As weather cools and weekends fill up, it’s a good time to take a fresh look at where your baby sleeps. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a firm, flat sleep surface with only a fitted sheet — no pillows, blankets, bumpers, or stuffed animals. Babies sleep safest on their backs, in their own crib or bassinet, in your room but not in your bed. Small habits, like checking for loose cords or extra layers, quietly lower the risk of sleep‑related death. A 10‑minute check this weekend can help everyone rest easier.
Friday, October 2, 2026Sleep
Safe Sleep, Simple Setup: Weekend Checks for Baby’s Space
A quick fall tune‑up for your baby’s crib or bassinet.
The Teddy Editorial Desk · Grounded in AAP & CDC guidance
In Brief
The Briefing
Explainer
The Bare Crib Rule: What Really Belongs
For the first year, the AAP says baby sleeps best on a firm, flat mattress with a tight fitted sheet and nothing else. That means no pillows, blankets, bumpers, positioners, or stuffed animals in the crib or bassinet.
Guidance
Too Cold? Dressing Baby for Fall Nights
Instead of loose blankets, use a wearable blanket or sleep sack over pajamas so baby stays warm without cloth covering the face. Keep the room at a comfy temperature for a lightly dressed adult and watch for sweating or a hot chest.
Tips
Room‑Sharing, Not Bed‑Sharing
The AAP advises keeping baby’s crib or bassinet in your room for at least the first 6 months. Your baby has their own safe space, but you stay close for feeding, comforting, and easier overnight checks.
Alert
Halloween Decor and Baby Sleep Spaces
Fall decorations are fun, but keep strings, lights, candles, wall hangings, and costumes away from cribs and bassinets. Make sure nothing can dangle, fall in, or overheat near where your baby sleeps.
Questions
What Parents Are Asking
For the Clinic
Clinic Takeaway
Use this weekend to spotlight safe sleep: add a one-page, plain-language handout at check-in and build a 60‑second “crib check” script for nurses at newborn and 2‑month visits. Reinforce AAP back‑to‑sleep, bare crib, and room‑sharing guidance, and invite caregivers to show photos of their baby’s sleep space so you can offer concrete, nonjudgmental tips. This keeps messages consistent and helps families leave with one or two clear changes they can make at home.
Source: AAP safe sleep policy statement and parent education guidance
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