SIDS and the AAP recommends always putting your baby down for sleep on their back, so when your baby starts to roll it can be confusing to know what to do when your baby ends up on their tummy to sleep. This can seem especially concerning for parents when it’s their newborn doing the rolling.
If your newborn does seem to be able to roll, this is actually highly unlikely and most likely an involuntary reflex called the “newborn curl.”
Due to being all curled up in the womb, your little one is tight in the muscles in the front of their body.
The “newborn curl” is when your little one is asleep and rolls onto their side – this is simply a reflex. Your newborn baby being able to roll over onto their tummy on their own would be unusual! Most babies grow out of the “newborn curl” within the first few weeks of their life, so just continue placing them to sleep on their back (as SIDS/ the AAP recommends), and always check with your paediatrician if you have concerns.
If your little one is rolling onto their side when they are awake this is different and at this time you need to unswaddle the arms.
