Infant Sleep Safety: A Complete Guide for Parents

Reviewed by: Tracie Kesatie, Certified Pediatric Sleep Coach

 

Every parent knows the familiar pull of standing watch at the crib or listening closely to the sounds of their newborn breathing beside them. The baby shifts, the parents stir, and the quiet becomes filled with questions: Is my little one safe? Is the room too warm? Should I check again? 

These concerns are normal—as a parent, you want to create a sleep environment that protects your baby’s well-being and gives you peace of mind. 

Fortunately, this guide explores everything you need to know about infant sleep safety: Why it matters, how to ensure it, and ways to build sleep routines that comfort both you and your little one.

Why Infant Sleep Safety Matters

In those first few months of life, certain vital functions that are second nature to adults are still developing in your newborn, including2:

  • Breathing patterns that keep oxygen flowing smoothly 
  • Temperature regulation that maintains a balance between warm and cool
  • Reflexes that protect against suffocation

Many parents wondering when babies sleep through the night find that creating a safe, consistent sleep environment helps lay the foundation for longer, more restful stretches of sleep as their baby grows. The reassuring truth is that you have the power to shape safer nights for your baby through simple changes to their sleep environment. 

Gentle Goat Milk. Find a store near you!

The Basics of Safe Sleep Environments for Infants

Understanding the basics of a safe sleep environment can give parents a clear roadmap for how to best navigate every aspect of newborn sleep—from crib setup to clothing choices. While not very feasible to have a truly consistent sleep schedule in the first few months of life, establishing a consistent newborn sleep schedule alongside these safety practices can also help your baby develop healthy sleep patterns and make bedtime routines more predictable for parents. Evidence-based safety measures and recommendations are essential to prevent sudden infant death.

The Right Sleep Position

For a newborn, position can mean the difference between safe rest and unnecessary risk. Studies consistently show that placing babies on their backs keeps airways clear and reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).2

For safer sleep every night, remember: 

  • Back sleeping is the best position for both naps and nighttime sleep
  • Side or stomach sleeping increases the chance of blocked airways, raising the risk SIDS and suffocation 
  • Continue placing your baby on their back until they can confidently roll over on their own for safe infant sleep (American Academy of Pediatrics recommends placing a baby on their back for sleep for the first 12 months of life)

These simple habits form the strongest foundation for infant sleep safety. Just as important, though, is the space that surrounds baby—the crib or cot where nighttime hours are spent. 

Safe Crib & Cot Set-Up

A baby’s crib or cot often becomes the heart of their sleep routine—it’s carefully chosen, lovingly dressed, and central to a baby’s world. Yet, the way that space is arranged is what truly shapes its safety. Adhering to these recommendations ensures the safety of children:

  • Use a firm mattress with a snug, fitted sheet
  • Keep pillows, stuffed animals, crib bumpers, or loose blankets out 
  • Ensure the crib is free from cords, wires, or window coverings

A bare crib or cot not only protects your baby but also creates a calm and predictable space where rest can come more easily. Parents should prioritize creating a sleep area that promotes safe sleep.

Room-Sharing vs. Bed-Sharing

Traditionally, room-sharing means keeping a crib, bassinet, or portable cot within arm’s reach of the parents’ bed. This practice supports the health of your baby by ensuring a safe environment. In practice, parents often describe the reassurance of hearing their baby’s soft breaths or responding quickly to needs. 

Additional benefits to room-sharing include: 

  • Easier nighttime feedings 
  • Reassurance that baby is close, while still safe on a separate sleep surface
  • Lower risk of SIDS and other sleep-related complications compared to bed-sharing

Understanding the differences between safe practices and improper ones helps in preventing sleep-related deaths.

When it comes to co-sleeping with baby, parents may choose different setups depending on comfort and culture. However, it’s important to follow safe sleep guidelines—keeping your little one nearby without sharing the same surface—to reduce risks while maintaining closeness.

