The core of safe infant sleep is simple: Alone, on the Back, in a Crib. Place your baby on their back for every sleep, on a firm flat surface with only a fitted sheet, in their own crib or bassinet with nothing else inside. Share a room but not a bed for at least the first six months. These steps sharply reduce the risk of sudden infant death.
The safe sleep checklist
- Back to sleep, every time. Always place baby on their back for naps and at night, until at least their first birthday.
- Firm, flat surface. A crib or bassinet mattress that meets current standards, with a tightly fitted sheet and nothing else.
- Bare crib. No pillows, blankets, quilts, crib bumpers, or soft toys. These are suffocation hazards.
- Room-share, do not bed-share. Keep the crib or bassinet in your room, ideally for the first six months or more, but not in your bed.
- Avoid overheating. Dress baby in light layers or a wearable sleep sack rather than loose blankets, and keep the room at a comfortable temperature.
- Smoke-free. Keep baby away from smoke before and after birth.
Why a bare, firm crib matters
Most sleep-related infant deaths involve soft bedding or an unsafe surface. Loose blankets and bumpers can cover the face, and soft mattresses can restrict breathing. A firm mattress with only a fitted sheet removes those hazards. Our crib mattress safety guide and firmness guide explain how to get the surface right, and a waterproof protector under the sheet keeps it hygienic without adding softness.
What to use instead of blankets
If you want to keep baby warm, use a wearable blanket or sleep sack sized for your child rather than a loose blanket. It provides warmth without the suffocation risk of bedding in the crib.
Note: This is general information, not medical advice. Follow the current American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep recommendations and your pediatrician’s guidance for your child.
Frequently asked questions
When can my baby sleep with a blanket or pillow?
Pediatric guidance generally advises keeping soft bedding, pillows, and blankets out of the sleep space for at least the first year. Use a sleep sack for warmth instead, and follow your pediatrician’s advice.
Is room-sharing the same as bed-sharing?
No. Room-sharing means the baby sleeps in their own crib or bassinet in your room, which is recommended. Bed-sharing means sleeping in the same bed, which raises the risk of suffocation and is not recommended.
Are crib bumpers safe?
No. Padded crib bumpers are a suffocation and entrapment hazard and are no longer recommended or sold under current US rules. Keep the crib bare.
