Health Library

Safe Sleep

What are the ABCs of Safe Sleep?

Alone: Share your room, not your bed.

• The safest place for your baby to sleep is in the room where you sleep, but not in your bed.
• Place your baby’s crib or bassinet in your bedroom instead of letting your baby sleep in the same bed with you, other children or anyone else.
• Parents or caregivers should never nap on a couch or chair while holding a baby to reduce the risk of the baby becoming trapped or smothered.

Back: Always place your baby on their back for naps and at night.

• Laying your baby on their back to sleep reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
• Stomach-sleeping babies are more likely to rebreathe their own exhaled air, which can cause carbon dioxide buildup and decreased oxygen levels, potentially leading to suffocation.
• Stomach-sleeping babies may not be able to lift their heads well, and may sleep face down. Sleeping face down can decrease a baby’s oxygen-rich air supply and increase the risk of suffocation. Stomach-sleeping babies are more likely to overheat, have unexpected drops in their blood pressure, and not be able to control their heart rate—all contributing factors to an increased risk of SIDS.
• Babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to suffocate or choke.

Crib: Always put your child to sleep in a crib or bassinet.

• A crib with only a snug, firm mattress and tight-fitting sheet is best.
• There should be nothing in the crib / bassinet with baby—no toys, stuffed animals, blankets, pillows, crib bumpers or sleep positioners.
• Sleep clothing, such as swaddles, sleep sacs, footed onesies and appropriate-sized sleepers are safer for babies than blankets.
• Never place babies to sleep on adult beds, chairs, sofas, waterbeds, air mattresses, pillows, cushions or soft surfaces.
• Babies should not sleep for long stretches in any product that is not a crib or bassinet. Swings, car seats, strollers and bouncers should not be used as a dedicated sleeping space.

Crib Safety

• Check that your crib meets the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), and make sure it has all the right pieces.
• Make sure all crib hardware is tightly in place to prevent crib from collapsing, trapping or suffocating the baby.
• Avoid cribs with decorative cut-outs in headboard / footboard to reduce risk of head or limbs becoming trapped as your baby becomes more active.
• If you can fit a can of soda between the slats of a crib, that means a child’s head, hand or foot could get stuck.
• If the sides of crib go down, make sure the sides latch securely and the latches cannot be released by your baby as they become more active.
• Corner posts of the crib should not stick up more than one-sixteenth of an inch or have sharp edges.
• If you are getting a used crib, check to see if it has been recalled at www.recalls.gov.
• Avoid placing a crib, bed, highchair or playpen near windows, draperies, blinds or wall-mounted decorative accessories with cords.
• Mobiles or toys with strings longer than 7 inches should not be hanging above the crib.
• Mobiles should be removed when your baby begins to push-up on their hands and knees.