What’s Safe in Your Baby’s Crib? A Guide to Crib Safety for Ages 0–2

Bringing home your baby is an incredible experience!! — but let’s be real, the fun starts even before the baby is born as you work to set up the perfect nursery for your little one! Pinterest and IG are FULL of beautiful nurseries for inspiration, but they also don’t always reflect the safety guidelines that are important to remember when setting up your baby’s sleeping space!

So as a baby sleep consultant, it’s important for me to remind you of those as you work to create the perfect space for your baby!

0–12 Months:

The safest crib is a simple one. For babies under 1 year, that means:

• A firm, flat mattress

• A tightly fitted crib sheet

• A sleep sack or swaddle (depending on age and development)

What’s not allowed:

• Blankets

• Pillows

• Crib bumpers

• Stuffed animals or toys

• Positioners, wedges, or anything loose

These may seem harmless or decorative, but they can pose real risks —The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping the crib totally clutter-free until your baby’s first birthday.

12–24 Months:

Once your baby turns one and is more mobile, you can safely start to introduce a few comfort items — but still keep it minimal.

✅ What may be introduced (if desired):

• A small, breathable lovey or comfort item

• A lightweight blanket

• You may continue the use of a sleep sack instead of a blanket

Still avoid:

• Full-size pillows

• Heavy quilts or blankets

• Large stuffed animals

But What About Pillows?

Pillows aren’t recommended until your child is at least 2 years old! Even then, I recommend starting with a small, toddler-sized pillow, not a standard adult one.

Crib Safety Summary

No matter your baby’s age, these principles will always apply:

• Baby sleeps on their back

• On a firm, flat surface

• In a bare sleep space (just them, in a sleep sack, on a fitted sheet)

• No bed-sharing — room sharing is okay, but babies need their own sleep space

• Remember the ABC’s to help you! Alone, on their Back, in a Crib!

It know can feel strange not to “decorate” your baby’s crib — especially when nursery photos on Instagram tell a different story. But your baby’s sleep space can be both cute and safe! Put those stuffies in a rocking chair instead of in the crib, hang the blanket on a chair or a hook on the wall, and pick out a cute fitted sheet!

Remember, we are always here to help! We’d love to help you create a safe sleeping space, and help you get the sleep you and your baby need! You can read all about our packages here!