Pillar reference
Safe Sleep Guidelines for Babies
The AAP's safe sleep recommendations, translated into the practical checklist parents actually need. Following these guidelines reduces the risk of SIDS and accidental sleep-related death. Every item below is sourced from current AAP policy.
Start with the ABCs of safe sleep
Every safe sleep recommendation distills to three letters:
Alone
Baby sleeps alone in her own space. No people, no pets, no toys, no loose bedding sharing the sleep surface.
Back
Baby sleeps on her back for every sleep, naps and nights, until at least 12 months.
Crib
Baby sleeps on a firm flat surface (crib, bassinet, or play yard) that meets current safety standards.
Do
- ✓Place baby on her back for every sleep, every time.
- ✓Use a firm, flat crib mattress with only a fitted sheet.
- ✓Share a room (not a bed) with baby for at least the first 6 months. Ideally 12.
- ✓Use a sleep sack or wearable blanket instead of a loose blanket.
- ✓Keep the room at a comfortable temperature: 68-72°F.
- ✓Offer a pacifier at sleep time, once breastfeeding is well established.
- ✓Breastfeed if possible. Associated with reduced SIDS risk.
- ✓Keep baby smoke-free, both during pregnancy and after birth.
- ✓Stay current on vaccines, which are associated with reduced SIDS risk.
- ✓Practice supervised tummy time during awake periods to support development.
Avoid
- ✗Soft sleep surfaces (sofas, armchairs, recliners, adult beds, waterbeds).
- ✗Loose blankets, pillows, comforters, sheepskins, or quilts in the crib.
- ✗Crib bumpers. Traditional, mesh, or 'breathable.' All are unsafe and now federally banned.
- ✗Weighted blankets, weighted sleep sacks, and weighted swaddles.
- ✗Inclined sleepers (banned in 2019). Use a flat, level crib mattress only.
- ✗Letting baby sleep in a car seat, swing, or bouncer once you reach your destination.
- ✗Hats indoors during sleep. Overheating is a SIDS risk factor.
- ✗Smoking around baby or in environments where baby sleeps.
- ✗Home cardiorespiratory monitors or commercial devices marketed for SIDS prevention.
- ✗Stomach sleeping until baby can reliably roll both ways on her own.
Common questions parents ask
When can my baby sleep on her stomach?
The AAP recommends back sleeping until at least 12 months for every sleep. Naps and overnight. Once your baby can reliably roll both ways on her own (usually around 4-6 months), you no longer need to roll her back if she ends up on her stomach. But you still always start her on her back, and the sleep surface must still be firm and clear.
Are crib bumpers safe?
No. Crib bumpers (whether traditional, mesh, or 'breathable') are not recommended by the AAP because of suffocation, entrapment, and strangulation risks. The federal Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2022 banned the sale of crib bumpers in the U.S. The same applies to weighted blankets and weighted sleep sacks.
What about co-sleeping or bed-sharing?
The AAP recommends room-sharing (your baby sleeps in your room in a separate crib or bassinet) for at least the first 6 months, and ideally for the first year. The AAP does not recommend bed-sharing because of increased SIDS and accidental suffocation risk, especially in the first 4 months and for babies born preterm or with low birth weight. If you choose to bed-share, the AAP publishes harm-reduction guidelines worth reviewing with your pediatrician.
What sleep surfaces are considered safe?
A flat, firm crib mattress with a fitted sheet only. No incline. No memory foam. No pillows, blankets, toys, or loose objects. Bassinets and play yards that meet current CPSC safety standards are also safe. Couches, recliners, armchairs, sofa pillows, adult beds, car seats outside of car use, and inclined sleepers (banned in 2019) are all unsafe sleep surfaces.
Does my baby need to wear a hat in the crib?
No. The AAP advises against hats during sleep because overheating is a SIDS risk factor. Dress your baby in one layer more than you'd be comfortable wearing yourself, and use a sleep sack instead of a blanket. Skip the hat indoors.
Are pacifiers safe at sleep time?
Yes. The AAP recommends offering a pacifier at sleep times (after breastfeeding is well established, usually 3-4 weeks). Pacifier use is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS. If the pacifier falls out, you don't need to put it back in.
What about devices marketed as preventing SIDS?
The AAP specifically advises against home cardiorespiratory monitors, special crib mattresses, wedges, positioners, and other commercial products marketed as SIDS prevention. None have been shown to reduce SIDS risk, and many introduce their own hazards (false alarms causing missed real issues, suffocation risks, etc.). The proven SIDS-reduction practices are the ones in this guide.
Primary sources
American Academy of Pediatrics, “Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment.” AAP Task Force on SIDS. HealthyChildren.org safe-sleep resources. Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2022 (federal crib bumper ban). U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission crib and inclined-sleeper standards.
Related on Kiri Journal
Safe Sleep Guidelines Every Parent Should Know (2025 Update)
The full long-form article with updated 2025 AAP guidance.
The Ultimate Newborn Sleep Schedule
Realistic newborn sleep expectations alongside safe sleep setup.
Baby Bedtime Routines Backed by Science
Wind-down rituals that pair well with a safe-sleep setup.
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