Herbie Murray
As a new parent, it's common to wonder when your baby can start sleeping with a blanket. While it may seem harmless, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that it is unsafe for babies to sleep with blankets before they turn one. This is because infants lack the motor skills and strength to move objects away from their face if they're unable to breathe. Sleeping with a blanket increases the risk of suffocation, strangulation, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). To keep your baby warm, you can use a sleep sack or swaddle them until they turn one.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is it safe for 10-month-olds to sleep with blankets? | No, it is not safe for babies under 12 months old to sleep with blankets, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). |
| Why is it unsafe? | Sleeping with a blanket increases the risk of SIDS, suffocation, entrapment, and strangulation. |
| Alternatives to blankets | Wearable blankets, sleep sacks, swaddling, or dressing the baby in layers. |
| When can babies sleep with blankets? | After 12 months old, the risks associated with blankets decrease significantly. Some experts suggest waiting until the baby is 18 months old. |
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What You'll Learn
- It is not safe for babies under 12 months old to sleep with blankets, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Soft bedding increases the risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Alternatives to blankets for infants under 12 months old include sleep sacks and wearable blankets
- A baby's crib should be empty during the early days to decrease the risk of SIDS
- A baby should always be put to sleep on their back for the first year of life
It is not safe for babies under 12 months old to sleep with blankets, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that a baby under the age of one does not sleep with a stuffy, blanket, or other loose bedding. AAP's safe sleep guidelines advise keeping soft objects and loose bedding out of an infant's crib or sleep space for their first year. The crib should be empty during the early days, with only a fitted sheet that's tucked in tightly on all sides.
Babies can start sleeping with blankets when they are at least one year old, according to guidance from the AAP. Once a baby is older than one year, their motor skills are sharp enough that they can roll over and push objects away from their face if they are having trouble breathing. The AAP recommends waiting until a baby is at least one year old before introducing a blanket, as research has not shown that soft objects pose no risk before this age.
There are alternative ways to keep a baby warm at night without using a blanket. For example, parents can dress their baby in layers, relying on swaddles or sleep sacks during cold nights. It is also recommended that parents keep their baby's room between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
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Soft bedding increases the risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that it is not safe for a baby to sleep with a blanket while they are less than a year old. Sleeping with a blanket under 12 months old increases the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related accidents, including suffocation. The AAP's safe sleep guidelines recommend keeping soft objects and loose bedding, in addition to blankets, out of your infant's crib or sleep space for their first year.
The CPSC, AAP, and NICHD recommend that infants under 12 months be put to sleep in a crib with no soft bedding of any kind under or on top of the baby. Soft bedding may be a major contributor to SIDS. Past studies have shown that as many as one-third of the babies who die from SIDS each year may have suffocated when placed on soft bedding, such as pillows, comforters, or sheepskins.
Babies should be placed on their backs to sleep on a firm, tight-fitting mattress in a crib that meets current safety standards. This is because infants lack the motor skills and strength to free themselves if their breathing becomes obstructed by the blanket. Sleeping with a blanket could lead to suffocation or strangulation or increase the chances of SIDS.
To keep your baby warm at night, you can use a sleep sack or wearable blanket. These are designed to keep babies warm without the risks associated with loose bedding.
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Alternatives to blankets for infants under 12 months old include sleep sacks and wearable blankets
It is not safe for babies under 12 months old to sleep with blankets or any other soft bedding. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that a baby under the age of one does not sleep with a stuffy, blanket, or other loose bedding. This is because infants lack the motor skills and strength to free themselves if their breathing becomes obstructed by the blanket. Sleeping with a blanket can therefore lead to suffocation or strangulation or increase the chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Instead of a blanket, you can use a sleep sack or wearable blanket for a baby under 12 months old. These are designed to keep babies warm without the risks associated with loose bedding. Sleep sacks are essentially closed gowns that have holes for a baby's arms, but no casings for their legs. They usually have zippered or Velcro closures and are fairly easy to get on and off. Their loose shape allows the baby to move around, too. Sleep sacks are available in a wide range of sizes, from newborn to 5T.
