When babies begin rolling, either awake or in their sleep, parents and caregivers may worry that they will get stuck on their stomach, increasing the risk of suffocation. However, once an infant can roll onto their stomach, they have enough head control to lift their head and breathe.

No. Rolling over is an important and natural part of your baby’s growth. Most babies start rolling over on their own around 4 to 6 months of age. If your baby rolls over on his or her own during sleep, you do not need to turn the baby back over onto his or her back.

If your baby only falls asleep on their side (under your supervision), gently nudge them onto their back — as soon as you can do so without waking them up! If your acrobatically gifted baby rolls into a side-sleeping position after you put them down on their back, don’t worry.

It’s not as safe for babies to sleep on their side or tummy as on their back. Healthy babies placed on their backs are not more likely to choke. Once your baby is old enough to roll over, there’s no need to worry if they turn onto their tummy or side while sleeping.

Most SIDS cases occur before 4 months, and the vast majority happen before 6 months. That said, try not to spend too much time worrying about SIDS, even during your baby’s first few months of life.

Signs they are going to roll over

• lifting their head and shoulders more during tummy time.
• rolling onto their shoulders or side.
• kicking their legs and scooting in a circle when on their back.
• increased leg and hip strength, such as rolling the hips from side to side and using the legs to lift the hips up.

Although the causes of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) are still largely unknown, doctors do know that the risk of SIDS appears to peak between 2 and 4 months. SIDS risk also decreases after 6 months, and it’s extremely rare after one year of age.

For a baby who can roll, the safer alternative to loose blankets (never use before 12 months) and swaddles (only use before rolling starts) is a wearable blanket. Wearable blankets or sleep sacks like the one pictured below provide warmth and security while staying clear of babies’ airway.

The results underscore the importance of putting babies on their backs to sleep, in a sleeping space separate from other people, with no objects in the crib with them, Colvin said. Once babies can roll from back to front — typically around 4 months of age — they run the risk of ending up on their tummies.

At 12 months, he/she gets into the sitting position without help. Around 6 months, encourage sitting up by helping your baby to sit or support him/her with pillows to allow him/herher to look around. When do babies roll over? Babies start rolling over as early as 4 months old.

The best way to reduce the risk for SIDS is to always place baby on his or her back for all sleep times in a separate sleep area, designed for a baby, with no soft objects, toys, or loose bedding. Why should I place my baby on his or her back to sleep?

There is no evidence that swaddling reduces SIDS risk. In fact, swaddling can increase the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death if babies are placed on their stomachs for sleep or roll onto their stomachs during sleep. If you decide to swaddle your baby, always place baby fully on his or her back to sleep.

Research shows that the back sleep position carries the lowest risk of SIDS. Research also shows that babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to get fevers, stuffy noses, and ear infections. The back sleep position makes it easier for babies to look around the room and to move their arms and legs.

SIDS is sometimes known as crib death because the infants often die in their cribs. Although the cause is unknown, it appears that SIDS might be associated with defects in the portion of an infant’s brain that controls breathing and arousal from sleep.