Safe sleep for your baby

A newborn baby sleeping soundly on their back in a crib with a firm mattress and no loose blankets, demonstrating safe sleep practices.

Key Points

Safe sleep can help protect your baby from sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), including SIDS, and from dangers like choking and suffocation.

Put your baby to sleep on their back on a flat, firm, non-inclined surface, like in a crib or bassinet. Do this every time your baby sleeps, including naps.

You can share a room with your baby, but don’t share a bed. Put your baby to sleep in their own crib or bassinet.

Don’t use inclined sleepers, rockers, or bouncers for sleep. Don’t use inclined sleepers, rockers, or bouncers for sleep. Inclined sleepers are federally banned and not safe for sleep. Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website (cpsc.gov) for recall information.

Don’t use sleep positioners, like nests or anti-roll pillows. They can cause your baby to stop breathing. 

Don’t use weighted swaddles, weighted blankets, or weighted sleep sacks.

Keep crib bumpers, padded crib liners, loose bedding, toys and other soft objects out of your baby’s crib.

What is safe sleep?

Safe sleep means putting your baby to sleep in ways that reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and other dangers like choking and suffocation (not being able to breathe). SUID is a term that covers many types of sudden, unexpected deaths in babies under 1 year old, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is a diagnosis used when a baby’s death can’t be explained even after a full investigation. It’s sometimes called crib death because it often happens during sleep.

Where should my baby sleep?  

The safest place for your baby to sleep is in their bassinet or crib. If you have multiples (twins, triplets or more), put each baby in their own bassinet or crib. Sleeping babies together in the same crib is not recommended.

Here are some do’s and don’ts about making your baby’s sleep space safe:

Do’s

  • Do put your baby to sleep on their back on a flat, firm, non-inclined surface, like a crib mattress covered with a tightly fitted sheet. Use only the mattress made for your baby’s crib. The mattress should fit snugly in the crib so there are no spaces between the mattress and the crib frame. The mattress shape should stay firm even when covered with a tightly fitted sheet or mattress cover. 
  • Do put your baby to bed in their own crib or bassinet. Don’t bed-share This is when babies and parents sleep together in the same bed. Bed-sharing is the most common cause of death in babies younger than 3 months old. Keep your baby’s crib close to your bed so that they’re nearby during the night. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that you and your baby sleep in the same room, but not in the same bed, for the first year of your baby’s life-- but at least for the first 6 months.
  • Do make sure your baby’s bassinet, crib or play yard meets current safety standards. Never use a crib with missing parts, broken hardware, or missing instructions, even if it appears to have been repaired. Visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to learn more about product safety standards or product recalls. 
  • Do remove hanging window cords or electrical wires near where your baby sleeps. Babies can get tangled in them and choke.  
  • Do keep the room at a comfortable temperature. If your baby is sweating or their chest feels hot, they may be overheated.

Don’ts

  • Don’t use sleep positioners, inclined sleepers, or rockers for sleep. Products like anti-roll pillows, nests, inclined sleepers, and infant rockers are not safe for sleep. Inclined sleep products (angled more than 10 degrees) are banned under federal law. If you have one, stop using it right away. Check cpsc.gov for the current list of recalled products.   
  • Don’t use weighted swaddles, weighted blankets, or weighted sleep sacks. These products are not proven safe and may increase the risk of suffocation.
  • Don’t let your baby sleep in a carrier, sling, car seat or stroller. Babies who sleep in these items can suffocate. If your baby falls asleep in one, take them out and put them in their crib as soon as you can.
  • Don’t put your baby to sleep on soft surfaces, like a waterbed, sofa, soft mattress or cushion.
  • Don’t keep crib bumpers, loose bedding, toys or other soft objects in your baby’s crib. They put your baby in danger of being trapped, strangled or suffocated.
  • Don’t use cribs with drop-side rails. Don’t put portable bed rails on a regular bed. Babies can get stuck in rails and choke. Don’t try to fix a crib that has broken or missing parts.

How do I put my baby to sleep safely?

