Bringing a new baby home comes with plenty of questions, especially about sleep. Creating a safe sleep environment is extremely important, as it can help reduce the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), as well as accidental suffocation and other sleep-related deaths. Whether it’s bedtime or a quick nap, these basic ABCDs will help keep your infant comfortable and safe while sleeping.
A is for alone.
Put your baby to sleep alone in their crib. “Alone” does not mean your baby needs to sleep in a separate room. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends room sharing without bed sharing, ideally for at least the first six months. Your child can sleep close to you in their own crib or bassinet while still having a separate, safe sleep space.
“Alone” means the crib should contain only a firm mattress with a fitted sheet. Keep soft items like pillows, stuffed animals, loose blankets, and positioners out of the sleep area as they can increase the risk of suffocation or entrapment.
B is for back.
Studies show that placing your baby on their back to sleep, not on their side or stomach, is the best way to reduce the risk of SUID or other sleep-related causes of infant death. Therefore, place infants on their backs for every sleep, even if they seem more comfortable in another position. Once your baby can roll from their back to their stomach and from their stomach to their back independently, you do not need to continually reposition them during their sleep, but you should still place them on their back when putting them down.
Tummy time is still important! When your baby is awake and supervised, tummy time helps strengthen the muscles they will eventually use for rolling, sitting, and crawling.
C is for cribs.
A safe sleep surface is essential. Babies should sleep on a firm, flat surface, not one that is at an angle or inclined. Safe examples include a crib, bassinet, portable crib, or play yard that follows the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Check their website at cpsc.gov to make sure the product is not recalled. This is especially important for used cribs.
Make sure the mattress is designed for your specific crib or bassinet and fits snugly without gaps around the edges. Adding extra padding, mattress toppers, pillows, or other materials to make the surface feel softer can actually make the sleep environment less safe.
It is also important to avoid products marketed for infant sleep that do not meet federal sleep safety standards. If you’re unsure whether a bassinet, portable sleeper, or other product is approved for routine infant sleep, check the manufacturer’s information and CPSC guidelines before using it.
Never use broken cribs or cribs with missing instructions or missing parts, as these have caused many infant deaths. Additionally, the space between crib bars must be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart. This way, the baby can’t get their head stuck between the bars.
D is for don’t smoke.
Do not smoke or use nicotine around your baby – no cigarettes, marijuana, or vaping in your home. Smoke of any kind increases a baby’s risk of dying while sleeping, especially babies who are sick. Babies exposed to smoke also tend to have more colds and other illnesses.
Exposure during pregnancy matters, too. Avoiding nicotine, marijuana, and other substances both during pregnancy and after your baby is born helps create a safer environment for your baby. Ask visitors and other caregivers to follow the same rules, and keep your home and car smoke- and vape-free.
More Guidelines for Safe Sleep
These are some additional guidelines to help keep your baby sleeping comfortably and safely:
- Don’t share a bed with your baby. This is especially important if you have been drinking alcohol, used marijuana, or have taken any medicines or illegal drugs. The safest option is to keep your baby’s crib or bassinet close to your bed so you can easily feed and comfort them while returning them to their own sleep surface afterward.
- Don’t use sitting devices for routine sleep. Infant seats, car seats, strollers, infant carriers, and infant swings are not recommended for routine sleep, as they may block a baby’s airway or cause suffocation. If your baby falls asleep in one of these devices, move them to a firm, flat sleep surface as soon as it is safe to do so.
- Make sure your baby doesn’t get overheated when sleeping. Keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for both you and your baby. Avoid excessive layers, heavy blankets, and covering your baby’s head while sleeping.
- Always place cribs, bassinets, and play yards in hazard-free areas. Make sure there are no dangling cords, wires, or window coverings. Additionally, place the crib away from the windows. These items can create strangulation or other injury hazards as your baby becomes more mobile.
- Consider offering a pacifier for sleep. Once feeding is well established, offering a pacifier at naptime and bedtime may help reduce the risk of SIDS. If it falls out after your baby is asleep, you do not need to put it back in.
Safe sleep recommendations can feel like one more thing to remember during an already busy and exhausting time with a newborn, but you don’t have to figure everything out on your own. If you are expecting, recently welcomed a baby, or have questions about infant safety and postpartum care, talk with your provider at Essex County OB/GYN. We’re here to help you feel informed, prepared, and supported as you navigate life with your newest family member.