Safe Sleep for Your Newborn
The newborn stage carries the highest SIDS risk — nearly 90% of SIDS deaths occur in the first 6 months. Following AAP guidelines from day one is the single most impactful thing you can do.
✅ Safe Sleep Checklist for Newborn (0–4 Weeks)
Always Back to Sleep
Place baby on their back for every sleep — naps and nighttime. This position keeps the airway open and is the most important SIDS prevention measure.
Firm, Flat Sleep Surface Only
Use a crib, bassinet, or play yard with a firm, flat mattress and fitted sheet. No inclined sleepers, swings, or bouncers — even for short naps.
Room-Share, Don't Bed-Share
Keep baby's sleep surface in your room, close to your bed, for at least the first 6 months. Do not place baby in your adult bed — soft surfaces and loose bedding are hazardous.
Bare Crib Always
Keep the sleep area completely empty: no pillows, blankets, bumper pads, positioners, stuffed animals, or loose items of any kind.
Avoid Overheating
Dress your newborn in one extra layer compared to what you're comfortable in. Keep room temperature between 68–72°F. Never swaddle with the head covered.
Smoke-Free Zone
Smoking around or near a baby — even secondhand — dramatically increases SIDS risk. No one should smoke in the home or car.
📌 Key Note for Newborn (0–4 Weeks)
Newborns cannot roll or reposition themselves. If they end up face-down, they cannot lift their head. The bare-crib rule is absolute at this stage.
⚠️ Common Mistakes at This Age
- Letting baby sleep in a car seat or swing outside the car — these are not safe sleep surfaces
- Using a sleep positioner or wedge "to keep baby on their back"
- Allowing baby to sleep on mom's chest in a recliner or sofa — extremely dangerous
- Covering the bassinet with a canopy or drape that restricts airflow
🚨 Call Your Pediatrician If…
- Baby stops breathing or turns blue — call 911 immediately
- Baby is very difficult to rouse from sleep
- Noisy, labored breathing or persistent grunting
- Baby has not regained birth weight by 2 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my newborn sleep in a bassinet next to my bed?
Yes — this is the AAP recommendation. A bedside bassinet or crib keeps baby close for feeding while maintaining a separate, safe sleep surface. Avoid any product that attaches to or overlaps your adult mattress.
My baby only sleeps on their stomach. What do I do?
Always place baby on their back. If baby rolls to their stomach during sleep before they can roll independently, gently reposition them. Once baby can roll both ways on their own, you may leave them in the position they roll to.
Is it safe to swaddle my newborn?
Yes, swaddling is safe if done correctly: keep hips loose and never cover the face. Stop swaddling as soon as baby shows signs of rolling — usually around 2 months.