Safe Sleep Checklist for Babies
A warm, plain safe sleep guide aligned with current American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations. Print it, stick it near the crib, share it with anyone who cares for your baby.
1. Back to sleep, every time
Place baby on the back for every sleep, naps and night, until their first birthday. Once baby can roll both ways on their own, you can let them find their own position.
2. Firm, flat sleep surface
Use a firm, flat, level surface like a crib, bassinet, or play yard that meets current safety standards. Cover the mattress with a fitted sheet made for it and nothing else.
3. Nothing loose in the sleep space
Keep pillows, blankets, quilts, bumpers, sleep positioners, and stuffed animals out of the sleep area. A bare space is the safest space.
4. Share the room, not the bed
Room sharing without bed sharing is recommended for at least the first six months. Keep baby's sleep surface close to your bed but separate.
5. Dress for warmth without covers
Use a wearable blanket or sleep sack instead of loose bedding. Aim for a comfortable room temperature and one light layer more than you are wearing.
6. Offer a pacifier at sleep time
A pacifier at nap and bedtime is linked to lower risk. If baby refuses or it falls out during sleep, that is okay.
7. Smoke free, always
Keep baby's air free of smoke and vapor, before birth and after. This includes the car and any room baby is in.
8. Skip inclined sleepers and loungers
Inclined sleepers, in bed loungers, and couches or armchairs are not safe for sleep. Move baby to a flat, firm sleep space every time.
9. Breastfeeding and safe feeding
If breastfeeding works for your family, any amount is linked to lower risk. If you feed in bed, move baby back to their own sleep space after.
10. Tummy time while awake
Supervised tummy time while baby is awake helps neck and shoulder strength. Sleep still happens on the back.
A note from us
Every family is different, and no checklist replaces your pediatrician. If a night has already looked different from this list, you are not a bad parent. Start fresh at the next sleep. This is gentle support, not medical care. For anything medical, feeding, weight, illness, or breathing related, please contact your pediatrician. Any sleep approaches on this site are offered as choices along a spectrum, never as mandates.