Safe Sleep

Safe or Unsafe? Test your Safe Sleep Knowledge!


Take a look at the four sleeping environments below. One is safe, and three are unsafe. Can you identify which one is safe and why the others are not? Scroll to the bottom of the page to check your answers!

Baby wearing a hat and sleeping in a crib on its stomach with a loose blanket and teddy bear.
Baby wearing a hat and sleeping on its back in baby lounger mattress inside of a crib.
Baby sleeping in a crib on its back wearing a hat and swaddled in a blanket.
Baby sleeping in a crib on its back wearing a wearable blanket.

Infant sleep-related deaths are the leading cause of death in infants between 1 month and 1 year of age. Most are caused by accidental suffocation. 

Remember your ABCs and follow them every time you put your baby down to sleep.


A - Alone

Put baby in a safe sleep space ALONE for every sleep—this means no parents, no brothers or sisters, no stuffed animals, no blankets, no bumpers. Baby sleeps safest alone in their crib.


B - Back

Put baby in a safe sleep space on their BACK for naps and nighttime. Babies’ airways can easily be blocked, and they can suffocate when on their stomach. Baby sleeps safest on their back.


C - Crib

Put baby in a safe sleep space – a CRIB or play yard. Baby can become trapped in the cushions or sheets of a couch or adult bed. Baby sleeps safest on a firm mattress with a fitted sheet in a crib or play yard.


 

Baby wearing a hat and sleeping in crib on its stomach with loose blanket and teddy bear.

UNSAFE: Babies should be placed on their backs for every sleep, including naps. Keep pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, bumper pads, and stuffed toys out of the crib. They can cause your baby to suffocate. Take the caps off for sleep; this reduces the risk of overheating.


Baby wearing a hat and sleeping in crib with baby lounger.

UNSAFE: Wedges, positioners, special mattresses and specialized sleep surfaces have not been shown to reduce the risk of infant death. Baby can suffocate when sleeping in these types of devices. Avoid using them unless your baby is awake.

 Baby sleeping in crib wearing a hat and swaddled in a blanket.

UNSAFE: There is no evidence to suggest swaddling reduces your baby’s risk of death. If you swaddle, the swaddle should be snug. Stop swaddling your baby when he starts to roll. Take the caps off for sleep; this reduces the risk of overheating.


Baby sleeping in crib on its back wearing a wearable blanket.

SAFE: Babies should be placed on their backs for every sleep, including naps. Infant sleep clothing, including wearable blankets, are safer than loose blankets and other coverings. This will keep baby warm and reduce the risk of their face being covered or caught in a blanket. 


For more information, check out these resources:

Preventing SIDS

Cribs for Kids

Safe Sleep NC