Babies on Their Backs, Same Room Not Same Bed for 6 Months
Until your baby turns 1, place them on their back for every sleep, naps and nighttime alike; for at least the first 6 months, share a room with your baby but give them their own sleep space, not your bed. The National Institutes of Health’s Safe to Sleep campaign says the sleep surface should be firm, flat and level, meet Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards, and be covered only by a fitted sheet, with everything else removed.
This article follows Safe to Sleep’s “Ways to Reduce Baby’s Risk”: sleep position, the bed and sleep environment, feeding and pacifiers, and products not to rely on. Every family is different, so ask your health care provider if you have questions.
Sleep position and the bed
Safe to Sleep explains (NIH Safe to Sleep ways to reduce baby’s risk):
- On the back: place your baby on their back for naps and at night, every time, until age 1.
- Sleep surface: firm, flat and level, meeting CPSC safety standards, covered only by a fitted sheet.
- Nothing in the crib: remove everything from your baby’s sleep area except the fitted sheet.
- Same room, separate bed: share a room with your baby for at least the first 6 months, in their own sleep space, not your bed.
- Couches and armchairs: never safe places for a baby to sleep; it’s especially dangerous when an adult falls asleep holding a baby on a couch or armchair.
- Car seats and strollers: don’t use sitting devices such as car seats and strollers for regular sleep; once you’re out of the car, move your baby to a proper sleep space.
Sleep environment
- Smoke and vapes: stay smoke- and vape-free during pregnancy, and keep your baby’s surroundings (home, car and elsewhere) smoke- and vape-free.
- Not too warm: dress your baby for the room temperature, keep the head and face uncovered during sleep, and take hats off indoors.
- Swaddling: stop swaddling once your baby starts to roll over (usually around 3 months); swaddling doesn’t lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Feeding, pacifiers and tummy time
- Breastfeeding: if you can, feed human milk with nothing added for at least the first 6 months; for babies who need different care, ask a health care provider.
- Pacifiers: once feeding is going well, offer a pacifier for naps and at night.
- Tummy time: give your baby plenty of tummy time while awake and someone is watching; it’s supervised play, not sleep.
Products not to rely on
- No product prevents SIDS: Safe to Sleep says no product can prevent sudden infant death syndrome.
- Monitors: monitors aren’t effective at detecting or preventing SIDS; rely on safe sleep practices.
For smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, see Smoke and CO Alarms on Each Level, Test Smoke Alarms Monthly; for what age kids can stay home alone, see Kids Home Alone, No Federal Age Rule, It Depends on State.
What this article did not check
- How to choose a crib: the page only says it should meet CPSC safety standards; this article did not check the details of those standards.
- Babies who need different care: the page says to ask a health care provider, so this article doesn’t cover it.
- Page date: the page shows no date, only version 5.9.2.
Frequently asked questions
Until what age should my baby sleep on their back?
Safe to Sleep says until age 1, for every sleep, including naps.
Can my baby sleep in our bed?
Safe to Sleep recommends sharing a room for at least the first 6 months, but with your baby in their own sleep space, not your bed.
Can I put a pillow or small blanket in the crib?
No. Remove everything from your baby’s sleep area except the fitted sheet.
What if my baby falls asleep in the car seat?
Move your baby to a proper sleep space once you’re out of the car; Safe to Sleep says not to use car seats or strollers for regular sleep.
Sources and dates checked
All checked on 2026-10-31.
- NIH NICHD, Safe to Sleep, Ways to Reduce Baby’s Risk (no date on the page, version 5.9.2):https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/reduce-risk/reduce