When it’s time for a nap or bedtime, many families unknowingly create sleep conditions that can put a baby at risk. Sleep-related infant deaths are the leading cause of death for babies ages 1 month to 1 year. In Utah alone, 131 babies died in sleep environments from 2019–2023; about one-third were accidental suffocations, when something in the sleep space prevented a baby from breathing. Nationwide, about 3,700 babies under 1 year die this way each year—roughly 71 every week, the equivalent of three kindergarten classrooms.

Babies need sleep to grow—but a safe sleep environment can dramatically reduce the risk of these preventable tragedies.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Safe Sleep Recommendations include the following: (note: this list is not exhaustive of all AAP guidelines, please see complete list at the following link and resources below. Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics)

A: Alone

• A baby should sleep by themselves in their own safety approved safe sleep environment such as a crib, bassinet or portable play yard that conforms to current Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards.
• Babies should be put to sleep in the parents’ room, close to the parents’ bed but on a separate safety approved sleep surface designed for babies, ideally for at least the first six months to 1 year. Room-sharing without bed sharing helps protect against SIDS in the first year of life.
• Keep loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, bumpers and other soft items out of the sleep space.
• Dress baby to sleep in a wearable blanket or sleep sack instead of loose blankets which can cover baby’s airway or make their body temperature too high.
• Because of the extreme (up to 67 times greater) risk, the AAP strongly recommends that babies never be placed for sleep, with or without another person, on a couch, sofa, armchair and similar cushioned surfaces

B: Back

• A baby should always be placed to sleep on their back from the time of birth. If your baby has rolled from their back to their side or stomach on their own, they can be left in that position if they are already able to roll from tummy to back and back to tummy but should always be placed on their back to sleep for every sleep.
  • Note: These recommendations are for healthy babies up to 1 year of age. A very small number of babies with certain medical conditions may need to be placed to sleep on their stomach. Your baby's doctor can tell you what is best for your baby.

C: Crib

• A firm (returns to original shape quickly), flat (like a table, not a hammock), level (not at an angle or incline) safety-approved sleep surface such as a crib, bassinet, or portable crib, covered only by a fitted sheet, is the safest place for your baby to sleep. Avoid letting your baby sleep in car seats, swings, bouncers, or other sitting or reclining devices, as these products are not designed for safe sleep.

• AAP Safe Sleep Home page
  • Find the current AAP Safe Sleep Recommendations.
  • How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained
• Homepage | Safe to Sleep NICHD
• Take this free, online Safe Sleep Ambassador training through Cribs for Kids.
• Refer to the 12 Steps for Safe Sleep from Cribs for Kids to ensure you’re promoting safe and healthy sleep for your baby.
• Want to test your knowledge? Take this Safe or Not Safe Photo Quiz from Cribs for Kids to differentiate between sleep environments for babies (cradleboard depicted).
• Caring for your baby at every age and stage.