Dieser Beitrag wurde geschrieben von Carolin Braun-Rechlin

Safe Baby Sleep – What Is Important?

Find out from our expert how you can promote safe baby sleep.

Carolin Braun-Rechlin

Family counselor at “Familie auf Herzhöhe,” mother, and author.

Baby crib, family bed, or perhaps the own little bed? Many parents may ask themselves this question when considering the "optimal" baby sleep and a safe sleeping environment. This article aims to help you not only ensure safe baby sleep and get enough rest yourself but also to enjoy a relaxed togetherness.

Table of Contents

  • Crib, Co-Sleeping, Bedsharing
  • How do babies sleep safely?
  • 10 tips for safe baby sleep

Crib, Co-Sleeping, Bedsharing – Where Should the Baby Sleep?

There are many opinions surrounding the parenting topic of "crib." It is often recommended that an infant sleeps on their own sleeping surface but in the same room during the first months of life. This model is also called co-sleeping. This seems safer to many, as some parents need time to get used to sharing a bed. However, sleeping on a shared surface is considered more natural and safer. This is known as bedsharing.

Whether a parent bed or their own crib – the important thing is that you discuss this together with your partner and also consider your child's needs to create the ideal sleeping environment.

How do babies sleep safely?

Before going into the various points in detail, a note that the mentioned content can only serve to minimize risk factors when it comes to suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome, a topic that often concerns parents. Not all questions about possible causes and risks of sudden infant death syndrome – also called SIDS – have been answered yet. However, there are protective factors that you can consider in the sleeping situation.

  • Do not let babies sleep alone

    To quickly respond to the child's needs, such as hunger or comfort, it is advisable to rarely let the baby sleep alone in the first few months. Most babies do not need absolute silence and feel much more comfortable when they hear that they are not alone. This also allows for a quicker response to the onset of restlessness, which usually ends in waking up. Additionally, the sleeping position can be checked more quickly, which is also an important aspect of safe sleep.

  • The right sleeping position

    Many babies prefer the prone position. This is understandable and not uncommon, as it gives them a sense of security. However, the prone position is also considered particularly risky¹. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the supine position is maintained during sleep – especially when the baby is sleeping alone.

  • Do not “shut off” the child while sleeping

    If the child falls asleep while out and about, you naturally want to let them sleep. A natural instinct is to "shield" the child by hanging a cloth or blanket over the stroller, baby carrier, or car seat. However, this carries the risk of overheating. When the child is asleep, they do not realize they are overheating. Additionally, it can lead to CO² rebreathing². In this case, the child inhales the air they have already exhaled, resulting in reduced oxygen supply.

10 Tips for Safe Baby Sleep

Here are more tips that you can generally pay attention to:

Fixed base:

Your baby has a safe sleep when the mattress does not give way too much. Therefore, avoid risks with waterbeds, sofas, pillows, or similar items.

Responsiveness of the parents:

No alcohol, medication, or drug influence on the parents, so you can quickly respond to your child's needs.

No smoking:

Smoking in any form – passive smoking, secondhand smoke, but also the residues on clothing, hair, hands, and surfaces – is harmful to the child.

Room temperature:

The optimal room temperature is between 16°C and 18°C.

Optimal warmth:

The child should not overheat while sleeping. Avoid head coverings, too much Clothing Line, Blankets, or Sleeping Bags with an inappropriate TOG rating.

Tip: You can also read more about the importance of the TOG rating in the magazine article "TOG Ratings".

Suitable Sleeping Bag:

Choose the optimal Sleeping Bag depending on the room temperature. It should be neither too warm nor too cold. Additionally, a precise fit is extremely important so that the infant does not slip down inside the sleeping bag while sleeping.

Tip: In the article “Baby Sleeping Bag: What Should You Dress Them In Underneath?” you will learn how to dress your baby so that they neither get cold nor sweat.

Avoid blankets:

A blanket can wrap around the child during sleep, which can lead to overheating.

Free lying surface:

The lying surface should be as clear as possible. Avoid Soft Toys, pillows, toys, or similar items in the sleeping area.

Enough space:

If you have a family bed, make sure that each family member has enough space.

The pacifier:

It is recommended that children who are not breastfed sleep with a pacifier. However, it is perfectly fine if your baby wants to sleep without a pacifier.

With these tips, you can provide your child with a safer sleeping environment. If your child shows any unusual signs while sleeping, consult your pediatrician or midwife.


It is often difficult for parents to find the optimal approach. External influences can cause a lot of uncertainty, leading to significant pressure and stress. Pay attention to what feels right for you, your partner, and the child.

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Sources:
¹ "The Correct Side-Lying Position"
(https://www.springermedizin.de/emedpedia/detail/paediatrie/ploetzlicher-kindstod?epediaDoi=10.1007%2F978-3-642-54671-6_19)

² "Do Not ‘Isolate’ the Child While Sleeping"
(Scientific study on this: TASK FORCE ON SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME. SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2016 Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment. Pediatrics 2016; 138(5). https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/138/5/e20162938/60309/SIDS-and-Other-Sleep-Related-Infant-Deaths-Updated)

Carolin Braun-Rechlin
Carolin Braun-Rechlin is a mother herself, author of the book "for you, Mom," and founder of the family counseling service "Family at Heart Level." She supports families in creating a strong, attachment-based way of living together.

Mehr Informationen über Carolin Braun-Rechlin findest du hier.

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