The First Steps With Safe Sleep for Infants

Ways to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths in babies under 1 year old.

Key takeaways

• Position: place babies on their backs for every sleep, naps and night
• Surface: a firm, flat, level surface in a crib, bassinet or play yard that meets safety standards
• Most useful single change: Dress the baby in no more than one layer more than an adult would wear, to avoid overheating.
• Commonest mistake: Falling asleep with a baby on a couch or armchair.
• See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.

Why bother

Sleep-related deaths are a leading cause of death in babies after the first month, and simple steps lower the risk.

Start here

Start with two. Add the rest once those have stopped taking effort.

• Dress the baby in no more than one layer more than an adult would wear, to avoid overheating
• Use a wearable blanket instead of loose bedding

Then add these

When those have settled in, these are worth adding.

• Move a baby who falls asleep in a car seat, swing or stroller to a flat sleep surface
• Make sure every caregiver knows the safe sleep rules

The numbers, in one place

Common early mistakes

• Falling asleep with a baby on a couch or armchair
• Using inclined sleepers, nursing pillows or positioners for sleep
• Smoking, vaping, alcohol or drugs around the baby
• Weighted sleep sacks or weighted blankets

Related topics

• RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus): Sorting the Evidence From the Noise (Infectious Diseases)
• The Evidence on Breastfeeding Basics, Without the Hype (Pregnancy and Postpartum)
• The Sleep Environment: What Published Guidance Supports (Sleep)
• The Evidence on Safe Disposal of Medicines, Without the Hype (Substance Use and Recovery)

Where to go next

• Why Safe Sleep for Infants Matters, Explained Simply
• A Working Checklist for Safe Sleep for Infants
• Safe Sleep for Infants — the reference entry
• Injury Prevention: The Complete Guide
• Car Seats and Seat Belts: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
• The Evidence on Drowning Prevention, Without the Hype

When to speak to a doctor

Call 911 right away if a baby is not breathing, is limp or unresponsive, or has blue or gray lips, and start infant CPR if you know how. Call your baby's doctor for any breathing pauses, fever under 3 months or concerns about sleep.

Where this comes from

• American Academy of Pediatrics — How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development — Safe to Sleep
• CDC — Helping Babies Sleep Safely

How this page was put together

Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.

Medical disclaimer

This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.