Sleep, safely

Back, firm, flat, and clear. Every sleep, including the nap you did not plan.

Always on the back for sleep, in the first year.
A firm, flat surface: crib, bassinet, or side-car that meets a safety standard.
No pillows, loose blankets, bumpers, wedges, or weighted sacks.
Room-share about six months. Bed-sharing raises the risk of sleep-related death.

The surface

A fitted sheet and a sleep sack are enough. Softness feels kind and is not. Sofas and armchairs are especially hazardous if you might fall asleep there while feeding. If you are very tired, feed in a place where the baby can be put down on a clear firm surface as soon as the feed ends.

What people add, and should not

Positioners, nests, and stuffed toys are marketing, not safety. A hat indoors, once the baby is warm, can overheat. Smoking in the house raises risk; so does a caregiver who is sedated by alcohol or medicine. Pacifiers, once feeding is established if you are breastfeeding, are associated with lower risk — offer, do not force.

Ask your midwife or doctor before you change medicine, herbs, or a birth plan.

Sizes and dates are averages. Feeding and sleep notes follow widely published public-health guidance, including World Health Organization infant-feeding advice and back-to-sleep recommendations. They are not a protocol for your hospital.