Building a Safe Sleep Environment: Beyond SIDS
- posted: Jun. 12, 2025
Newborn sleep can be a complex topic, especially for new parents and caretakers. In part that’s because infants are still learning how to sleep–or, at least how to sleep in a way that’s compatible with their parents’ usual schedule. But infant sleep is also a complicated topic because there are inherent risks that come with sleep.
Building a safe and effective sleep environment is something that parents and caretakers can take an active role in. This usually begins with taking basic steps that helps prevent the condition known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. But there are additional steps that parents and caretakers can take designed to limit other risks and encourage healthy sleep at the same time.
Establishing a safe sleep environment will typically involve specific guidelines surrounding crib safety, mattress safety, and infant sleep positions. Parents and caretakers should also consider environmental factors, such as noise and temperature, as these can have an impact on both the safety of your baby and the quality of their sleep.
Infants certainly have a well earned reputation as fickle and finicky sleepers. But building a safe and nurturing sleep environment can help them sleep more soundly and protect their long term health and wellness.
General Safe Sleep Guidelines
For new parents and caretakers, newborn sleep guidelines can feel overwhelming. Even something that seems simple, such as purchasing a crib or mattress, can seem daunting.
In general, however, crib safety and mattress safety guidelines are intended to be easy to understand and easy to follow. There are also regulatory bodies, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission, that offer helpful ratings and recommendations for parents.
If you have questions about crib, mattress, or sleeping safety guidelines, ask your baby’s pediatrician for help or resources.
Crib Safety Guidelines
For the first 18 months of your baby’s life, they will not be able to sleep in a normal bed. Instead, parents and caretakers should use a bassinet (until your baby can roll over on their own) or a crib for all of their sleeping needs. In generally, crib safety guidelines include the following:
Make sure your crib, portable crib, or bassinet follows all Consumer Product Safety Commission standards and are suitably certified. You should also check the CPSC website to ensure your selected crib has not been subject to a recall. This will help ensure that your crib is safe for your baby.
Make sure your crib includes instructions. This will help to ensure you are properly using the crib in a way that is safest for your infant.
Avoid cribs that are more than 10 years old. If you are using a crib that isn’t new, inspect the crib to ensure it is in a safe, reliable, and working condition.
Double check to ensure that your baby’s crib or bassinet is intended for sleep and not intended for other purposes, such as play.
Mattress and Bedding Safety Guidelines
No crib is complete without a mattress! When selecting a mattress for your baby, it is recommended that pay attention to all infant mattress safety guidelines, including the following:
Ensure the mattress is flat and not tilted or inclined to one side or another. A flat surface will provide a safer and more comfortable sleeping experience for your infant.
Use a firm mattress for your infant. Resist the temptation to give your baby a soft or fuzzy sleep surface, as these surfaces can increase the risk of harm, injury, and a poor night’s sleep. A firm mattress, on the other hand, gives your baby a safer and more reliable sleeping surface.
Cover the mattress only with a fitted sheet. Do not add extra blankets or other soft things to your baby’s mattress. If you are concerned about keeping your baby warm enough on colder nights, use warmer sleep clothing instead of extra bedding.
Avoid heavy or weighted blankets, bedding, or stuffed toys of any kind. These can be very dangerous for your infant.
Avoid covering your infant’s head with anything or at any time.
Sleep Position Safety
In general, all babies should be placed on their back during sleep time. This is the safest position for your infant. This is true for overnight sleeping as well as for short-term sleeping such as naps. If your baby falls asleep somewhere other than their bed, such as a carseat or play pen, transport your infant to their crib as soon as possible. This can help reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleeping-related issues that babies may encounter.
Back sleeping is also recommended for babies with GERD or reflux. This is also true for most pre-term infants as well.
The earlier you start your baby with back sleeping, the better. An earlier start will help them adjust to this style of sleeping more seamlessly. Babies should typically sleep on their backs until they reach the age of 1 year old or so. If you have any questions or concerns about your infant sleeping on their back, be sure to talk to your baby’s pediatrician during your regular wellness visits.
Where Should Your Baby Sleep?
It’s important for your baby to have their own crib or bassinet to sleep in. Parents and caretakers should avoid sleeping in the same bed as their infant, as this can be a source of accidental injury or even death. You may sometimes wish to bring your baby into bed with you in order to comfort them. It’s recommended that you do this only when you are in no danger of falling asleep yourself. However, if there is a chance you’ll fall asleep with your baby in your bed (parents and caretakers are famously overtired, after all), make sure to remove all blankets and pillows. You don’t want anything around that could accidentally cover your baby’s face, cause them to overheat, or interfere with their ability to breathe.
