How Should Babies Sleep? Safe Sleep Tips for Babies

When you're caring for a newborn, sleep safety can feel overwhelming. You might find yourself wondering things like: “How should babies sleep?” “What do newborns sleep in?” or “Why can't babies sleep on soft surfaces?”

The good news is that creating a safer sleep environment doesn’t have to be complicated. By following a few simple, expert-backed infant safe sleep habits, you can help lower potential risks and feel more confident about your baby’s rest, day and night.

Here’s a quick summary of key guidelines:

• Place your baby on their back for every nap and nighttime sleep

• Use a firm, flat, and level surface—like a crib, bassinet, or play yard

• Keep soft bedding, toys, and pillows out of the sleep area

• Room-share, but don’t bed-share, for at least the first 6 months

• Don’t let your newborn sleep in a car seat or swing for long periods

• Consider pacifier use and breastfeeding to help reduce the risk of SIDS

• Avoid overheating by dressing your baby appropriately.

By sticking with these proven habits, you can help your baby sleep safely and feel more confident as a parent or caregiver. In the sections that follow, we’ll explain each step in more detail to support you through every stage of safe sleep.

The Importance of Safe Sleep Habits

Practicing safe sleep habits helps protect your baby from potential dangers during naps or nighttime rest. These habits involve taking simple precautions to reduce the risk of falls, choking, suffocation, and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

By following infant safe sleep strategies, you can create a safer sleep environment for your baby and help lower the chance of serious outcomes. Keep reading for practical tips and insights on how to support safe sleep from the newborn stage through early infancy.

The Most Important Safety Tip: Put Your Baby to Sleep on Their Back

Every time you lay your little one down to sleep, whether it’s for a nap, bedtime, or a middle-of-the-night rest after feeding them, place them on their back. Starting sleep this way is one of the easiest ways to help your baby sleep safely from the start.

Back sleeping is considered the safest position because it helps reduce the risk of SIDS and accidental suffocation. As a general guideline, babies should continue sleeping on their backs until they turn one year old.

Can Newborns Sleep on Their Sides or Stomachs?

It’s natural to wonder, “Can infants sleep on their side or stomach safely?” The short answer is no—not during the early months. When babies are placed to sleep on their side or tummy, it increases the risk of suffocation, choking, and SIDS.

If you see your newborn has rolled onto their side or stomach, gently return them to their back. This precaution helps maintain a safe sleep environment in the early months.

Once your little one can independently roll over both ways—usually around 5 or 6 months—you don’t need to reposition them during sleep. At that point, their body has developed enough strength and control to sleep safely in the position they choose.

Sleeping in a Crib: Why It’s Safest for Your Baby

If you’ve been asking yourself, “What do newborns sleep in?” the safest options include a crib, bassinet, or a play yard approved for infant sleep. These provide firm, flat surfaces with no soft bedding, which is key for safe sleep.

While some parents start with a bassinet, you may begin wondering when a newborn should sleep in a crib. Many babies outgrow their bassinet within the first few weeks to a month, making the crib a natural next step. That said, it’s also perfectly safe to use a crib from day one.

Some families opt for convertible cribs that grow with their baby and can later be converted into a toddler bed, offering convenience and long-term use.

Why Can't Babies Sleep on Soft Surfaces?

A safe sleep space for your baby is firm, flat, and level, designed to reduce the risk of suffocation and other sleep-related dangers.

Here’s what to look for:

• Firm. The surface should return to its original shape quickly when pressed.

• Flat. Like a table, not curved or shaped like a hammock.

• Leveled. No incline or tilt.

So, why can't babies sleep on soft surfaces? Soft areas like sofas, adult beds, memory foam, air mattresses, and quilted bedding increase the risk of suffocation, strangulation, or SIDS. These materials can trap a baby’s face or allow their head to slump forward, blocking their airway.

Avoid putting your little one to sleep on a couch, armchair, or adult bed, even if you're nearby. These surfaces are not designed for infant safe sleep, especially if you doze off while feeding or comforting your baby.

Unsafe Places for Babies to Sleep

Following the ABCs of safe sleep: Alone, on their Back, and in a Crib, also means understanding where babies shouldn’t sleep.

So, is it safe for a newborn to sleep in a car seat? Not really. While car seats are essential for travel, they’re not designed for extended or unsupervised sleep. Once you’re home or at your destination, gently move your baby to their crib or bassinet.

Babies should never sleep in your bed or on a couch, sofa, or armchair. These surfaces can be dangerous, as your baby could roll, get stuck, or suffocate on soft materials or gaps. Similarly, slings, carriers, strollers, and car seats are not considered safe sleep spaces, especially for unsupervised rest.

Whenever possible, transfer your sleeping baby to a safe sleep space like a crib or bassinet to reduce the risk of suffocation and sleep-related accidents.

Crib Safety

Many of the aspects of safe sleep for babies depends on a proper crib setup. Choosing a crib that meets current safety standards is a foundational step in creating a safe sleep environment. 

• Cribs must not have a drop-side rail, which, when lowered, can lead to your baby falling out.

• Slats in the crib should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart so your baby’s head can’t become trapped between them.

