Is it better to sleep skin-to-skin?

Author: Sim Wintheiser  |  Last update: Sunday, June 1, 2025

Try to keep your baby nestled against your chest for an hour or longer to go through a full sleep cycle. "research has shown that babies (and parents) are not only happier when they engage in skin to skin sessions, but that the act can also help babies to sleep better.”

Is sleeping skin-to-skin good for you?

In the decades that followed, researchers have continued to uncover benefits of kangaroo care and its hallmark feature of skin-to-skin contact. For example, they learned that kangaroo care helps babies sleep better and breathe more regularly. It also helps support breastfeeding and healthy parent-infant attachment.

When should you stop skin-to-skin?

There is no specific age when skin-to-skin should stop. It provides powerful benefits for your baby throughout her first year.

Is it safe for a baby to sleep on the stomach during skin-to-skin?

Back Is Best!

As we've seen from research, allowing babies to sleep on their stomachs contributes to SIDS and other hazards during the first year of their life. The best way to ensure safe sleep for your little one is to place them on their back to sleep.

Is it safe to sleep face to face with a baby?

Parents should avoid sleeping together with the baby in one bed in order to avoid overheating and the duvet covering the baby's face, mouth and/or nose. The safest place for the baby to sleep is an own baby bed (cot or bassinet) with the parents in the same room.

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When is SIDS no longer a risk?

SIDS is less common after 8 months of age, but parents and caregivers should continue to follow safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death until baby's first birthday. More than 90% of all SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age.

How long can a baby sleep face down?

That said, you should continue to put your baby to sleep on her back until her first birthday. And always abide by other safe sleep tips, including putting her down on a firm sleeping surface and keeping all other objects (like pillows, blankets, bumpers, loose-fitting sheets and plush toys) out of her crib.

Can SIDS happen during skin-to-skin?

These cases illustrate that skin-to-skin contact after birth is not without risk. In available literature, risk factors for SUPC include primiparity and infant orientation such as prone and lateral positions. These positions are also risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Can my baby sleep on his stomach if I watch him?

A. The baby's comfort is important, but safety is more important. Parents and caregivers should place babies on their backs to sleep even if they seem less comfortable or sleep more lightly than when on their stomachs.

Why shouldn't you hold a newborn on your period?

Since mom herself will be back on her period soon, there's no valid, medically-proven reason that someone's menstrual cycle would cause any harm to a newborn.

How late is too late skin-to-skin?

The good news is that it's never too late for skin-to-skin contact. “We want moms to know it's okay and that their baby will still get a lot of benefit from skin-to-skin contact—even if it's delayed,” Rizk says.

What is the golden hour after birth?

What is the Golden Hour? The Golden Hour is a special period of skin-to-skin contact between a birthing parent and newborn for the first hour (or two) after birth. During the Golden Hour, we keep interruptions, including exams and measurements, to a minimum to make the skin-to-skin contact as continuous as possible.

Is skin-to-skin better with dad or mom?

That means babies that are skin-to-skin with their dads can better regulate their temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood sugar, just like with mom. They can also exchange the skin flora with dad as well. “Of course this promotes bonding as well,” McIntosh says.

Can a baby overheat skin-to-skin while sleeping?

Babies have a higher risk of heat-related problems because their bodies can't regulate temperature well yet. This can cause overheating during skin-to-skin contact or sleeping on your chest.

Do babies benefit from being held?

Cuddling is good for babies — and you, too. Touch is one of the most powerful forms of human communication. For newborns, especially, touch is their first and most essential language. Babies understand love, comfort and safety through the act of being tenderly held and snuggled.

At what age should you stop skin-to-skin?

If you loved the skin-to-skin contact you had with your baby just after childbirth, we have good news. This contact has benefits well beyond birth. Some health and development experts recommend it for at least 3 months for full-term babies and 6 months for preemies.

When do 20% of SIDS deaths occur?

Over 2,000 infants die from SIDS every year in the United States (National Vital Statistics Reports, 2008), and approximately 20% of SIDS deaths occurred while an infant was in non-parental care (Moon, Calabrese, & Aird, 2008; American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement, 2005; Moon, Patel, & Shaefer, 2000).

Should I roll my baby back over at night?

Rolling over is an important part of his development and he should be allowed to do so. You should continue to place him on his back when you put him down to sleep, but according to guidelines published by the National Institutes of Health, you don't need to return him to his back when he turns over.

Why do babies sleep with bum up?

Babies gravitate towards the froggy position due to several instinctual and developmental reasons: Comfort and Security: In the womb, space is restricted, and babies grow in a curled position. Once born, mimicking this position can provide comfort and a sense of security, helping them feel more relaxed and safe.

When can I stop worrying about SIDS?

SIDS deaths occur most often during the first year of a baby's life. About 90% of SIDS deaths occur before the age of 6 months. Generally, after a baby turns 1 year old, parents can be less worried about SIDS.

Is it okay to fall asleep during skin-to-skin?

It can be safe to fall asleep during a skin-to-skin contact nap in a hospital setting if you're wearing a “skin-to-skin care safety device” (a special wrap that helps you properly position and hold your infant during a contact nap).

Can SIDS happen in your arms?

SIDS is also called 'crib death', this is because most cases of SIDS occur when the infant is asleep at night in their crib. Despite the name 'crib death', SIDS can occur outside of the crib. Infants can be effected at any time of day, whether they are asleep in their stroller, or having nap time in a loved one's arms.

Will babies turn their head if they can't breathe?

There's a chance that your baby is not yet developed enough to move their head if they can't breathe. Crib: Lay your baby down for naps and bedtime on a flat, firm surface such as in a crib, bassinet, or playpen that was made for infant sleep.

What is the 3 minute rule for baby sleep?

What's the three-minute rule for sleep training? The three-minute rule is associated with the Feber method, which suggests you allow your baby to cry for a set amount of time before you go in to soothe them. Some parents opt for three minutes, others go for two or five – it's up to you.

What should I do if my baby rolls face down while sleeping?

A baby sleeping face down is considered safe only if the child manages to get into the position naturally on their own. If they aren't quite there, parents should not be placing babies in the crib on their stomachs or even their sides.

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