Creating a safe sleep environment is one of the most important ways to protect your baby. Following safe sleep practices during every nap and nighttime sleep, from birth through the first year of life, helps reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation, and other sleep-related deaths.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides evidence-based recommendations to help parents and caregivers keep babies safe during sleep. This page outlines the most important steps you can take to create a safer sleep environment for your baby.

Place your baby on their back for every sleep, including naps and nighttime sleep, from birth until their first birthday. Side and stomach sleeping are not recommended because they increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Continue placing your baby on their back even if they have reflux. Back sleeping does not increase the risk of choking, and babies should sleep on a flat surface.

Allow your baby to remain in their chosen position once they can roll independently in both directions. Continue placing them on their back at the start of every sleep, but you do not need to reposition them if they roll over on their own.

Use tummy time only when your baby is awake and supervised. Start with short periods and gradually increase the time to support healthy muscle development.

Choose a safe sleep space. Use a crib, bassinet, bedside sleeper, or portable play yard that meets current safety standards. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and check older products for recalls, damage, or missing parts.

Use a firm, flat mattress. The mattress should fit securely without gaps and should not be inclined. Cover it with a fitted sheet only. Never add mattress toppers or other soft padding.

Keep the sleep space clear. Do not place pillows, blankets, quilts, stuffed toys, crib bumpers, sleep positioners, nests, wedges, or other loose or soft items in the baby’s sleep space.

Use safe sleep clothing. Dress your baby in appropriately sized sleep clothing or a non-weighted wearable blanket (sleep sack) instead of loose blankets. Avoid weighted sleep products.

Prevent overheating. Dress your baby appropriately for the room temperature and avoid covering their head. Watch for signs of overheating, such as sweating or a hot chest.

Share a room, but not a bed. Keep your baby’s crib, bassinet, or other approved sleep space in your bedroom, close to your bed, for at least the first six months. Room-sharing can significantly reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and makes nighttime feeding and comforting easier.

Avoid bed-sharing. Always place your baby in their own sleep space. Sharing an adult bed increases the risk of suffocation and other sleep-related deaths, particularly for babies younger than four months.

Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair. These surfaces are especially dangerous because babies can become trapped or suffocate.

Take precautions during nighttime feeding. If you bring your baby into bed for feeding or comforting and there is a chance you might fall asleep, remove pillows, blankets, and other soft or loose items beforehand. Return your baby to their own sleep space before you go to sleep, or as soon as you wake if you fall asleep unintentionally.

Use car seats only for travel, not routine sleep. Car seats are designed to protect babies during travel but are not intended as regular sleep spaces.

Avoid using swings, bouncers, loungers, or inclined sleepers for sleep. These products do not provide a safe sleep surface and can increase the risk of suffocation.

Move your baby to a safe sleep space if they fall asleep in a sitting or carrying device. If your baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, sling, or carrier, move them to a firm, flat sleep surface on their back as soon as it is safe and practical.

Do not use inclined infant sleepers or crib bumpers. These products are prohibited from sale in the United States because of their safety risks.

Keep your baby’s environment smoke-free. Avoid smoking, vaping, and exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy and after birth. Avoid alcohol, marijuana, opioids, and other non-prescribed or impairing drugs during pregnancy and while caring for your baby.

Breastfeed or provide expressed breast milk when possible. Human milk feeding is associated with a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Any amount can offer benefits, and families should receive support in choosing a feeding approach that works for them.

Offer a pacifier at naps and bedtime. Pacifier use is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS. If breastfeeding, wait until feeding is well established before introducing one. Never attach a pacifier to clothing or a cord during sleep, and do not force it if your baby refuses.

Keep up with recommended healthcare visits and vaccinations. Regular prenatal care and routine pediatric checkups support infant health. Ensure your baby receives vaccinations according to the recommended immunization schedule.

Swaddle safely, if you choose to swaddle. Always place a swaddled baby on their back, and make sure the swaddle allows comfortable breathing and hip movement. Stop swaddling as soon as your baby shows signs of trying to roll over, even if this happens before 3 months. Never use weighted swaddles.

Do not rely on consumer monitors to prevent SIDS. Wearable breathing, heart-rate, or oxygen monitors have not been shown to prevent SIDS and should never replace safe-sleep practices. Use medical monitoring equipment if prescribed by your baby’s healthcare professional.

Important note: This page provides general guidance on safe infant sleep based on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and current research. Following these recommendations can significantly reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation, and other sleep-related infant deaths, but cannot eliminate all risks.

Every baby is different. Speak with your pediatrician if you have questions about your baby’s health, medical needs, or sleeping arrangements. This information is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.