Rolling Babies x Swaddling A lot of parents panic when their baby rolls onto their tummy and sleeps face-down — but if the sleep setup is safe, it’s okay. Here’s the key: A baby who rolls independently should be on a firm mattress with nothing else in the crib — no pillows, no blankets, no stuffies, no bumpers. If they can breathe comfortably and have space to turn their head, face-down sleep is safe once they can get there on their own. The real safety issue isn’t the position — it’s the arms.