The Safest Sleep for Your Baby

For the first few months, babies spend most of their lives sleeping. There’s not much sweeter than snuggling with your sleeping baby, but when it's time for parents to get stuff done or get some sleep, make sure your baby is as safe as possible by following Canada’s safe sleep guidelines.

The reasons safe sleep guidelines exist are tough to think about and a parent’s worst nightmare. The good news is that following safe sleep guidelines teaches us many ways we can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and accidental death due to suffocation or entrapment.

You can check out the full Canadian Safe-Sleep guidelines, but we’ve got you covered with a summary of the basics to help you ensure your baby has a safe snooze.

• Back to Sleep. Experts tell us that it’s no coincidence that Canadian SIDS deaths dropped dramatically by 50% between 1999 and 2004, just after a massive educational campaign about the importance of putting babies to sleep on their backs.

• Give your baby their own space. Babies should sleep in a crib, bassinet or cradle with a firm mattress designed for safe sleep. These products are regulated in Canada to ensure they meet minimum safety standards.

• No “extras”. Your baby’s sleeping space should be free of blankets, pillows, bumper pads, crib liners and toys. They only need a tightly fitted sheet and warm PJs. You can use a sleep sack rather than loose blankets if needed for extra warmth.

• Put your baby in a safe situation when it’s time for you to sleep. Sharing a bed with your baby or falling asleep with them on a chair or sofa puts them at risk of entrapment or suffocation. When it is time for the adult caregiver to sleep, put your baby on their back in their crib, bassinet or cradle.

• Share a room. Although sharing a sleep surface is not a great idea, the good news is that you can co-sleep nearby in the same room (with your baby in their crib, bassinet or cradle). The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends sharing a room for the first 6 months.

• Avoid tobacco smoke. Don’t let anyone smoke around your baby or in your home, as this increases the risk of SIDS.

• Skip the swaddle. Babies who are showing signs of learning to roll should never be swaddled. If you swaddle your newborn, don’t wrap their legs and hips tightly (they need free movement for hip development). Better yet, opt for a sleep sack instead.

• Avoid overheating. Dress your baby in a way that is comfortable for the room temperature–think fitted pajamas and sleep sacks. Avoid loose blankets.

• Breastfeed. If breastfeeding is part of your plan, know that the longer babies are fed breastmilk, the lower the risk of SIDS.

There is no limit on how much you should hold your baby and enjoy those baby snuggles, including when your baby sleeps. But if you start to feel drowsy, it’s time to put your safe sleep plan into action. Then, rest easy knowing your baby is getting the safest sleep possible.

Want to read more? Check out these resources:

Caring for Kids (CPS). Safe sleep for babies.

My Health Alberta. Safe sleep for baby’s first year.

Heather Cresswell is a nurse practitioner with decades of experience caring for babies and families in the NICU.