Safe sleep for your baby
What expert bodies recommend
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP, 2022) recommends placing babies on their back to sleep in the first year, on a firm, flat mattress in their own bed without pillows, blankets, bumpers or soft toys, avoiding overheating and not falling asleep with the baby on a sofa. It recommends a smoke-free environment, including during pregnancy. The BIÖG likewise recommends the back position, a sleeping bag instead of a blanket and no smoke in the first year.
Where the bodies differ
The bodies differ on how long the cot should stay in the parents’ room: the AAP recommends at least the first six months, the BIÖG the whole first year. For room temperature the BIÖG gives 16 to 18 degrees Celsius, with 18 as ideal. There is no single recommendation on bed-sharing: the AAP advises sharing the room but not the bed. The BIÖG writes that some parents want their baby close at night and that sharing a bed can make breastfeeding easier, but it is also critical of it, especially if a parent smokes; with bottle-feeding it recommends a separate cot next to the parents’ bed.
If you are worried
Experts recommend contacting your paediatrician or your local out-of-hours medical service if you are worried.
Sources
- Moon et al. 2022: AAP recommendations for a safe infant sleep environment
- Moon et al. 2022: Evidence base for the AAP recommendations
- BIÖG (kindergesundheit-info.de): Safe sleep in the first year
- BIÖG, German Federal Institute for Public Health (kindergesundheit-info.de): sleep tips for the first year
General information, not a substitute for medical advice.
Sources checked: November 2026