• Headboards and footboards should not have any cutouts, which could also entrap your baby’s head.

• The corner posts should be flush with the end panels so loose clothing on your baby can’t become snagged and pose a choking hazard. Note that vintage or antique cribs (such as hand-me-downs from family) might have decorative finials that could also snag clothing, making them hazardous. When in doubt, buy new or check online to confirm that the crib’s model meets the safety standards.

• Don’t use a crib that is broken or has missing parts. Besides checking that your crib meets the latest safety standards, it’s also a good idea to periodically check the crib for loose hardware, cracks, or splinters.

• Lower the mattress when your baby can stand to prevent falls. By lowering the crib mattress level as your baby grows, they won’t be able to climb over the bed rails and get out. Set the mattress at the lowest setting before your baby knows how to stand.

• Place the crib away from any cords or devices, which pose a risk of choking or suffocation. Place your baby’s crib away from things like the wires of a baby monitor or cords of window coverings, for example. Also, if you have a mobile, be sure to mount it out of your baby’s reach.

You can also watch the video below for additional advice on sleeping.

The Dangers of Co-Sleeping

It’s common to wonder whether co-sleeping with an infant in the same bed is safe, but the answer is no. Bed-sharing, sometimes referred to as co-sleeping, is not recommended due to the significantly higher risks of SIDS, suffocation, and strangulation from accidentally rolling over onto your baby while you sleep.

Risks of co-sleeping include:

• Accidentally rolling over onto your baby while you sleep

• Your baby getting caught in sheets, pillows, or blankets

• Your little one rolling off the bed during the night.

While the idea of safe co-sleeping may sound reassuring, no version of bed-sharing is considered safe by major medical organizations.

How Long Should Your Baby Sleep in Your Room?

You may be wondering, “How long should a baby sleep in your room?” Experts recommend room sharing for at least the first six months, and ideally up to one year.

This setup, where your baby sleeps in a crib or bassinet beside your bed, but not in the same bed, can reduce the risk of SIDS by as much as 50 percent. It also makes it easier to observe, feed, and comfort your baby throughout the night without needing to leave your room.

When to Move Your Baby to Their Own Room

So, when should newborns sleep in their own room? Once your baby is between 6 months and 1 year old, you can begin the transition. Two key factors to consider:

• Observing your baby. As mentioned above, having your baby nearby allows you to easily check on them and reposition them if they’ve rolled onto their side or stomach, which can help reduce SIDS risk in the early months.

• Sleeping through the night. Babies don’t typically start sleeping for longer periods until about 6 months and may not begin to sleep through the night. Until then, having your baby close can make night wakings easier to manage.

When the time feels right, take the transition slowly—there’s no rush. Every baby develops at their own pace.

Creating Optimal Sleeping Conditions

Babies need particular conditions for safe sleep, and one of the most important rules is to use a firm, flat sleeping surface. It’s natural to want to keep your little one as snuggly as possible, but because of the risk of SIDS, they must sleep on a flat and firm surface. There are two main ways you can achieve this:

When Can Babies Start Sleeping With Blankets and Toys?

You may be wondering, when can babies sleep with a blanket or cuddle with a favorite toy at night? Most experts agree that it’s safest to wait until your baby is at least 12 months old before introducing any soft objects into the crib.

Before that point, keep the crib free of items like:

• Loose bedding

• Pillows

• Quilts and comforters

• Bumper pads

• Plush toys.

These objects can pose a suffocation risk to babies under one year old.

Can Babies Sleep With a Pacifier?

It’s safe to offer your baby a pacifier at naptime and bedtime, and research suggests it may even help reduce the risk of SIDS. If you're breastfeeding, wait two to three weeks to establish a feeding routine before introducing one. If you’re not breastfeeding, you can start sooner.

Avoid pacifiers that attach to your baby’s clothing with a string or are connected to a stuffed toy; these extras can become a choking or strangulation hazard during sleep.

What Should a Newborn Wear to Sleep?

Another best practice to promote safe sleep for babies is to avoid overdressing your little one when you put them down to sleep. So, what should newborns sleep in? Dress your baby in no more than one extra layer than you would wear and keep the room at a temperature that feels cool but comfortable to you.

When checking on your baby at night, look for signs of overheating, such as sweating or feeling warm to the touch. It’s best to keep your baby’s head and face uncovered while they sleep to help prevent them from overheating.

Safe Sleep Guidelines for Babies

To help you remember the essentials, here’s a quick look at key safe sleep guidelines. Check out the infographic below for a simple visual summary of the safest sleep setup for your little one, from choosing the right sleep surface to understanding what belongs (and what doesn’t) in the crib.

These tips align with expert recommendations to support infant safe sleep from day one.

The Bottom Line

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to your baby’s sleep, but the key is to keep it simple and consistent. Following safe sleep guidelines—such as placing your baby on their back, using a firm and flat sleep surface, and keeping the crib free of soft objects—can go a long way in keeping your baby safe.

Whether you’re preparing your nursery, adjusting sleep routines, or learning about transitions, small daily choices add up. Practicing safe sleep habits for infants from the start helps support both your baby’s health and your peace of mind.

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_{How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.}