Creating a Safe Sleep Environment

Creating a safe sleep environment is one of the most important foundations of infant and toddler sleep. It reduces the risk of sleep related incidents and supports more settled, predictable sleep across naps and nights.

While routines, awake windows, and sleep support all play a role, none of them can work optimally if the sleep environment itself is unsafe or overstimulating. This is why safe sleep guidelines should always come first.

Both American Academy of Pediatrics and Red Nose Australia provide clear, evidence based recommendations for creating a safe sleep space. These guidelines apply to all babies, regardless of feeding method, sleep style, or whether sleep is happening during the day or overnight.

What is a safe sleep environment?

A safe sleep environment is one that minimises risk while supporting a baby’s developing nervous system and sleep patterns.

According to both the AAP and Red Nose Australia, safe sleep means:

A firm, flat sleep surface
A clear sleep space
Age appropriate sleep positioning
A sleep space designed specifically for infant sleep

These principles apply to cots, bassinets, and portable sleep spaces.

Back to sleep, every sleep

Both the AAP and Red Nose Australia recommend that babies are always placed on their back to sleep, for every sleep, until they can roll independently.

Back sleeping:

Keeps the airway clear
Reduces the risk of suffocation
Is strongly protective against sleep related deaths

Once a baby can roll confidently from back to front and front to back, they may choose their own position. However, they should always be placed on their back at the start of sleep.

A clear sleep space

A clear sleep space is one of the most important elements of safe sleep.

Both the AAP and Red Nose Australia recommend that the sleep space contains nothing except the baby.

This means:

No pillows
No loose blankets
No soft toys
No cot bumpers
No positioning devices

While these items are often marketed as comforting or protective, both organisations are clear that they increase risk rather than reduce it. Babies do not need extra items to feel secure. Safety comes from a clear, consistent environment and responsive caregiving.

The right sleep surface

Safe sleep surfaces must be:

Firm
Flat
Well fitting within the cot or bassinet

The AAP and Red Nose Australia advise against using:

Soft mattresses
Inclined sleep products
Couches, armchairs, or adult beds for unsupervised sleep

Even brief, unsupervised sleep on unsafe surfaces significantly increases risk.

Room temperature and overheating

Overheating is a known risk factor for infant sleep. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and Red Nose Australia emphasise the importance of avoiding excessive layers and following safe sleep guidance when dressing babies for sleep.

Importantly, when using sleep sacks or sleep suits, families should always follow the manufacturer’s clothing and TOG guidelines.

Modern sleep sacks and suits are designed to be used:

In specific room temperature ranges
With clearly recommended clothing layers underneath
Without additional blankets or loose bedding

Rather than estimating layers based on adult comfort, it is safer and more accurate to:

Check the room temperature
Choose an appropriate TOG rated sleep sack or suit
Dress your baby exactly as outlined by the manufacturer

Signs your baby may be too warm include sweating, damp hair, flushed skin, or feeling hot on the chest or back of the neck. Babies should feel warm, not hot.

Following manufacturer guidance ensures your baby is dressed appropriately without compromising safety.

Swaddling and safe sleep guidelines

Swaddling can be helpful in the newborn stage, but both the AAP and Red Nose Australia stress that it must be done safely.

Safe swaddling includes:

Arms in while the baby is not rolling
A snug fit around the torso without restricting breathing
Allowing room for hip movement
Stopping swaddling at the first signs of rolling, not after rolling is established

Once rolling begins, swaddling must stop and be replaced with a safer option such as a sleep sack with arms free.

Pacifiers and safe sleep

Both the AAP and Red Nose Australia acknowledge that pacifier use during sleep is protective against sudden unexpected death in infancy.

Safe pacifier use includes:

Offering the pacifier at sleep time
Never forcing it
Avoiding cords, clips, or attachments in the cot
Allowing the pacifier to fall out naturally

If a baby does not want a pacifier, it should not be reinserted.

Room sharing and sleep safety

Both organisations recommend room sharing without bed sharing for at least the first six months, and ideally up to twelve months, where possible.

Safe room sharing means:

Baby has their own separate sleep surface
The sleep space remains clear at all times
Adult bedding does not enter the baby’s sleep space

If families choose to transition their baby to their own room earlier or later, the same safe sleep principles apply.

Light, noise, and stimulation

While safety is the priority, the environment also plays a role in sleep quality.

A sleep supportive environment includes:

Darkness, particularly in the early morning hours
Minimal noise or sudden stimulation
Consistency between naps and night sleep

Light and stimulation can easily disrupt lighter stages of sleep, contributing to early morning waking and false starts.

Monitoring devices and safe sleep

The AAP and Red Nose Australia are clear that monitoring devices do not prevent sleep related incidents.

Important reminders:

Breathing or movement monitors are not a substitute for safe sleep practices
Devices should never be used to justify adding unsafe items to the sleep space
A safe environment matters more than technology

Safe sleep as babies grow

Safe sleep guidelines continue to apply as babies become more mobile.

As development progresses:

Babies may roll or move around the cot
They may choose different sleep positions
They may interact more with their environment

Even as independence increases, the sleep space should remain firm, flat, and clear.

Looking ahead

Creating a safe sleep environment is one of the most powerful ways to support both safety and sleep quality from the very beginning.

If sleep feels unsettled or unpredictable, reviewing the sleep environment in line with AAP and Red Nose Australia recommendations is often one of the simplest and most effective places to start.

For families wanting guidance through sleep changes as babies grow, the 5–24 Month Infant Course provides age appropriate support around routines, awake windows, night waking, and environment.

For toddlers, the Infant and Toddler Bundle supports safe, settled sleep alongside emotional development, boundaries, and changing sleep needs.

The Smarter Way to Invest in Better Sleep

As your baby grows, their need for swaddling will change. Some babies transition out earlier, others later, and both can be completely normal.

If you want guidance that grows with your baby beyond the newborn stage, the 5–24 Month Infant Course supports families as sleep continues to evolve through infancy and to