How do I get my newborn to sleep safely?

Follow the ABCs of safe sleep

The American Academy of Pediatrics updated its safe sleep policy in June 2022. The core rule is the ABCs: your baby sleeps Alone, on the Back, in a bare Crib.

Place your baby on the back for every sleep, naps included, until the first birthday. This holds even for preterm babies and babies with reflux. Use a firm, flat, level surface in a crib, bassinet, or play yard that meets current safety standards, with a fitted sheet and nothing else.

Inclined sleepers are not safe. Any sleep surface tilted more than 10 degrees raises the risk of suffocation.

• Alone: no other people, pillows, or soft objects in the sleep space
• Back: every nap and every night, until age 1
• Crib: a firm, flat surface with only a fitted sheet

Keep the sleep space bare

Remove pillows, blankets, quilts, comforters, bumper pads, mattress toppers, and stuffed toys. These items raise the risk of suffocation and sudden infant death.

Do not let your baby overheat. Dress your baby in one more layer than you would wear in the same room, and skip hats indoors after you leave the hospital. A wearable blanket or sleep sack replaces loose blankets.

A pacifier at nap and bedtime lowers risk once breastfeeding is established. If it falls out after your baby is asleep, you do not need to put it back.

Share a room, not a bed

Room-sharing without bed-sharing for at least the first 6 months can lower the risk of sudden infant death by up to half. Keep the crib or bassinet next to your bed.

Bed-sharing carries higher risk, and that risk is roughly 5 to 10 times higher for babies under 4 months. Never sleep with your baby on a couch, soft armchair, or cushion. The risk of a sleep-related death in those spots is far higher than in a crib.

If you are feeding at night and feel you might fall asleep, feed in your bed rather than on a couch or chair, and move your baby back to the crib once you are awake.

Soothe with the 5 S's

When your baby is fussy and you are trying to settle them before sleep, Dr. Harvey Karp's 5 S's can help recreate the calm of the womb.

These methods soothe a baby who is awake and in your arms. They are not sleep positions. Once your baby is calm and ready to sleep, place them on the back in the crib.

• Swaddle: a snug wrap that keeps the arms still (stop once your baby shows signs of rolling)
• Side or Stomach position: only while you hold your baby, never for sleep
• Shush: steady white noise near your baby
• Swing: small, gentle motions, about an inch back and forth
• Suck: a pacifier or nursing

Know the newborn fever rule

A fever can be the only sign of a serious infection in a young baby. For any baby 3 months or younger, a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher means you should call your pediatrician right away, even if there are no other symptoms.

Do not give fever medicine before your baby has been evaluated. Use a rectal thermometer, which is the most accurate at this age.

Related questions

Can my newborn sleep on their stomach?

No. Place your baby on the back for every sleep until the first birthday, including naps. Stomach and side positions are only for when you are holding an awake baby to soothe them. Once your baby can roll both ways on their own, you do not need to reposition them, but you should still start each sleep on the back.

Is it safe to use a blanket in the crib?

No. Keep the crib bare with only a fitted sheet. Loose blankets, pillows, bumpers, and stuffed toys raise the risk of suffocation and sudden infant death. If you want to keep your baby warm, use a wearable blanket or sleep sack and dress your baby in one more layer than you would wear in the same room.

How long should my baby share my room?

Room-sharing without bed-sharing is recommended for at least the first 6 months. Keep the crib or bassinet next to your bed. This can lower the risk of sudden infant death by up to half. Sharing a room is safe, but sharing a bed, couch, or armchair is not.

Sources & further reading

1. HealthyChildren.org (AAP) — A Parent's Guide to Safe Sleep
2. NICHD Safe to Sleep — Ways to Reduce Risk
3. Happiest Baby — The 5 S's for Soothing Babies
4. HealthyChildren.org (AAP) — Fever and Your Baby

This article reflects current AAP, CDC, and other public-health guidance and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. ParentFlow is a wellness companion — not a substitute for your pediatrician. For any medical concern, contact your healthcare provider.