Set up your baby’s safe sleep space

Place baby on their back on a firm, flat, separate sleep surface with a fitted sheet and no loose items. Follow current local guidance.

Original crib diagram with a firm flat surface and fitted sheet, a simple infant symbol, and a crossed-out loose item

A safer sleep setup is simple: a firm, flat surface intended for infant sleep, a fitted sheet, and no pillows, toys, bumpers, or loose bedding. Place baby on their back for every sleep. The AAP recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing for at least the first six months; that is U.S. guidance, so discuss local and individual circumstances with your clinician. IDAI also advises back sleeping and a flat surface in its newborn-care guidance. AAP’s safe sleep guidance IDAI newborn-care guidance

Key takeaways

Use a separate, firm, flat infant sleep surface that meets its instructions.
Place baby on their back for every sleep, including naps.
Keep the space clear of pillows, toys, bumpers, and loose bedding; room-share guidance varies by jurisdiction.

A quick sleep-space check
Surface	Firm, flat, and intended for infant sleep; use the fitted sheet made for it.
Position	Place baby on their back for each sleep unless a clinician gives individualized instructions.
Sleep area	Keep it clear of soft objects and loose bedding.
Room setup	Follow current local guidance and the product manual; ask about your family’s circumstances.

Check the space before each sleep

Use a crib, bassinet, or play yard approved for infant sleep and follow its manual.
Check that the mattress is firm, flat, and fitted with the correct sheet.
Remove loose or soft items from the sleep space and place baby on their back.
If baby falls asleep elsewhere, move them to the prepared sleep surface when practical and safe.

What to observe

Notice where sleep happens, whether another caregiver changes the setup, and what makes a clear surface hard to maintain. Share the exact product or a photo of its label with your care team if you are unsure it is intended for sleep.

A useful note to keep

A short family note can list the sleep surface, its manual or model, and the back-to-sleep routine agreed with caregivers. It helps keep handoffs consistent; it is not a sleep or health score.

A question for a clinician

Ask your clinician how current safe-sleep recommendations apply if your baby was premature, has a medical condition, or your family has a specific sleeping arrangement question.

Limits of this guide

This guide summarizes public guidance and does not resolve every family’s sleeping arrangements or replace individual clinical advice. Recommendations can vary by country and change over time. Tracking is not diagnosis; individual concerns belong with a qualified clinician.