffness, or limpness.
Vomit that is green or bright yellow (bile), or vomit with blood or that looks like coffee grounds. Green or bloody vomit is an emergency, not ordinary spit-up; go to the ER now. It can signal an intestinal blockage or twist that needs surgery within hours.

Call your pediatrician right away if

Baby is under 3 months old with a rectal temperature of 100.4F (38C) or higher. This is urgent, call now, and if you cannot reach them go to the ER.
Baby's rectal temperature is low (under about 97.7F / 36.4C), or baby is cold, mottled, or hard to warm. A low temperature can be a sign of serious infection in a newborn.
Baby is breathing hard or fast, grunting with each breath, flaring the nostrils, or you see the skin pulling in around the ribs or neck.
Skin or eyes look yellow in the first 24 hours, yellow spreading to the belly, arms, legs, palms, or soles, or yellow with sleepiness, poor feeding, or a high-pitched cry.
Forceful, projectile vomiting that shoots across the room, or vomiting that is getting more frequent or forceful, especially with fewer wet diapers. Normal spit-up dribbles out gently after a feed and does not bother your baby; true vomiting is forceful and can lead to dehydration. (Green, yellow-green, or bloody vomit is an emergency, see above.)
Baby is very hard to wake, unusually limp, or not feeding.
Fewer than about 6 wet diapers in 24 hours (or no wet diaper in 6 to 8 hours), dark urine, no tears, dry mouth, a sunken soft spot, or unusual sleepiness.
Anything about your baby's breathing or color worries you, trust your gut and call.

You will not get every nap perfect, and that is okay. Alone, on the Back, in a bare Crib covers the part that matters most. And never shake a baby — if you feel overwhelmed by crying, it is okay to place baby safely on their back in the crib and step away for a few minutes.

Quick answers

What if my baby will only sleep on their stomach or rolls over at night?: Always place baby down on the back. If you swaddle, stop swaddling the moment your baby shows any sign of trying to roll (often around 2 months). A swaddled baby who rolls onto their stomach cannot free their arms to lift their head. Switch to a sleep sack with arms free. Once your baby can roll both ways on their own, it is fine to let them find their own position, but keep starting every sleep on the back. Until then, gently roll them back if they end up on their tummy.
Can I use a blanket if the room is cold?: Skip loose blankets in the crib. Use a sleep sack or wearable blanket sized for your baby, and dress them in about one more light layer than you are wearing. You want them warm, not hot, and the head stays uncovered.
Is room-sharing the same as bed-sharing?: No. Room-sharing means baby sleeps in their own crib or bassinet in your room, which is recommended. Bed-sharing means baby is in your bed, which raises the risk and is not advised. Keep baby close but on their own firm, flat surface.

Sources & further reading

Log every feed, diaper, and nap — and see the pattern.

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This guide reflects current AAP and CDC guidance and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. ParentFlow is a wellness companion — not a substitute for your pediatrician. For any medical concern, contact your healthcare provider.