Safe Sleep in the Hospital

At Seattle Children’s we do not allow bedsharing.

This is our policy because we believe it is safest for you to sleep on the sleeper sofa and your baby or child to sleep on their own sleep surface. This also allows us to observe them and provide the safest care possible.

• Children who are less than 3 years old (36 months) sleep in a crib. A “bubble top” may be used if needed to prevent the child from climbing out of the crib.
• Children less than 3 years old who need care in our Intensive Care Unit (ICU), sleep in a critical care crib.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that you place your baby on their back every time you lay them down to sleep until their first birthday.

This lowers the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). When your baby can roll from back-to-tummy and tummy-to-back, it is still important to put them to sleep on their back, but you do not need to reposition them if they roll on their own.

Your baby should sleep in a crib that has no blankets, pillows, bumper pads or soft toys. Positioning devices (such as Z-Flos) should never be used unless there is a medical need. These items can block their breathing (suffocation) or trap them in an unsafe position.

No, the AAP advises against bedsharing (sharing a bed with your baby) because of these possible dangers:

• A higher chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in babies less than 4 months old.
• Suffocation when a baby gets trapped or wedged between a mattress, headboard or wall, or gets covered by part or all of someone else’s body.
• Suffocation from a baby being face-down on a mattress or on soft bedding like pillows or blankets.  

Bedsharing can be more dangerous in the hospital than at home. This is because:

• Hospital beds have bedrails and children can become wedged into the bedrail causing suffocation.
• Hospital beds are high and a fall from a hospital bed could cause a broken bone or a serious injury to the head.
• Children are often not feeling well, sick or recovering from a surgery
• Parents can become very tired from caring for their child in the hospital 

We understand that you need to comfort and care for your child while you are in the hospital. We would like to support you in soothing your child. Ask your nurse for help if medical equipment gets in the way of holding or soothing your baby.  See our handout ‘Soothing your Baby in the Hospital and at Home’ seattlechildrens.org/pdf/PE593.pdf.

When you are in a home setting, the AAP recommends that your child transition from a crib to a bed when the crib rail falls below their chest when standing in the crib.

In the hospital there are only cribs or adult hospital beds. There are no toddler beds. There is risk of falling onto the hard floor and many risks related to hospital equipment and supplies in a hospital room. For these reasons:

• Children less than 3 years old (36 months) are safest in a hospital crib with a “bubble top” to prevent climbing out of the crib.
• Even if your child no longer sleeps in a crib at home, we will have your child sleep in a hospital crib because it is the safest choice in a hospital setting.
• Always lock all crib rails in their highest position when leaving the bedside. Ask your nurse if you have any questions about crib safety.
• If your child is unable to sleep in the crib, we may try a regular hospital bed in the lowest position with a bed alarm if your child leaves the bed.