A Parents' Guide to Safe Sleep Practices For Your Baby

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07-05-2025

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Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
Fact checked by SarahWhen you have a newborn—especially if it's your first child—there is nothing more perplexing and frustrating than your child's sleep patterns. Parents struggle to get their kid to sleep, get them to stay asleep, and even have a time deciding where they should sleep, whether it be a crib, bassinet, or even in the parents' bed. The potent mixture of this trial-by-fire learning experience, exhaustion, and frustration can lead to parents sometimes making unsafe sleep decisions—just so they can get a few hours of uninterrupted rest.
That situation is understandable, and yet it is essential that parents stay informed about best practices for the safest sleep setup for their babies. Unfortunately, it might now be harder for sleep-deprived parents to find the resources they need: Recently, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development shut down the office which manages the 'Safe to Sleep' campaign, which distributed information to new parents that saved thousands of babies lives in the three decades since it was launched.
But that doesn't mean new parents are going to be left in the dark. Below we have assembled a guide that can help you ensure your baby sleeps in the safest environment possible. Here's what you need to know about where your baby should sleep and how long they should sleep, as well as what sleep practices to avoid.
First, Know the ABCs of Safe Sleep
Whether they want to sleep all the time, have their days and nights mixed up, or need to be held much of the time, infant sleep is a complex process that takes a while to even out, especially as they get used to life outside of the womb.
As many as 3,500 babies die suddenly while they're sleeping each year in the U.S. Most of the time, these deaths are caused by suffocation, strangulation, or from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). To reduce the likelihood of these tragedies, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), has developed a number of safe sleep guidelines to help parents ensure their babies are sleeping safely.
One way that they communicate these guidelines is with the phrase—the ABC's of sleep. This is a quick and easy way to remind parents like yourself that babies should be put down alone [A], on their back [B], and in a crib [C] that is free of blankets, toys, and other objects for every sleep. If you follow the ABC's you can ensure your baby's sleep is as safe as possible.
Create a Safe Place to Sleep
One of the best ways to keep your baby safe while sleeping is to create a safe place for them to sleep. For instance, your baby should sleep in a crib or bassinet that has a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet. Nothing else should be in the crib with your baby including bumper pads, blankets, pillows, and soft toys.
You might worry that your baby is cold without a blanket, but no matter the temptation, do not add one to their crib (you can use a swaddle instead; more on that later).
It's also important to keep your home smoke-free. This means not smoking or allowing others to smoke in your home or around your baby. Not only can secondhand smoke stunt the development of their lungs, but it also increases their risk of SIDS and serious health issues.
Take Steps to Reduce the Risk of Sids
There is no way to entirely prevent SIDS, and according to the National Institutes of Health, researchers are still not sure of the cause. However, there are things you can do to reduce the risk. To start, make sure your baby has a safe place to sleep and that you are following the ABC's of safe sleep, especially during their first year of life.
Researchers have found that SIDS is most prevalent between 1 and 4 months of age and then decreases after 6 months with more than 90% of deaths occurring before a baby's 6-month birthday. Here are some ways you can reduce the risk of SIDS:
Put your baby down on their back and never on their stomach or side
Keep their crib clear of toys, blankets, bumpers, and more
Avoid using positioners and other gadgets
Keep their room at a comfortable temperature and avoid overheating
Allow your baby to sleep in your room but not in your bed
Consider giving your baby a pacifier
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there is no evidence that anti-SIDS gadgets and devices effectively reduce your baby's risk, and they are not a substitute for safe-sleep practices, so you can skip them
There is also some evidence that breastfeeding might reduce the risk of SIDS
Know the Risks of Sleeping in Swings, Car Seats, and More
While it can be tempting, especially if your baby doesn't sleep well in their crib or bassinet, you should avoid allowing them to sleep on a couch, armchair, or your bed. If your little one falls asleep in their swing, bouncy chair, stroller, or even car seat—except while riding in the car—they should be transferred to a crib, bassinet, portable crib, or play yard as soon as possible.
Researchers have found that infants who sleep upright are at risk for suffocation, especially if their head tips to the side and their breathing is impaired. One study found that of nearly 12,000 infant deaths studied, 3% occurred in a sitting device and 35% of those sitting devices were baby swings.