In general, however, it’s recommended that parents avoid sharing a bed with their baby. However, it’s important that your baby sleep in the same bedroom as you are in–at least for the first six months or so. You can move their crib or bassinet into your bedroom or place an extra bed in their room. Either way, this proximity is beneficial for your baby’s physical health and their emotional development.
Sleeping in the same room can also dramatically reduce your baby’s risk of accidental suffocation. If you cannot make enough space for sleeping in the same room or face other challenges with such an arrangement, talk to your baby’s pediatrician about the best way to proceed.
Temperature and Noise Considerations for Your Baby
Because they are both small and still developing, babies can be particularly sensitive to both temperature and noise. If temperatures become uncomfortable or the noise becomes unbearable, there’s nothing your infant can do to alleviate the situation. To ensure the best possible sleep environment, parents should practice awareness of temperature and noise.
The common ideal temperature for infants will be somewhere between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. For most parts of the United States, that will make climate control a valuable tool for your baby’s comfort. And whether your baby’s sleeping environment is temperature controlled or not, parents and caretakers should monitor their baby to see how they are responding. If your baby feels cool to the touch, try increasing the temperature. If their skin feels warm, try lowering the temp.
If your baby is too warm, you can also try using lighter sleeping clothes. If your baby is too cool, you can use a warmer wrap or swaddle. Remember that you will want to avoid adding blankets or other loose items to your baby’s crib in order to warm them up, as this could increase your infant’s risk of injury.
In addition to controlling temperature, you will also want to remain aware of your infant’s tolerances for noise. In general, you will want to avoid any noises above 60dB until your infant is older. That’s about the volume of a normal conversation between two people. That’s not very loud to adults, but babies’ ears are both new and delicate. They are not acclimated for louder environments or noises. As a result, for your baby’s comfort, hearing health, and sleep quality, it’s important that they have a quiet environment in which to rest.
Sleep Environment is Important
The vast majority of babies will end up sleeping between 10-17 hours a day. That’s normal, as most of their energy is being diverted to, well, growing. But this means that infants spend a significant amount of their day in their sleep environments, especially for the first six months or so. For parents and caretakers, it’s important to ensure this environment is comfortable, enriching, and as safe as possible.
If you have questions about how to best create a healthy sleep environment for your infant, your baby’s pediatrician can help. For Children’s Healthcare Associates patients, you can book your infant wellness visit at our Northbrook or Chicago offices.
With a few simple changes, you can help your baby sleep more soundly and more safely.
- posted: Jun. 12, 2025
Newborn sleep can be a complex topic, especially for new parents and caretakers. In part that’s because infants are still learning how to sleep–or, at least how to sleep in a way that’s compatible with their parents’ usual schedule. But infant sleep is also a complicated topic because there are inherent risks that come with sleep.
Building a safe and effective sleep environment is something that parents and caretakers can take an active role in. This usually begins with taking basic steps that helps prevent the condition known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. But there are additional steps that parents and caretakers can take designed to limit other risks and encourage healthy sleep at the same time.
Establishing a safe sleep environment will typically involve specific guidelines surrounding crib safety, mattress safety, and infant sleep positions. Parents and caretakers should also consider environmental factors, such as noise and temperature, as these can have an impact on both the safety of your baby and the quality of their sleep.
Infants certainly have a well earned reputation as fickle and finicky sleepers. But building a safe and nurturing sleep environment can help them sleep more soundly and protect their long term health and wellness.
General Safe Sleep Guidelines
For new parents and caretakers, newborn sleep guidelines can feel overwhelming. Even something that seems simple, such as purchasing a crib or mattress, can seem daunting.
In general, however, crib safety and mattress safety guidelines are intended to be easy to understand and easy to follow. There are also regulatory bodies, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission, that offer helpful ratings and recommendations for parents.
If you have questions about crib, mattress, or sleeping safety guidelines, ask your baby’s pediatrician for help or resources.
Crib Safety Guidelines
For the first 18 months of your baby’s life, they will not be able to sleep in a normal bed. Instead, parents and caretakers should use a bassinet (until your baby can roll over on their own) or a crib for all of their sleeping needs. In generally, crib safety guidelines include the following:
Make sure your crib, portable crib, or bassinet follows all Consumer Product Safety Commission standards and are suitably certified. You should also check the CPSC website to ensure your selected crib has not been subject to a recall. This will help ensure that your crib is safe for your baby.
Make sure your crib includes instructions. This will help to ensure you are properly using the crib in a way that is safest for your infant.
Avoid cribs that are more than 10 years old. If you are using a crib that isn’t new, inspect the crib to ensure it is in a safe, reliable, and working condition.
Double check to ensure that your baby’s crib or bassinet is intended for sleep and not intended for other purposes, such as play.
