The Best Baby Safe Sleeping Practices

Babies spend a significant amount of time sleeping, particularly during the first year of life. While it’s not possible to supervise your baby constantly, creating a safe sleep environment can help reduce risks and support safer sleep.

The recommendations below outline practical steps parents can take to create a safer sleep environment, whether their baby sleeps in a crib, a sidecar arrangement, or — in some circumstances — an adult bed.

Core safe-sleep principles

• Always place your baby on their back to sleep for the first 12 months.
• Use a firm, flat, well-fitted mattress with no gaps.
• Keep the sleep space clear of pillows, quilts, toys, and loose bedding.
• Keep your baby’s head uncovered and avoid overheating.

Creating a safe sleep environment

• Position the crib or bed away from heaters, power points, windows, and electrical appliances.
• Ensure there are no cords, ropes, or blind strings near the sleep area.
• Make sure nothing is mounted above the crib or bed that could fall onto your baby.
• Dress your baby in light, appropriate layers for the room temperature.
• If swaddling, use a light wrap and allow free movement of the chest.
• Avoid clothing with long drawstrings, ribbons, or cords. Pacifier clips should be short and secure.

Safety considerations for bed-sharing

Adult beds are not designed to meet the safety needs of infants. If bed-sharing occurs, additional precautions are required to reduce risks.

• Never bed-share if a parent has consumed alcohol, drugs, or medications that reduce awareness.
• Use a firm mattress and avoid soft surfaces such as couches, armchairs, bean bags, or waterbeds.
• Ensure there are no gaps where a baby could become trapped between the mattress and wall or bedrail.
• Adults sharing the bed should not smoke.
• Babies under 12 months should not share a bed with siblings.
• Exceptionally obese parents may consider a sidecar arrangement rather than having a baby sleep in the bed.
• Avoid wearing clothing or jewelry with long ties that could pose a strangulation risk.
• Position your baby next to the mother rather than between two adults.
• Avoid overdressing your baby, as adult bodies add additional heat.
• Ensure there is sufficient space in the bed; overcrowding increases risk.
• If your hair is long, tie it back to reduce strangulation risk.
• Do not leave your baby alone on an adult bed.

For parents who prefer close proximity without sharing a bed, a sidecar arrangement — a crib securely attached to the adult bed — may offer a safer alternative.

(See more about Co-Sleeping: Pros and cons)

Crib safety

• Ensure the crib meets current consumer safety standards for your country.
• Check regularly for loose slats, missing screws, or damaged parts.
• Ensure paint and finishes are non-toxic and intact.
• Keep mobiles and cords well out of your baby’s reach.
• Avoid the use of crib bumpers.
• Consider using a baby sleep sack instead of loose blankets.
• If blankets are used, place your baby with their feet at the bottom of the crib and cover only up to chest level.
• Avoid overheating by using appropriate layers.
• Always raise and secure the sides of the crib.
• Do not use hot water bottles or electric blankets.

What this means for parents

No sleep arrangement can offer a guarantee of complete safety. However, understanding and applying current safe-sleep recommendations can significantly reduce risk. The goal is not perfection, but informed choices that support both your baby’s safety and your family’s wellbeing.

Further safety guidance

Safe sleep recommendations are based on guidance from leading health and safety organizations. Parents may find the following resources helpful:

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) – Safe Sleep Guidelines
• Red Nose Australia – Safe Sleeping
• NHS – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – Infant Sleep Safety

By Rowena Bennett

About Rowena

Rowena Bennett (RN, RM, CHN, MHN, IBCLC) is a leading infant-feeding and sleep specialist and author of several books on infant feeding, sleep and behaviour, including the widely acclaimed “Your Baby’s Bottle-Feeding Aversion: Reasons & Solutions" and "Your Sleepless Baby: The Rescue Guide". With over three decades of clinical experience across child health, midwifery, mental health, and lactation, she has helped thousands of families worldwide understand and resolve complex feeding challenges through her evidence-based, baby-led approaches.

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