Choose the Correct Sleeping Position
Putting your baby down on their back for sleep is imperative. Researchers have found that this is the safest position for your baby to sleep in and that babies are less likely to die unexpectedly than if they are sleeping on their stomachs.
Even putting them to sleep on their side is not recommended—even if they have issues with acid reflux. The primary issue with side sleeping is that your baby can more easily fall onto their stomach increasing the risk for SIDS.
Opt for Room Sharing Over Bed Sharing
The AAP recommends sharing a room with your baby until they are at least 6 months old. Not only does this allow you to comfort and care for your baby more easily, but research shows that having your baby's crib or bassinet in your room reduces the risk of SIDS by up to 50%. It also is much safer than sleeping in the same bed which can increase the risk of injury, suffocation, and even SIDS.
You also should avoid falling asleep with your baby in other locations too, like in a soft chair or on the couch. Your baby's risk of a sleep-related death is up to 67 times higher when they sleep with you on a cushion, couch, or chair.
Use Good Judgment With Swaddles, Blankets, and More
When it comes to infant sleep, you likely know that putting a blanket over your sleeping baby is a big no-no, especially during that first 12 to 18 months of life. But swaddles and sleep sacks may provide a way to comfort your baby and keep them warm in the colder months. The key is knowing how to use them safely.
For instance, it is generally safe to swaddle your baby until they are about 3 or 4 months old—or when they start to show signs that they are learning to roll over. Also, make sure the swaddle is snug but not too tight and that you avoid adjusting the material so that it is near their face. Some parents prefer sleep sacks, which are wearable blankets that zip or snap around your baby because they are easier to use.
That said, you should avoid using weighted sleep sacks. These are not safe for your baby because they impair their ability to rouse themselves from sleep and can increase their risk of SIDS.
Avoid Unsafe Sleep Products
While it's perfectly natural to want to create a cozy space for your baby to sleep, you don't want to compromise their safety in the process. For this reason, there are a number of sleep products you should avoid in order to keep your baby safe during sleep. At the top of the list, are crib bumpers, loose sheets, soft toys, and blankets.
You also want to avoid crib tents, sleep positioners, wedges, and bedside sleepers. None of these products are safe for your baby and could increase the risk of death or injury while they're sleeping. In other words, if a product increases your baby's risk of entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation, it should not be used.
Know How Much Sleep They Need
Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of infant sleep is knowing how much your baby should be sleeping. In fact, most new parents are surprised by how much their newborn will sleep in those first few weeks. That said, when a baby is sleeping too much or you have a hard time rousing them from sleep they need immediate medical attention.
Ideally, your newborn should wake up every two to three hours to eat. For sleep-derived parents who just want to stay in bed, that might seem frequent. While sleeping a lot during those first few weeks is important, you also need to make sure they are eating regularly too.
For breastfed babies, you can expect to feed them 10 to 12 times in a 24 hour period and for bottled fed babies, you can expect to complete about 8 feedings in 24 hours. If your baby is still sleeping after three hours, you should wake them up.
Other Important Sleep Tips
Every baby has a unique sleeping pattern, but this doesn't address how taxing it can be on sleep-deprived parents to deal with the long days and sleepless nights that sometimes come with welcoming an infant.
For this reason, it can be helpful to be armed with some safe sleeping tips that will help you—and your baby—get more sleep. Here are some things you can try to improve your baby's sleep without resorting to gadgets that claim to promote sleep.
Establish a bedtime routine early. Babies take cues from their environment on when it's time to sleep and following the same routine each evening can provide some predictability that may eventually lead to more restful sleep.
Put your baby down drowsy. If you get into the habit of rocking your baby to sleep, they will come to rely on that method to fall asleep. Instead, try putting them in their crib while they are sleepy but still awake.
Aim for an early bedtime. Although it can be challenging, especially if you're working, you should aim for an early bedtime for your little one—around 7 or 8 p.m.
Prioritize napping. A well-rested baby will sleep better at night and naps are an essential part of the process of getting them to sleep at night. So, try not to skip naps if you can help it.
Approach sleep training with caution. There are a lot of different sleep training methods out there to get your baby to sleep, but not all of them are right for your family or for your baby. If your baby is having trouble sleeping, talk to their pediatrician about your concerns. They may be able to offer suggestions or tips that can help.
Read the original article on Parents