Safe Sleep
Safe-sleep guides built from AAP policy, CPSC federal standards and CPSC recall records: cribs, bassinets, play yards, sleep sacks, and the products experts say to skip.
Explainers
Sleep sack vs swaddle (2026): which is safer, and when to switch
Short answer: a swaddle can calm a newborn but doesn’t lower SIDS risk, and you must stop as soon as your baby shows signs of trying to roll (often 2 to 4 months). A non-weighted sleep sack that leaves the arms free can be used as long as you like. Never use weighted swaddles, sacks or blankets.
GuideSafe sleep gear for babies (2026): what to buy and what to skip
Short answer: buy one firm, flat sleep space that meets CPSC federal standards (a crib, bassinet or play yard) and a fitted sheet. That is all the AAP and CPSC say belongs in it. Skip inclined sleepers, bumpers, weighted sleep sacks and sleep positioners, and check every sleep product for recalls first.
GuideIs it safe for a baby to sleep in a swing, bouncer or rocker? (2026)
Short answer: no. Swings, bouncers, rockers and gliders hold babies at an incline, which can let the head fall forward and block breathing. The AAP says any surface inclined more than 10 degrees isn’t safe for sleep, and federal law has banned inclined sleepers since 2022. If your baby falls asleep in one, move them to a flat, bare crib, bassinet or play yard on their back.
GuideHow to choose a safe crib (2026): standards, used cribs and setup
Short answer: buy a crib that meets the 2011 federal crib standard (any new crib sold in the US must), with fixed sides, slats no more than 2⅜ inches apart, no cutouts or tall corner posts, all its hardware and instructions, and no recall. Avoid drop-side, antique and pre-2011 cribs.
GuideHow to choose a crib mattress (2026): firmness, fit and recalls
Short answer: choose a firm mattress that doesn’t indent under your baby, is made for your crib and fits tightly with no gaps, and carries a model number and manufacture date so you can check recalls. Put only a fitted sheet on it. Skip toppers, plush add-on play yard mattresses and anything that claims to prevent SIDS.
GuideBassinet vs crib vs play yard (2026): which should your baby sleep in?
Short answer: all three are safe for sleep if they meet their CPSC federal standard, have a firm, flat mattress made for that product and nothing else inside. Pick a bassinet if you want something small next to your bed, a crib if you want one bed for years, and a play yard if you need portability or a lower cost.
GuideAre baby loungers and nursing pillows safe? (2026)
Short answer: no baby lounger, nest or nursing pillow is safe for sleep. The AAP says infants have suffocated in them. Since 2025 they must meet new federal rules (firmness, no restraints, 10° maximum incline), and CPSC recalled more than a dozen in the past year. Use them only for awake, supervised time, or skip them.
GuideWhen to move from a crib to a toddler bed: the 35-inch rule (2026)
Short answer: move your child to a bed when they’re about 35 inches (89 cm) tall, or when the crib’s side rail is less than three-quarters of their height (about nipple level), because the most common crib falls happen during climb-outs (AAP). Before then, lower the mattress to its lowest position by the time your baby can stand.
GuideRoom sharing, bed sharing and bedside sleepers: what’s safe (2026)
Short answer: keep your baby’s own crib, bassinet, play yard or bedside sleeper in your room, close to your bed but not in it, for at least the first 6 months. The AAP says room sharing can cut SIDS risk by as much as 50%, while bed sharing raises the risk of sleep-related death, especially under 4 months.
GuidePlay yard (Pack ’n Play) safety: mattresses, mesh sides and recalls (2026)
Short answer: a play yard that meets the federal standard is a safe place for sleep and play when used bare, with only its own pad and a fitted sheet (AAP; NIH). Never leave a mesh side lowered, take off the changing table or bassinet insert when your baby is in the main area, and remove hung toys by 5 months or when your baby can get on all fours. Be very careful with after-market “upgrade” mattresses: a 2026 recall involved pads that didn’t fit certain play yards.
GuidePacifiers and sleep: SIDS, safety rules and clips (2026)
Short answer: offer a pacifier at naps and bedtime. The AAP says pacifiers help reduce SIDS risk even if they fall out after your baby is asleep, and NIH says they help formula-fed babies especially. If you breastfeed, wait until breastfeeding is going well. Never tie or attach a pacifier to your baby, their clothes or the crib for sleep.
GuideHow to dress a baby for sleep: layers, hats and overheating (2026)
Short answer: dress your baby in one more layer than you would wear to be comfortable in the same room, and add warmth with a wearable blanket instead of loose blankets. Take hats off indoors once you’re home from the hospital, and check for overheating: sweating, flushed skin or a hot chest (AAP; NIH).
GuideAre weighted sleep sacks and swaddles safe for babies? (2026)
Short answer: no. The AAP, CPSC and NIH Safe to Sleep all advise against weighted sleep sacks, swaddles and blankets for babies. NIH says there is no evidence they are safe at home, there is no safety standard for them, and the safety claims rest on one small study of 16 babies in intensive care. Use a regular, non-weighted sleep sack.
GuideAre crib bumpers safe? The ban, mesh liners and braided bumpers (2026)
Short answer: no. Padded crib bumpers, vinyl bumper guards and slat covers are banned under the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, and CPSC recalled two brands in the past year for violating the ban. Non-padded mesh liners aren’t banned, but the AAP says they aren’t needed and can come loose. A bare crib with a fitted sheet is the safe setup.