Additionally, when your baby is ready to move on from the sleep sack, you can transition to a light blanket. These lightweight blankets can also be used as swaddles, changing table covers, or burp cloths. They are spacious and breathable, making them perfect for tummy time, too.
It is important to remember that there is no official age that has been deemed 100% safe for a baby to sleep with a blanket. Most medical experts feel that soft bedding poses little danger in the crib to healthy babies after 12 months of age and ideally when they are 18 months or older.
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A baby's crib should be empty during the early days to decrease the risk of SIDS
It is recommended that a baby's crib should be empty during the early days, with nothing but a firm, well-fitted mattress and a baby sleeping on their back. This is because soft objects and loose bedding in a baby's crib can increase the risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
SIDS is the sudden and unexplained death of a baby younger than 1 year old, and it is the leading cause of death among infants 1 month to 1 year old. It is sometimes called "crib death" because the death usually occurs while a baby is sleeping in a crib. Although the cause of SIDS is unknown, there are precautions that can be taken to lower the risk.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies under the age of one do not sleep with a stuffy, blanket, or other loose bedding. Soft objects and bedding in a baby's crib can increase the risk of suffocation and SIDS. Therefore, it is important to keep the crib free of any soft objects, including stuffed toys, to minimize these risks. A fitted sheet that is tucked in tightly on all sides is recommended, as well as a firm mattress that fits snugly in the crib.
Babies under one year old lack the motor skills and strength to free themselves if their breathing becomes obstructed by a blanket. Sleeping with a blanket could lead to suffocation or strangulation or increase the chances of SIDS. Even if a baby is safely covered by a blanket, they may move or shift in their sleep, increasing the risk of suffocation.
There are alternative ways to keep a baby warm at night without using a blanket. For example, a baby can be dressed in sleepwear that is appropriate for the temperature, and a sleep sack or wearable blanket can be used instead of a blanket. It is also recommended that infants sleep in their parents' room, on a separate surface such as a bassinet or crib, until the child's first birthday or for at least the first six months when the risk of SIDS is highest.
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A baby should always be put to sleep on their back for the first year of life
It is not safe for babies to sleep with blankets if they are under 12 months old. Sleeping with a blanket at this age increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), suffocation, entrapment, and strangulation. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that a baby under the age of one does not sleep with a stuffy, blanket, or other loose bedding.
Therefore, for the first year of life, a baby should always be put to sleep on their back. Sleeping on the back can prevent SIDS, the unexpected and unexplained death of a healthy baby, often during sleep. Researchers believe that SIDS may occur when an infant's airway becomes blocked, and the part of their brain that would normally wake them up isn't developed enough. Sleeping on the back also reduces the risk of SIDS. While SIDS is rare, with an incidence rate of 0.035%, or 35 deaths per 100,000 live births, stomach sleeping increases the risk of SIDS by up to 12.9 times. Side sleeping also makes SIDS more likely.
Babies should be put to sleep on their backs from birth and throughout the first year. Even when they start rolling over in their sleep, which is a normal part of development, they should still be placed on their backs initially. This is because infants lack the motor skills and strength to turn their heads when their breathing becomes obstructed.
To ensure a safe sleep environment, a baby's crib should be free of any soft objects, including stuffed toys, pillows, blankets, and loose bedding. A firm mattress with a fitted sheet is recommended. The room temperature should also be comfortable to prevent overheating, which has been suspected to play a role in SIDS.
Instead of blankets, parents can use sleep sacks or wearable blankets to keep their babies warm. These alternatives provide warmth without the risks associated with loose bedding.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it is not safe for a baby to sleep with a blanket while they are less than a year old. Sleeping with a blanket before 12 months of age increases the likelihood of accidental suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
You can use a sleep sack, swaddle or wearable blanket to keep your baby warm. It is important for your baby's crib to be empty during the early days to decrease the risk of SIDS.
Set the temperature of your baby's room to be between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Dress your baby in one more layer than you would wear in the same situation.
