Science of baby sleep
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The science of baby sleep: Your essential sleep safety checklist
Cradlewise Staff
Bringing your baby home comes with countless decisions and one of the most important is how they sleep. Safe sleep recommendations continue to evolve as new research emerges, and staying updated can feel overwhelming.
The good news? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides clear, science-backed guidance that makes protecting your baby during sleep simple and achievable.
In this updated guide, we break down the latest safe sleep recommendations into 10 practical, easy-to-follow tips so you can rest a little easier, too.
10 Essential baby sleep safety tips as per AAP safe sleep guidelines 2025:
These tips are easy to read, remember, and follow. Implementing them will go a long way in protecting your baby during sleep. Here’s your ultimate checklist:
1. Always place your baby on their back to sleep
Why?
Placing your baby on their back to sleep has been shown to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by 50%. According to the AAP safe sleep guidelines, it’s the safest position for your baby to sleep in, no matter whether it’s nap time or bedtime.
Did you know?
Putting a baby on the stomach or side to sleep, like for a nap, increases the risk for SIDS by up to 45 times.
Babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides are at a much higher risk of suffocation. That’s why it’s so important to follow AAP guidelines, even if other advice from friends and family might suggest differently.
Once your baby can roll over on their own, you don’t need to worry about repositioning them at bedtime, but still put your baby to sleep on their back initially.
2. Use a firm, flat sleep surface
Why?
Sleep surfaces for your baby should be flat and firm. A firm surface means that it doesn’t indent when your baby is lying on it and returns to its original shape quickly if pressed on. Sleeping on a soft or fluffy surface is also dangerous for your baby as the soft bedding can come up and around the baby’s nose.
Place your baby in a bassinet or crib that meets the criteria of the New Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Did you know?
Inclined sleepers were banned in 2022 due to safety risks. These devices are dangerous.
Inclined sleep products like hammocks, baby boxes, in-bed sleepers, baby nests and pods, compact bassinets, and baby tents, if inclined more than 10 degrees, increase the chances of a baby sliding down and their head slumping forward.
This can cause positional asphyxia, which means the baby’s body position gets in the way of their breathing and potentially leads to suffocation. It is not advisable to let your baby sleep in a car seat, stroller, swing, infant carrier, or infant sling as a routine place to sleep, particularly for infants younger than four months.
3. Keep the crib free of pillows, blankets, and stuffed toys
Why?
These items can obstruct your baby’s airways and increase the risk of suffocation. A bare crib clear of soft objects like pillows, plush toys, quilts, comforters, bumpers, mattress toppers, and loose bedding is the safest option.
The AAP’s 2022 recommendations emphasize the importance of eliminating these soft sleep products.
Did you know?
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported injuries and deaths among children younger than five associated with nursery products.
These products increase suffocation risks and are linked to infant deaths. If your baby gets cold, instead of using weighted blankets, consider a wearable blanket or sleep sack that zips up. Use a fitted sheet on the crib mattress, as it won’t come undone with your baby’s movements and pose a suffocation risk.
4. Share a room, not a bed
Why?
Room-sharing, without bed-sharing, has been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS by up to 50%. Experts recommend that your baby sleep in your room for at least the first six months, but ideally up to a year. However, it’s important to note that bed-sharing is not safe. Always place your baby in their own crib, bassinet, or other approved sleep surface to avoid suffocation risks. This way, you can respond quickly to their needs without the risks associated with bed-sharing.
5. Keep the room at a comfortable temperature
Why?
Overheating is a significant risk factor for SIDS. If you’re comfortable in a T-shirt and light pants, your baby should be too. Avoid thick blankets, hats, or excessive clothing. Experts recommend keeping the room temperature between 65°F and 68°F (15.6°C and 20°C), and for infants, one or two degrees warmer upto 69°F or 20.5°C.
Tip: If you’re unsure if your baby is too warm, feel the back of their neck; if it feels hot, they may be overheated.
6. Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime
Why?
Offering a pacifier during sleep times has been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS. If you’re breastfeeding, it’s fine to introduce a pacifier once breastfeeding is well-established (typically around 3-4 weeks). Don’t worry if the pacifier falls out during sleep; there’s no need to put it back in your baby’s mouth.
7. Avoid exposure to smoke
Why?
Babies who are exposed to tobacco smoke whether in utero or after birth are at a higher risk of SIDS. Make sure your home and car are smoke-free, and ensure that no one smokes around your baby. The harmful chemicals in smoke can affect a baby’s respiratory and cardiovascular health, contributing to the risk of sleep-related incidents. The same advice goes for using alcohol and illicit drugs during your pregnancy and after your baby is born.
