Every parent wants their baby to sleep safely. At Rocky Mountain Sleeping Baby, we spend a lot of time discussing advice that helps babies rest well and safely. Over the past couple of years, a lot of research in pediatric sleep has turned up a consistent theme: even when parents know the safe sleep guidelines, many find it hard to follow all of them, and make adjustments in order to get better baby sleep for themselves and their little ones.
For example, many parents admit to feeding their baby to sleep, holding or rocking them into slumber, using soft bedding or sharing the bed. These choices are often made because they feel comforting for both parent and child, or because “sleeping through the night” seems more important in those moments. Studies show that although most mothers recognize the ABCs of safe sleep (Alone, on the Back, in the Crib), many still regularly do things the experts warn against, especially when baby is fussy, or when parents are exhausted.
Why this gap exists has many factors. For one, some safe sleep guidelines are experienced as too rigid or not fitting with daily life. A parent might feel pressure to let the baby sleep somewhere other than the crib because of night feedings, or because the nursery is too far away, or because baby resists sleeping alone. In other cases, soft bedding or blankets are used because of cold nights, comfort, or tradition. Also, emotional needs and the desire for closeness, or to soothe baby quickly often lead to practices like rocking or bedsharing. Sometimes, parents believe they’re “closely monitoring” when combining safe sleep rules with other practices, but the risk can still be meaningful.
The updated 2022 AAP safe sleep policy makes several things very clear: babies should sleep alone (on a firm, flat sleep surface made for infants), on their back, with no soft bedding, in the parents’ room but not in the same bed. Bedsharing is not recommended under any circumstances because of the increased risks of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) or accidental suffocation, especially in younger infants and other higher-risk situations.
But “not recommended under any circumstances” doesn’t always feel possible in real life. So what can parents actually do to close that gap to both honor safe sleep practices and improve baby sleep, while navigating real world challenges like tiredness, feeding needs, cold mountain nights, or travel?
Here are some practical tips:
- Prioritize the highest-risk guidelines first
If doing everything isn’t possible, focus first on the things that reduce risk the most: placing the baby on their back, using a firm flat sleep surface with no loose bedding or pillows, and avoiding bedsharing. - Room-sharing instead of bedsharing
Having baby sleep in the same room (in a crib, bassinet, or safe infant sleep space) allows easier night feeds, closeness, and monitoring, while lowering risk compared to sleeping in an adult bed. - Get support & education
Part of the issue is knowing why certain practices are safer, not just feeling like they’re rules. At Rocky Mountain Sleeping Baby, we believe in helping parents understand both the risks and the practical ways to reduce them. Also, peer support (other parents, parent groups) can help normalize the challenges and reduce guilt. - Tailor to your environment
In the Rockies or other colder climates, ensuring sleep surfaces are warm (via sleep sacks, regulated room temperature), but still firm and free from dangerous bedding, can help. For travel, have a portable safe crib or infant sleep surface.
Safe sleep guidelines exist because they help reduce infant mortality and protect babies. But there’s often a gap between recommendations and what parents actually do (or feel able to do) in the quest for better, more continuous baby sleep. At Rocky Mountain Sleeping Baby, we think the goal is to find a balance: a way to bring safe sleep practices into daily life in ways that feel doable, caring, and supportive for both baby and caregiver. We’re here to help guide you through the options, the tradeoffs, and the small wins that add up.
