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-Vallin

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

Baby bed, family bed or maybe that own bed? This is a question that many parents may ask themselves when they are dealing with the “optimal“ Baby sleep and one safe sleeping environment This article is intended to help you not only ensure your baby sleeps safely and get enough sleep yourself, but also to have a relaxed relationship with your child.

Table of contents

  • Co-sleeping, bed sharing
  • How do babies sleep safely?
  • 10 tips for safe baby sleep

Cot, co-sleeping, bed sharing – where should the baby sleep?

There are many opinions about the topic of “cots” among parents. It is often recommended that an infant should sleep on a own lying area, but should sleep in the same room. This model is also known as Co-sleeping This seems safer to many, as some parents have to get used to sharing a bed. However, sleeping on a shared surface is considered more species-appropriate and safer. This, in turn, is called Bed sharing.

Whether in the parents' bed or in their own crib – it is important that you discuss this with your partner and that you take your child's needs into account to create the ideal sleeping environment.

How do babies sleep safely?

Before going into the various points in more detail, it should be noted that the contents mentioned can only serve to to minimize risk factorswhen it comes to suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome, a topic that often concerns parents. sudden infant death syndrome – also known as SIDS – not all questions about possible causes and risks have been answered yet. However, there are protective factorsthat you can consider when planning your sleep.

  • Do not let babies sleep alone

    In order to respond quickly to the child’s needs, such as hunger or security, it is advisable to place the baby in the first few months rarely let them sleep alone. Very few babies need absolute peace and quiet 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 results in waking up. In addition, the Sleeping position checked faster which is also an important aspect for safe sleep.

  • The right sleeping position

    Many babies prefer the Prone positionThis is understandable and not unusual, as it gives them a feeling of security. However, the prone position is also considered particularly risky.¹ Accordingly, care should be taken to ensure that the supine position during sleep – especially when the baby sleeps alone.

  • Do not “isolate” your child while sleeping

    If your child falls asleep while you are out and about, you naturally want to let them sleep. A natural instinct is to "isolate" the child by putting a cloth or blanket over the stroller, baby carrier or car seat. But this brings with it the risk of Overheating When the child is asleep, they don't realize they are overheating. CO² rebreathing can also occur. This causes the child to rebreathe the air they have already exhaled, thus reducing their oxygen supply.

10 tips for safe baby sleep

Here are more tipsthat you can generally pay attention to:

Your baby will sleep safely if the surface doesn't give too much. So don't take risks with a waterbed, sofa, pillow, or similar.

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

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

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

Your child should not overheat while sleeping. Avoid head coverings, excessive clothing, blankets, or sleeping bags with an inappropriate TOG rating.

Tip: You can also read more about the importance of the TOG value in the magazine article “TOG values“ read.

Depending on the room temperature, choose the optimal sleeping bagIt should be neither too warm nor too cold. A precise fit is also extremely important so that the infant doesn't slip into the sleeping bag while sleeping.

Tip: In the article “Baby sleeping bag: What should you wear underneath?” you will learn how to dress your baby so that he or she neither freezes nor sweats.

A blanket can wrap around the child while sleeping, which can lead to overheating.

The sleeping area should be as empty as possible. Avoid stuffed animals, pillows, toys, or similar items.

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

It is recommended that non-breastfed children sleep with a pacifier. However, it's perfectly fine if your baby wants to sleep without one.

With these Tips, you can give your child a safer sleeping environment If your child shows any abnormalities while sleeping, talk to your pediatrician or midwife.


It's often difficult for parents to find the optimal approach. Often, the external environment can be very unsettling, which can lead to enormous pressure and stress. Pay attention to what feels right for you, your partner, and your child.

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

² "Don't isolate your 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 ist selbst Mutter, Autorin des Buches “für dich, Mama” und Gründerin der Familienberatung “Familie auf Herzhöhe”. Sie unterstützt Familien dabei, ein bindungsstarkes Zusammenleben zu schaffen.

Mehr Informationen über Carolin Braun-Rechlin findest du hier.

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