Bed-sharing, on the other hand, typically places the baby in the same sleep space as parents. While this closeness may seem to make comforting easier, it introduces hazards that are hard to control3:

  • Soft mattresses, pillows, and blankets increase suffocation risks
  • Adult sleep positions may unintentionally block a baby’s airways
  • Overheating is more likely when a baby shares a bed with parents

Overall, keeping your baby nearby doesn’t mean sharing a bed—room-sharing and sidecar cots offer closeness without compromising safety.

Temperature & Comfort Considerations

While babies can’t tell us when they feel too warm or too cold, several practices can maintain their comfort and support their overall health throughout the night: 

  • Keep the room cool and consistent, ideally between 68–72°F (20–22°C)
  • Look for signs of overheating, like flushed cheeks, damp hair, or rapid breathing
  • Watch out for signs of too-cold conditions, like a cool chest or shivering

For additional warmth during colder months, using sleep sacks or proper sleepwear in place of blankets is recommended. These products provide warmth without risking suffocation, ensuring a healthier sleep baby experience. 

Clothing Choices

Infants often rely entirely on what they’re dressed in to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the night. In fact, the right outfit can:

  • Protect against overheating
  • Reduce the need for loose bedding that can shift or bunch
  • Support steady, uninterrupted rest through the night

The general rule of thumb is to dress your baby in one layer more than you would feel comfortable wearing in the same room. This consideration supports children's health during sleep. Additionally, it’s best to choose soft fabrics that breathe easily.

The Connection Between Feeding and Safer Sleep

A well-fed baby tends to settle more comfortably, their body relaxed and their needs met. Hunger, on the other hand, can cause frequent waking or restlessness, affecting sleep quality. However, to ensure a safe sleep, hold your baby upright for a bit after feeding to reduce the risk of acid reflux and discomfort. 

For families who use formula, the type of formula you choose can also support how smoothly your baby settles after nighttime care. 

Formula Feeding and Sleep Safety

Nighttime formula feeds are often tender, drowsy moments for both parent and baby. Keeping the experience mindful and unhurried will help your baby transition back to sleep more smoothly. 

We also recommend:

  • Feeding under soft, dim lighting
  • Keeping the sleep space free of distractions so that baby can settle back down easily
  • Choosing a gentle formula like Bubs’ goat milk or grass-fed cow’s milk options

For many families, what goes into the bottle can shape the night ahead. Bubs’ formulas are crafted to be gentle on digestion, which may mean fewer tummy troubles and less fussing after feeds. 

Common Myths About Infant Sleep Safety

Clearing up common myths about infant sleep safety can also help you move forward with confidence. Some of the most common misconceptions include:

  • Babies sleep better on their stomachs - Though it may appear that babies rest more deeply this way, stomach sleeping is unsafe and can increase the risk of SIDS for babies who are not yet rolling both ways or are very young.
  • Adding cereal/formula to bottles helps babies sleep through the night - Adding solids to bottles doesn’t guarantee longer stretches of sleep—it may even cause digestive upset or choking risks. Babies sleep best when their cues are followed, not when bottles are changed to encourage rest. 
  • Baby monitors eliminate the need for safe sleep practices - While monitors provide reassurance, they don’t prevent hazards. An environment that features a bare crib, a firm mattress, and back sleeping remains the cornerstone of infant sleep safety. 

Understanding these myths can also prepare you for situations outside the crib, where safe sleep practices remain equally important. 

Safe Sleep Beyond the Crib

Babies can fall asleep in any number of places–but not all are safe for prolonged rest. 

Car Seats, Swings, and Loungers

Though helpful for travel and providing comfort, car seats, swings, and loungers were never designed for long sleep. Their angled positions can strain developing airways, making it harder for babies to breathe deeply. Avoid positions that increase the risk of sleep-related issues. Whenever possible, transfer your baby to a flat surface once they nod off to ensure they sleep safely. 

