Sleep Quick Reference

Safe sleep basics

Use a firm, flat sleep surface with a fitted sheet only.
Keep soft bedding, pillows, wedges, positioners, and loose items out of the sleep space.
Put the baby down on the back for sleep unless your clinician has given different instructions 1 2.

A usable routine

Keep the sleep area easy to reach at night.
Use simple, repeatable cues so the baby starts to recognize bedtime.
Expect waking and irregularity, especially in the first months.

What should prompt a closer look

Breathing trouble, unsafe sleep setup, or a baby who seems too hard to wake.
Illness symptoms layered on top of unusually poor sleep.
A parent so exhausted they are at risk of falling asleep unsafely 1 3.

References