Mattress and Bedding Safety Guidelines
No crib is complete without a mattress! When selecting a mattress for your baby, it is recommended that pay attention to all infant mattress safety guidelines, including the following:
Ensure the mattress is flat and not tilted or inclined to one side or another. A flat surface will provide a safer and more comfortable sleeping experience for your infant.
Use a firm mattress for your infant. Resist the temptation to give your baby a soft or fuzzy sleep surface, as these surfaces can increase the risk of harm, injury, and a poor night’s sleep. A firm mattress, on the other hand, gives your baby a safer and more reliable sleeping surface.
Cover the mattress only with a fitted sheet. Do not add extra blankets or other soft things to your baby’s mattress. If you are concerned about keeping your baby warm enough on colder nights, use warmer sleep clothing instead of extra bedding.
Avoid heavy or weighted blankets, bedding, or stuffed toys of any kind. These can be very dangerous for your infant.
Avoid covering your infant’s head with anything or at any time.
Sleep Position Safety
In general, all babies should be placed on their back during sleep time. This is the safest position for your infant. This is true for overnight sleeping as well as for short-term sleeping such as naps. If your baby falls asleep somewhere other than their bed, such as a carseat or play pen, transport your infant to their crib as soon as possible. This can help reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleeping-related issues that babies may encounter.
Back sleeping is also recommended for babies with GERD or reflux. This is also true for most pre-term infants as well.
The earlier you start your baby with back sleeping, the better. An earlier start will help them adjust to this style of sleeping more seamlessly. Babies should typically sleep on their backs until they reach the age of 1 year old or so. If you have any questions or concerns about your infant sleeping on their back, be sure to talk to your baby’s pediatrician during your regular wellness visits.
Where Should Your Baby Sleep?
It’s important for your baby to have their own crib or bassinet to sleep in. Parents and caretakers should avoid sleeping in the same bed as their infant, as this can be a source of accidental injury or even death. You may sometimes wish to bring your baby into bed with you in order to comfort them. It’s recommended that you do this only when you are in no danger of falling asleep yourself. However, if there is a chance you’ll fall asleep with your baby in your bed (parents and caretakers are famously overtired, after all), make sure to remove all blankets and pillows. You don’t want anything around that could accidentally cover your baby’s face, cause them to overheat, or interfere with their ability to breathe.
In general, however, it’s recommended that parents avoid sharing a bed with their baby. However, it’s important that your baby sleep in the same bedroom as you are in–at least for the first six months or so. You can move their crib or bassinet into your bedroom or place an extra bed in their room. Either way, this proximity is beneficial for your baby’s physical health and their emotional development.
Sleeping in the same room can also dramatically reduce your baby’s risk of accidental suffocation. If you cannot make enough space for sleeping in the same room or face other challenges with such an arrangement, talk to your baby’s pediatrician about the best way to proceed.
Temperature and Noise Considerations for Your Baby
Because they are both small and still developing, babies can be particularly sensitive to both temperature and noise. If temperatures become uncomfortable or the noise becomes unbearable, there’s nothing your infant can do to alleviate the situation. To ensure the best possible sleep environment, parents should practice awareness of temperature and noise.
The common ideal temperature for infants will be somewhere between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. For most parts of the United States, that will make climate control a valuable tool for your baby’s comfort. And whether your baby’s sleeping environment is temperature controlled or not, parents and caretakers should monitor their baby to see how they are responding. If your baby feels cool to the touch, try increasing the temperature. If their skin feels warm, try lowering the temp.
If your baby is too warm, you can also try using lighter sleeping clothes. If your baby is too cool, you can use a warmer wrap or swaddle. Remember that you will want to avoid adding blankets or other loose items to your baby’s crib in order to warm them up, as this could increase your infant’s risk of injury.
In addition to controlling temperature, you will also want to remain aware of your infant’s tolerances for noise. In general, you will want to avoid any noises above 60dB until your infant is older. That’s about the volume of a normal conversation between two people. That’s not very loud to adults, but babies’ ears are both new and delicate. They are not acclimated for louder environments or noises. As a result, for your baby’s comfort, hearing health, and sleep quality, it’s important that they have a quiet environment in which to rest.
Sleep Environment is Important
The vast majority of babies will end up sleeping between 10-17 hours a day. That’s normal, as most of their energy is being diverted to, well, growing. But this means that infants spend a significant amount of their day in their sleep environments, especially for the first six months or so. For parents and caretakers, it’s important to ensure this environment is comfortable, enriching, and as safe as possible.
If you have questions about how to best create a healthy sleep environment for your infant, your baby’s pediatrician can help. For Children’s Healthcare Associates patients, you can book your infant wellness visit at our Northbrook or Chicago offices.
With a few simple changes, you can help your baby sleep more soundly and more safely.
