Safe infant sleep

Babies should sleep on their backs for all sleep times – naps and overnight. Babies who sleep on their backs are much less likely to have sleep-related deaths compared to babies who sleep on their side or their tummy. Some parents worry that babies will choke when on their backs especially if they spit up or have reflux, but the baby's airway anatomy and the gag reflex will keep that from happening.

Use a crib or bassinet that meets the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). A tight-fitting, firm mattress and fitted sheet designed for that crib or bassinet should be used. Nothing else should be in the crib except for your baby. No loose blankets, bumper pads, pillows or positioners, stuffed animals or anything else that can be a suffocation or strangulation risk. If your baby falls asleep in a swing, bouncer, car seat, stroller or any other place not meant for sleep, they should be moved to their bassinet or crib as soon as possible.

Keep your baby's safe sleep area in the same room where you sleep for the first six months or, ideally, for the first year. The AAP recommends room sharing because it can decrease the risk of sleep-related infant deaths by as much as 50% and is much safer than bed sharing. Do not let your baby fall asleep in your bed.

These surfaces are too soft and are a serious risk of suffocating your baby.

Dress your baby in onesie pajamas and use a sleep sack if the room is cold. These are designed to keep your baby warm without the need for blankets. Do not over bundle your baby. Watch for signs of overheating, such as sweating or your baby's chest feeling hot to the touch. Do not put a hoodie or hat on your baby when they are sleeping. Take off bows and headbands that can be a strangulation risk. Weighted blankets and weighted sleepers are not safe.

Ask your nurse, doctor or other health care provider for help with swaddling. Make sure your baby is always on their back when swaddled. The swaddle should not be too tight or make it hard for your baby to breathe or move their hips. When your baby looks like they're trying to roll over, you should stop swaddling because if a swaddled baby rolls onto their tummy they can suffocate. We can practice swaddling with you before you leave the hospital.

Creating a safe sleep environment for your baby is not only important for their well-being – it could save their life. Avoid placing loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys or crib bumpers in their sleep space, as these items can increase the risk of suffocation, entrapment and SIDS. Even mesh or breathable bumpers are not recommended by the AAP. Instead of blankets, the AAP recommends using sleep sacks or wearable blankets to keep your baby warm.