Follow These 3 Easy Tips to Ensure Safe Sleep for Infants and Babies
Summary
- Follow the A-B-C rule for safe baby sleep: baby should always sleep Alone, on their Back and in their Crib.
- Always place the baby on their back to sleep, alternating the direction of their head each night to reduce the risk of plagiocephaly.
- Use a crib meeting safety standards and keep it empty, removing loose bedding, bumpers, and toys.
When you put baby in their crib at night, or for a nap, you want to make sure they’re safe. Promoting safe sleep for infants and babies is possible by following a few simple tips. Here are some best practices to ensure safe sleep for babies, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Safe sleep for babies is as easy as A, B, C: Alone, Back, and Crib.
Learn more about these 3 simple steps for safe sleep for babies and infants.
A: Baby should always sleep alone.
- Parents and caregivers should never sleep in the same bed as baby.
- Baby can sleep in the same room as their caregiver, with the crib placed next to the bed. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sharing a room with baby for at least the first 6 months, but this choice depends on what works best for your family and home.
- Nothing else should be in the crib: no blankets or loose bedding, bumpers, toys, or any other items. It should only be baby in their crib.
- Keep the room smoke and pollutant-free.
- Keep the room cool to prevent overheating.
B: Baby should sleep on their back.
- Baby should always be placed in their crib on their back to sleep. This is the safest way for baby to sleep.
- Alternate the direction their head is pointing each night. This helps to reduce the risk of plagiocephaly and torticollis. Learn more!
- Tummy Time is essential when baby is awake during the day! Tummy Time should begin as soon as baby comes home. Learn more.
💡 What if baby has started rolling over?
Baby usually starts rolling over around 4-6 months of age. The recommendation remains the same: place baby in their crib on their back. They may roll over during the night, but they can roll themselves over onto their back if needed. Remember, once baby starts showing the first signs of rolling over, it’s time to stop swaddling.
C: Baby should always sleep in a crib.
- Use a crib or bassinet that meets current safety standards. Learn more about how to make baby’s crib as safe as possible here.
- Keep baby’s crib empty. Remove loose bedding, bumpers, and toys as they can put safety as risk.
- Avoid using sleep positioning devices, as there is no evidence these are effective. In some cases, they pose a danger to baby if they roll out of the device.
💡 When should you move baby out of the crib?
Transitioning out of the crib is not a milestone, so there isn’t a specific age when this happens. The AAP recommends transitioning out of a crib when the crib railing is lower than baby’s chest. This is because baby can climb out of their crib on their own at this age. Typically, this happens between the ages of 2 and 3 and a half, but it just depends on what works best for your child. Learn more about transitioning out of the crib here!
Don’t forget to check out our tips for helping baby sleep through the night!
Sleep is so important for your little one, so take these 3 easy steps to ensure safe sleep for infants and babies.