Safe Sleeping for Babies

Good sleeping habits are important for your baby's physical health and emotional well-being. Factors such as the way your baby sleeps and where, sleeping position and the type of crib or bed and mattress all contribute to a safe sleep environment.

The following is information on creating a safe sleep environment, risks of bed sharing, how to breastfeed safely in bed and details on crib safety.

Creating a Safe Sleep Environment

Ensuring your baby has a safe sleep environment will reduce the risk of injury and Sudden Infant Death syndrome (SIDS). In SIDS, a baby dies unexpectedly while sleeping and no cause is identified even after a thorough investigation and full autopsy.

SIDS is less common in babies whose parents don't smoke, especially mothers who don't smoke during pregnancy, and in babies who sleep on their back.

For the first six months, the safest sleeping position for your baby even for naps is on his or her back, alone in a crib that is placed in your room. Here are some safety tips:

• Make sure your baby is in a crib that meets current safety standards. For details, visit Crib Safety.
• Make sure the mattress is firm, flat and fits tightly in the crib.
• Cover the mattress with a fitted mattress sheet.
• Dress your baby only in a diaper and a sleeper.
• Keep soft materials out of your baby's crib, including blankets and quilts, comforters, bumper pads and stuffed toys.
• Keep your home smoke free.
• Do not use strollers, car seats or baby swings to put your baby to sleep.
• Keep the room temperature at a comfortable level.

Note: The change table, cosleepers, sleeper rocker attachment on a play pen and a sofa or armchair are not safe sleeping places for your baby.

For more information, visit Public Health Agency of Canada - Safe Sleep for Your Baby.

Bed-Sharing: Is It Safe?

Some parents decide to bed-share, which means sleeping on the same surface as your baby. Adult beds are not designed for infant safety so bed-sharing is not recommended. Should you decide to take your baby into bed with you, here are some things to consider:

• A baby can become trapped in a space between the mattress and the wall, or between the mattress and the bed frame.
• A baby can fall off a bed.
• An adult can roll over and suffocate a baby. If you are very tired, are a smoker or if you drank any alcohol or took drugs or medicines that make you sleepy, there is a much greater risk of rolling over on a baby.
• Soft bedding, such as comforters or duvets, can cover a baby's head and cause overheating. Babies whose heads are covered during sleep are at increased risk of SIDS.

Remember: the safest place for your baby to sleep is in a crib close to your bed.

Breastfeeding & Safe Sleep

When you're breastfeeding, having the baby near you makes night feedings easier.

If you bring your baby into bed with you to breastfeed, it is easy for both of you to fall asleep, especially if you are lying down. A safer choice would be to sit in a comfortable chair where you will not fall asleep while breastfeeding. That way, you can put your baby back in the crib once breastfeeding is over.

Crib Safety

Cribs made before September 1986 are dangerous. They do not meet government safety standards.

Look for a label with the date of manufacture before you purchase a used crib. If there is no label, do not buy the crib.

For more information about cribs, please call our Healthy Children Info Line at 519-883-2245 or the Health Canada Product Safety Branch at 1-905-572-2845 or visit the Health Canada Consumer Product Safety for Crib Safety website.