The Ultimate Guide to Safe Sleep for Your Baby
Updated: Jul 11, 2023
When it comes to your child, you can never be too careful. Newborn babies are completely dependent on their caregivers to keep them safe, nourished, and rested. And when you’re learning about how to do all of these things while simultaneously healing from giving birth, it’s a lot to think about while you’re living it!
We’d love to offer some insight on safe sleeping practices so you have all the knowledge you need to make safe sleep decisions for your child. Having a plan and your values around sleep in place beforehand will only help in the middle of the night when you just want to sleep. And if you ever find yourself struggling to stick to the recommendations or goals you’ve chosen for your family when it comes to sleep, we’re also moms and we get it. Hop online with either one of us to chat through your situation – we (Ashley and Katelyn) both offer ask-us-anything options.
In this post, we will cover the current safe sleep recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, safe sleep terminology (and why it’s important for new parents to know these terms), SIDS prevention, transitioning from a bassinet to a crib, and when and how to introduce loveys, pillows, and blankets safely.
Know the Current Safe Sleep Recommendations
Know that these recommendations are in place to keep your child as safe as possible. You should try to follow as many as possible. In some circumstances, it is okay to consider alternative options that should always be discussed with your child’s physician (for example, if you’re planning to exclusively breastfeed but you’re not producing enough output to keep your baby nourished, you would want to supplement with formula, as it would be harmful to your child if you didn’t).
You can read more here, but here’s our quick outline of the current safe sleep recommendations:
Place your baby on their back to sleep for every sleep.
Use a firm sleep surface – use only a tightly-fitted sheet is needed on a crib mattress, or the mattress(es) that come with your child’s bassinet or play yard. Do not use or add any extra mattress or bedding to your child’s sleep surface.
Breastfeeding is recommended and is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS.
Room-sharing is recommended – the child sleeps on a separate, firm surface (as stated above in #2) in the same room and near the parents’ bed for at least the first 6 months.
The crib should be empty besides your baby (in a swaddle or sleep sack) – no additional blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, crib bumpers, etc. are needed as they increase the risk of SIDS, suffocation, entrapment, and/or strangulation.
Offer a pacifier as they have demonstrated a protective effect against SIDS, even if they fall out of the baby’s mouth after falling asleep initially.
Don’t smoke during pregnancy or after giving birth.
Avoid alcohol and drug use.
Do not cover your child’s head and avoid overheating.