Travel & Naps on the Go

Speaking of travel, the tips below can help you ensure a safe sleep environment even when you and your baby are away from home: 

  • Use a portable crib or bassinet whenever possible
  • Keep the sleep space clear of toys and other blankets
  • Check the room’s temperature and adjust clothing layers as needed

These checks provide additional measures for infant sleep safety, supporting your baby's health as they rest in new environments.

Building Healthy Sleep Routines

Safe sleep environments are essential, but so are the rhythms that teach babies when to rest. Routines and patterns anchor infant sleep safety and guide babies into more predictable sleep cycles in the blur of newborn life. 

Creating a Calming Bedtime Routine

A familiar pattern at bedtime helps give your baby gentle cues that it’s time to settle down. And these rituals don’t need to be elaborate–they just need to be consistent. 

A calming bedtime routine may look like:

  • A gentle bath or wipe-down 
  • A soothing massage with baby-safe lotion
  • A quiet feed in dim light
  • A soft lullaby or a few minutes of rocking

Repeated night after night, these small acts become a comforting script. They help babies associate routines with rest, while reassuring parents that they’re establishing steady rhythms of safe sleep. 

Day/Night Cues for Newborns

In the first few months after birth, a newborn’s circadian rhythm is still forming, leaving them wide awake at midnight and napping soundly when the sun is up. That said, gentle cues can help guide babies toward understanding the difference between night and day:

  • Bright rooms and active interaction during the day help signal it’s time to be awake
  • Darkness and quiet routines at night encourage baby to wind down for rest

As your baby learns these rhythms, you may find yourself learning, too. 

Supporting Parents & Caregivers

Learning about infant sleep safety doesn’t have to be complicated—it grows out of simple, repeatable habits. 

What’s more, sharing these safe sleep guidelines with grandparents, babysitters, and other caregivers will ensure your baby has the same protection wherever they rest. And this consistency doesn’t just build safety for your baby—it also fosters reassurance for you.

Foster Safe Sleep and Peace of Mind with Bubs

The essentials of infant sleep safety are simple yet powerful: Place babies on their backs, provide a clear and firm sleep surface, and maintain a comfortable sleep environment. 

Feeding choices, such as Bubs’ infant goat milk formula and grass-fed infant formula, can also play a role in comforting, calmer nights, especially if they’re made part of a consistent sleep routine.

When parents combine protective routines with nurturing care, nights can transform beyond stretches of rest and into moments of security, reassurance, and peace of mind for the whole family. 

Help your little one drift off peacefully with a clean baby formula designed to support gentle digestion and balanced nutrition. Discover Bubs milk formula range today, which is perfect for your baby’s nighttime comfort and growth.

 

Tracie Kesatie, Certified Pediatric Sleep Coach

Tracie Kesatie is an experienced Certified Gentle Sleep Coach and the founder of Rest Well Baby. She combines nearly two decades of personal parenting experience—as a mother of four well-rested children—with her professional background to help families worldwide solve pediatric sleep challenges.

Her expertise is built on a strong academic foundation, including a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Counseling. Since becoming a Certified Gentle Sleep Coach in 2014, Tracie has established herself as a trusted authority for parents with children aged 0–10, specializing in supportive, non-judgmental, and custom-tailored sleep support.

Tracie's insights have been featured across various media platforms, including appearances on the Home & Family TV show and as an expert guest on popular podcasts like Is It Bedtime Yet? and Golden Hour. As a member of the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants, she is dedicated to empowering parents and ensuring the entire family achieves restful sleep.

 

Sources: 

  1. National Library of Medicine. Newborn Physiological Immaturity. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4961275/
  2. National Institutes of Health. Ways to Reduce Baby's Risk. https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/reduce-risk/reduce
  3. BBC. The science of healthy baby sleep. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220131-the-science-of-safe-and-healthy-baby-sleep