Skip to content
SleepBaby .org
Newborn & Infant Care

Understanding Why You Baby Likes to Bury Their Face

Read the answer first. The Workshop is here only when you want the next step.

A caregiver gently holds a sleepy baby with the face fully uncovered beside a completely bare crib.

There can be several reasons why your baby likes to bury their face. Whether it’s in your chest, a soft blanket, or a pillow, this behaviour can be puzzling for new parents. This article seeks to demystify why babies engage in this behaviour and provides tips on ensuring your baby’s safety during such times.

Why Does My Baby Bury Their Face?

Babies, especially newborns, find comfort in close contact. They may bury their face in your chest or shoulder as a source of comfort and security. The familiar scent and warmth often soothe them. However, it’s crucial to monitor them closely during this to prevent suffocation.

The small routines

Feeds, changes,
and a little time for rest.

The feeds and changes keep coming, and you’re figuring out where sleep fits between them. Watch our video below for practical ideas for settling your baby.

Prefer to read?
Baby Sleep MiracleOriginal presentation
Original Baby Sleep Miracle

Press play for a little help with your baby’s next bedtime.

Kind words about the original video

“Thank you so much for this video!”

Samantha HigginsBaby Sleep Miracle reader · Oakland, FL

“I'm truly impressed with how much information you share in your video.”

Judy LeeBaby Sleep Miracle reader · Fremont, CA

The SleepBaby Workshop

Get the Workshop.

Get the Workshop, including Our Night Handoff and the Caregiver Shift & Fatigue Plan. 15 guides and five audio tracks in a simple browser hub. Read, listen, and return to the part you need.

Add to Cart

Current price shown in the cart.
Digital Workshop. Nothing ships.

A conversation, if you want one.Night Owls is the SleepBaby chat room. Read what is there or join in.

Open Night Owls

Baby Likes to Bury Face: Safety Concerns

While this behaviour is natural, it’s important to remember that a baby’s nose and mouth should always be clear to allow proper breathing. It’s advisable not to let babies bury their face in soft materials like blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals, which might pose a suffocation risk.

Tips to Safely Soothe Your Baby

Instead of soft blankets or pillows, try using wearable blankets or swaddles that won’t cover your baby’s face. Keep the crib or sleep area free from loose bedding or soft toys.

Why Does My Baby Bury Her Face When Sleeping?

Babies often bury their face while sleeping as a way to soothe and comfort themselves. This act simulates the close contact they experienced in the womb, providing a sense of security. However, it’s essential to monitor this behavior due to the risk of suffocation.

Head Burrowing: A Sign of Autism or Normal Behavior?

While head burrowing can be seen in children with autism, it is also a common behavior among many infants. If you notice your baby frequently burrowing her head into the mattress or your arm, it’s essential not to jump to conclusions but observe for other signs and consult a pediatrician if necessary.

Baby’s Attachment to Blankets and Other Items

Your baby may be attached to a specific blanket or item because it offers comfort and security. Babies often associate these items with their parents or caregivers, making them feel safe. It’s important to ensure these items are safe for babies and don’t pose a suffocation risk.

Baby Rubbing Face and Crying: Is Something Wrong?

If your baby rubs her face and cries, it can indicate discomfort. This could be due to tiredness, teething, or irritation from allergies. Consult your healthcare provider if this behavior persists or seems to cause significant distress.

Can My Baby Sleep with a Blanket Over Her Face?

While some babies find comfort in sleeping with a blanket over their face, it poses a risk of suffocation. It’s important to follow safe sleep guidelines, which advise against using loose bedding for babies under one year of age.

Baby Touching Her Face: Is This Normal?

Babies often touch their faces as part of their self-soothing mechanism. This behavior can be normal unless it appears to be causing discomfort or if the baby seems excessively reliant on it for comfort.

Is it Bad to Touch a Baby’s Face?

Touching a baby’s face isn’t inherently bad. However, it’s important to ensure that hands are clean to protect your baby from germs and bacteria.

How SleepBaby.org Can Help

Understanding your baby’s behaviours can be a stepping stone towards establishing better sleep routines. SleepBaby.org can provide guidance and support in deciphering these habits, including why your baby likes to bury their face. Our resources help you develop safe and effective sleep routines for your little one, ensuring their comfort without compromising safety. Our simple, trusted methods can lead to peaceful nights for your baby – and for you.