8. Use an appropriate sleep sack
Why?
Sleep sacks or wearable blankets keep your baby warm without the dangers of loose bedding. Unlike blankets that can slip over your baby’s face and obstruct their airway, a sleep sack fits snugly around the baby’s body, leaving their head and neck free. Choose one that’s the right size for your baby and the temperature of the room.
9. Breastfeed
Why?
Breastfeeding provides your baby with overall immune system benefits attributable to maternal antibodies and micronutrients in human milk.
Did you know?
Breastfeeding can reduce risks for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by up to 64% and overall infant death risks by as much as 40%.
As per AAP, “Physiologic sleep studies showed that breastfed infants are more easily aroused from sleep than their formula-fed counterparts, thus reducing the risk of SIDS.
Breastfeed your baby for the first six months and continue for two years of age or longer, as mutually desired by you and your baby.
10. Be cautious about buying infant products
Why?
You may purchase certain products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS or other sleep-related infant deaths. But there’s no evidence that this is true. Moreover, these products or devices might not meet the safety standards of CPSC and give you a false sense of security.
It is okay to use an infant monitor like a heart rate or pulse oximetry monitor, but do not use it as a substitute for following the safe sleep recommendations. Keep a physical watch. And check a specific product for its authenticity on the CPSC website.
How to keep up with AAP safe sleep guidelines
Safe sleep practices keep on evolving, so it’s essential to stay updated on the latest research and recommendations. The AAP regularly publishes updated guidelines on safe sleep practices, and it’s important to check these resources periodically, especially as your baby grows.
While following the essential baby sleep safety tips above is a great foundation, make sure you stay proactive about safe sleep by checking for product recalls, staying up to date on any new research, and following healthcare professionals’ advice.
Some helpful ways to stay informed include:
- Subscribing to the AAP’s newsletter or blog for updates
- Keep in touch with your pediatrician and ask questions about safe sleep practices.
The new responsibility of being a parent can feel overwhelming at times. By prioritizing safety and adhering to recommended guidelines, you can provide your little one with the best possible start in life. Here’s to safer nights and sweeter dreams for both of you.
FAQs
Q: What is the safest sleep position for babies?
A: The safest sleep position is on the back for every sleep, both naps and nighttime, until your baby turns one year old.
Q: Can I make my baby sleep on their stomach?
A: No. You should always put your baby sleep on their back. If your baby rolls onto their stomach independently, you don’t need to reposition them but always place them on their back at the start of sleep.
Q: Is it safe to bed-share with my baby?
A: No. The AAP recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing for at least the first 6 months to reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation.
Q: What should be in a baby’s crib?
A: A crib should contain only a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet. No pillows, blankets, bumpers, toys, or sleep positioners are advisable.
Q: Do pacifiers reduce the risk of SIDS?
A: Yes. Offering a pacifier at nap time and bedtime is associated with a lower risk of SIDS, even if it falls out during sleep.
Q: Can babies sleep in swings, car seats, or loungers?
A: No. Babies should sleep only on a firm, flat, CPSC-approved sleep surface; not in sitting devices or inclined products.
Q: Should I use a crib bumper to protect my baby from hitting the crib rails?
A: No. Crib bumpers are not recommended because they increase the risk of suffocation and entrapment and do not prevent serious injury.
Q: Do home baby monitors prevent SIDS?
A: No. Home cardiorespiratory monitors and wearable devices have not been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.
Q: What room temperature is safest for baby sleep?
A: Keep the room at a comfortable temperature (about 65–69°F or 20–22°C) and avoid overheating or head coverings.
Q: Are weighted blankets or weighted swaddles safe for babies?
A: No. The AAP advises against weighted sleep products because they increase the risk of suffocation and are not considered safe for infants.
Need more safe sleep tips?
Check out these other helpful Cradlewise blogs for more tips and information:
- Safe sleep practices for babies
- AAP sleep guidelines: Everything parents need to know in 2026
- Tummy time and safe sleep practices
Sources:
- SIDS. AAP Publications. 2022. Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment.
- Chapter 19 A United States Perspective. National Library of Medicine. 2018. SIDS Sudden Infant and Early Childhood Death: The Past, the Present and the Future.
- CPSC’s latest data show that between 2019 and 2021. CPSC. 2024. New CPSC Report Shows Unsafe Sleep Environments Are Leading Cause of Injuries and Deaths with Nursery Products.
- Protective effect of pacifiers on the incidence of SIDS. Maternal Child Health Journal. 2012. Pacifier use and SIDS: evidence for a consistently reduced risk.
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