What Does a Safe Sleep 

Environment Look Like?

Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) 

and Other Sleep-Related Causes of Infant Death

Use a firm sleep 

surface, such as 

a mattress in a 

safety-approved*

*For more information on crib safety guidelines, contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772 or http://www.cpsc.gov.

crib, covered by 

a fitted sheet.

Do not use 

pillows, blankets, 

sheepskins, or 

crib bumpers 

anywhere in your 

baby’s sleep area.

Keep soft objects, 

toys, and loose 

bedding out 

of your baby’s 

sleep area.

Do not smoke

or let anyone 

smoke around 

your baby.

Make sure 

nothing covers 

the baby’s head.

Always place your 

baby on his or her 

back to sleep, for 

naps and at night.

Dress your baby 

in sleep clothing, 

such as a onepiece sleeper, 

and do not use 

a blanket.

Baby’s sleep area 

is next to where 

parents sleep.

Baby should not 

sleep in an adult 

bed, on a couch, 

or on a chair 

alone, with you, or 

with anyone else.
Safe Sleep For Your Baby

Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, 

for naps and at night, to reduce the risk of SIDS.

Use a firm sleep surface, such as a mattress in a 

safety-approved*

* For more information on crib safety guidelines, contact the Consumer 

Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772 or http://www.cpsc.gov.

 crib, covered by a fitted sheet, 

to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related 

causes of infant death.

Room sharing—keeping baby’s sleep area in the 

same room where you sleep—reduces the risk of 

SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death.

Keep soft objects, toys, crib bumpers, and loose 

bedding out of your baby’s sleep area to reduce 

the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of 

infant death.

To reduce the risk of SIDS, women should: 

• Get regular health care during pregnancy, and

• Not smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs 

during pregnancy or after the baby is born.

To reduce the risk of SIDS, do not smoke during 

pregnancy, and do not smoke or allow smoking 

around your baby.

Breastfeed your baby to reduce the risk of SIDS.

Give your baby a dry pacifier that is not attached 

to a string for naps and at night to reduce the risk 

of SIDS.

Do not let your baby get too hot during sleep.

Follow health care provider guidance on your 

baby’s vaccines and regular health checkups.

Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS 

and other sleep-related causes of infant death.

Do not use home heart or breathing monitors to 

reduce the risk of SIDS.

Give your baby plenty of Tummy Time when he or 

she is awake and when someone is watching.

Remember Tummy Time!

Place babies on their stomachs when they are awake 

and when someone is watching. Tummy Time helps 

your baby’s head, neck, and shoulder muscles get 

stronger and helps to prevent flat spots on the head.

For more information about SIDS and the Safe to Sleep® campaign: 

Mail: 31 Center Drive, 31/2A32, Bethesda, MD 20892-2425

Phone: 1-800-505-CRIB (2742) 

Fax: 1-866-760-5947 

Website: http://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov 

NIH Pub. No. 12-5759 

August 2014

Safe to Sleep® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.