Conclusion

While your baby’s inclination to bury their face can be a sign of seeking comfort, it’s essential to ensure their safety at all times. Close monitoring and following safe sleep guidelines can provide your baby the comfort they seek without any potential hazards. When in doubt, don’t hesitate to consult with a pediatrician or a baby sleep expert.

The SleepBaby.org Workshop

Make a plan for
the next bedtime.

Practical help for wake-ups, short naps, and sharing the night shift. Watch the original video, then get 15 guides and five audio tracks for $75.

$75 USD, paid once. No subscription. Digital access.

Watch the original Baby Sleep Miracle presentation

Baby Sleep MiracleOriginal presentation
Original Baby Sleep Miracle

Press play for a little help with your baby’s next bedtime.

Original presentation. Watch before you decide.

15practical guides

5audio tracks

1one-time payment

Kind words about the original video

“Thank you so much for this video!”

Samantha HigginsBaby Sleep Miracle reader · Oakland, FL

“I'm truly impressed with how much information you share in your video.”

Judy LeeBaby Sleep Miracle reader · Fremont, CA

Inside the Workshop

Start with the night
you're having.

You don't need to read all 15 guides before bedtime. Choose the one that answers the question in front of you, then come back for the next part.

Explore the guides and audio

When you need a starting point

Tonight Rescue

A short order for checking needs, noticing what's happening, and choosing a response when bedtime is close or your baby is awake now.

When a nap changes the day

Nap Rescue & Transition

Work through short naps, refused naps, and changing nap patterns. Decide what to try next without rebuilding the whole day.

When someone else takes a turn

Our Night Handoff

Put feeding guidance, the first response, important contacts, and your bedtime phrase in one clear handoff for the next caregiver.

When the room needs a rethink

Bedroom Reset

Walk through the sleep space, light, sound, and adult movement. Give the setup a careful look before changing your routine.

Help you can put into words

Make the handoff
a little clearer.

The Workshop helps you turn a long explanation into a plan another caregiver can follow. Our Night Handoff covers the details that are easy to forget when you're tired.

See all 15 included guides One collection
  1. Tonight Rescue
  2. The Complete SleepBaby Workshop
  3. Every-Sleep Safe Space Field Guide
  4. 48-Hour Recovery Planner
  5. Bedroom Reset
  6. Our Night Handoff
  7. Sound & Music Lab Setup
  8. Nap Rescue & Transition
  9. Caregiver Shift & Fatigue Plan
  10. 14-Night Progress Review
  11. Daylight Decision Deck
  12. Deep Into Dreams
  13. Sleepy Siblings
  14. Pediatrician Conversation Sheet
  15. Travel & Grandparent Sleep Pack

Sound, when you choose it.

Five audio tracks sit alongside the guides. The included Sound & Music Lab Setup guide covers placement, volume, and finite listening time.

Get all of it for $75 →

Before you buy

A few things
made clear.

A straightforward purchase, with space to decide what fits your family.

What am I buying?

The SleepBaby.org Workshop includes 15 digital guides, five audio tracks, and the original Baby Sleep Workshop PDF as an additional download. It costs $75 USD, paid once, with no subscription. Nothing is shipped.

Where should I start?

Try Tonight Rescue when you need a starting point. If your question is more specific, go straight to the guide on naps, a caregiver handoff, the sleep space, or another topic. You can read at your own pace.

Is this personal sleep coaching?

No. This is an educational collection for parents of babies and young children. Use the age-specific guidance, and bring feeding, breathing, growth, illness, or other health concerns to your child's clinician. It does not diagnose a problem or promise a sleep result.

Is the video the paid Workshop?

You can watch the original Baby Sleep Miracle presentation on this page. Your purchase is the SleepBaby.org Workshop collection of guides, audio tracks, and the original PDF described here.

How do I find it after checkout?

Choose Open my Workshop on your thank-you or order-status page to open the full Workshop portal. Download the guides and book as PDFs for reading offline. Keep your order confirmation so you can return to the portal and audio player. If you need help finding your access, use our Workshop download help.

The SleepBaby.org Workshop

Have somewhere to start
at the next bedtime.

15 practical guides. Five audio tracks. One $75 purchase.

Get the Workshop · $75 USD · one-time payment · no subscription

The guide ends. Your private preview begins.Answer three questions to see a first move and seven-night screening estimate before checkout.

Build my sleep preview

Leave a comment

Reviewed before publishing. SleepBaby.org may remove spam, unsafe instructions, personal data, or promotional links.

Submitting sends only the note you type here. It will not appear until a moderator approves it.