Here’s how to help keep your baby safe when you put them to sleep:

  • Put your baby to sleep on their back every time until they’re 1 year old. It’s not safe for a baby to sleep on their side or tummy. If your baby can roll from their back to their side or tummy and back again, it’s OK if your baby changes positions while sleeping.
  • Dress your baby in light sleep clothes. Remove any strings or ties from their pajamas, and don’t cover their head. You can swaddle your baby for sleep until they show signs of rolling. This can happen between 2 and 4 months. A swaddled baby who rolls onto their tummy while sleeping has higher risk of SUID. Swaddling is when you snugly wrap a light blanket around your baby to cover most of their body below the neck.   
  • Give your baby a pacifier. Pacifiers may help protect against SIDS. If you’re breastfeeding, wait until your baby is 3 to 4 weeks old, or until they’re used to breastfeeding, before giving them a pacifier. If your baby won’t take a pacifier, don’t force it. It’s OK if the pacifier falls out of your baby’s mouth while sleeping. Don’t hang the pacifier around your baby’s neck or attach the pacifier to your baby’s clothing or stuffed animal. Give your baby a pacifier for naps and at bedtime.
  • Don’t use home cardiorespiratory monitors as a way to reduce the risk of SIDS. These are home breathing monitors that are designed to monitor a baby’s heart rate and breathing, but there’s no evidence they help prevent SIDS.

How does breastfeeding affect safe sleep?

Breastfeeding (or feeding your baby pumped breast milk) for at least the first 6 months of your baby’s life can reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS.

Babies often fall asleep while breastfeeding, especially when they are full. If you think your baby’s asleep and hasn’t finished feeding, try to wake them gently by rubbing their back, tickling their feet, burping them or switching them to the other breast. If your baby isn’t latched correctly, they may fall asleep. You can break the latch by putting your pinky finger in the side of their mouth. Ask your lactation consultant to help you make sure your baby has a good latch. Latch is when your baby’s mouth is securely attached to the area around your nipple for breastfeeding. 

You can breastfeed in bed if you are alert and not sleepy. Before you start, move any bedding and pillows out of the way.

What is tummy time?

Tummy time is when you put your baby on their stomach while awake. It helps make your baby’s neck, shoulder and arm muscles stronger. It also helps prevent flat spots on the back of your baby’s head that they may get from sleeping on their back. Always watch your baby during tummy time or make sure another awake adult is watching.

Are there other ways to help reduce your baby’s risk of sleep dangers, including SIDS?

Yes. Here’s what you can do:

  • Make sure your baby gets all their vaccinations. These shots help protect her from serious childhood diseases and may help prevent SIDS. All children should be vaccinated for their own health and so they don’t spread infections to others.
  • Don’t smoke and keep your baby away from other smokers and secondhand smoke (smoke from other people’s cigarettes, cigars and pipes). Babies who live with smokers are at increased risk of SIDS. Keep your home and your car smoke-free.
  • Don’t smoke, drink alcohol or use harmful drugs during pregnancy. Babies of mothers who do these things are at increased risk of SIDS.  
  • Go to all your prenatal care checkups during pregnancy. Babies of mothers who don’t get regular prenatal care are at increased risk of SIDS.

How much sleep does my baby need?

Newborns need a lot of sleep-- about 16 hours a day, usually in 3- to 4-hour periods. Your baby needs to eat every few hours, which is why they don’t sleep for longer periods of time. Your baby may get cranky or overtired if they don’t get enough sleep.

Don’t be surprised if your baby can only stay awake for an hour or two. Over time, their body gets into a sleep pattern. They start sleeping for longer stretches, even during the night. If you’re worried about your baby’s sleep, talk to their healthcare provider.

Can a bedtime routine help my baby sleep?

Yes—a consistent bedtime routine can make sleep easier for both of you. Start setting a bedtime routine when your baby’s around 4 to 6 months old.

Here’s how to get your baby ready for bedtime:

  • Wind down any playtime fun.
  • Turn off the phone, television, etc.
  • Give your baby a warm bath.
  • Softly stroke your baby’s back.
  • Give your baby a pacifier.
  • Sing to your baby or play soft music.
  • Read your baby a bedtime story.

Stick to your baby’s sleep routine as much as you can. Plan ahead if the routine needs a temporary change, like if you’re going out of town travel or attending family events. Get back to their regular schedule as soon as possible.

Learn more

Last reviewed: May 2026