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Bringing your baby home is joyful, but safe sleep can feel confusing. Pediatricians make it simple with the ABCs: Alone, Back, Crib.
A – Alone. Your baby should sleep alone, without blankets, pillows, toys, bumpers, or loose bedding. These soft items may look cozy, but they are a suffocation risk. A firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet is all your baby needs. If you want warmth, use a sleep sack instead of a blanket.
B – Back. Always place your baby on their back to sleep, for every nap and every night, for the first year. Babies who sleep on their back are much less likely to experience SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Once your baby can roll over on their own both ways, you don’t need to constantly reposition them, but always start them on their back.
C – Crib. Your baby needs their own safe sleep space — a crib, bassinet, or play yard that meets current safety standards. Room-sharing is recommended for at least the first 6 months. Keep the crib in your room, close to your bed, but not in your bed. Bed-sharing increases the risk of accidental suffocation and overheating.
A few more tips for a safer setup:
Keep the room at a comfortable temperature. If you’re comfortable in a light shirt, your baby is comfortable too.
Offer a pacifier at sleep time once breastfeeding is established.
No smoking around the baby. A smoke-free environment significantly lowers risk.
Keep crib away from cords, blinds, and curtains.
Safe sleep isn’t about being a perfect parent — it’s about creating a simple, consistent routine. Alone, on their Back, in a Crib. Follow the ABCs every time, and both you and your baby will rest easier.