Safe sleep week
Learn how to participate in Safe Sleep Week to help reduce the risk of infant sleep-related injury and death in Canada.
About Safe Sleep Week
Safe Sleep Week is an annual awareness campaign to promote infant safe sleep practices. It takes place in mid-March. During Safe Sleep Week, partner organizations work together to educate parents and caregivers on the risks of unsafe sleep environments. Partners include:
- Health Canada
- Parachute Canada
- Baby's Breath Canada
- the Canadian Paediatric Society
- the Public Health Agency of Canada
This year's Safe Sleep Week takes place from March 9 to 13, 2025.
#SafeSleep #SafeSleepWeek2026
Safe Sleep Week theme
The theme for Safe Sleep Week 2026 is Safe sleep – Everywhere baby sleeps, with this messaging for parents and caregivers:
Whether you're a parent or guardian, grandparent, babysitter, sibling, or daycare provider, your role is essential in creating and maintaining a safe sleep environment for each baby in your care. Every nap and every night counts. Make every sleep a safe one. Share these safe sleep tips with everyone who cares for your baby.
Key messages
Keep baby's sleep space safe
- Baby is safest when they sleep:
- alone on their back in a crib, cradle, or bassinet that meets Canadian regulations (for every sleep!)
- on a firm, flat surface with a tightly, fitted sheet
- It's not safe to:
- snuggle up with baby for a nap on a bed, couch, or chair, even for a quick nap
- place baby to sleep on furniture designed for adults or older children
These environments can lead to suffocation, entrapment, and falls. These tragedies can happen quickly and quietly.
Keep the sleep space free of soft items
- Soft products may look cozy, but they're not safe for sleep. They pose a suffocation risk. Don't place soft items in baby's sleep space. This includes:
- baby nests, loungers, and pods
- blankets, quilts, and bumper pads
- mattress toppers and sleep positioners
- stuffed animals and soft toys
Keep cords away from the sleep space
- Make sure there are no electrical cords or window covering cords within reach of baby's sleep space. Loose cords can strangle baby.
- The safest window coverings are those without long, accessible cords.
Keep baby from overheating
- Dress baby in a simple, fitted sleeper.
- Baby does not need a blanket. Many parents use sleep sacks instead of a blanket. If you use one, make sure it's the right size for your baby.
- Skip the hat indoors. It can cause overheating.
- Remove snowsuits or jackets once inside. Outerwear isn't safe for sleep.
Get involved and spread the word
The aim of Safe Sleep Week is to reach as many parents and caregivers as possible.
To support this initiative, we encourage you to:
- follow us and share our posts on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn:
- X: @GovCanHealth/@GouvCanSante
- Facebook: Healthy Canadians/Canadiens en santé
- Instagram: HealthyCdns/CANensante
- LinkedIn: Health Canada/Santé Canada
- create and share your own posts
- print out and display our posters
- talk to parents and caregivers about safe sleep
Resources
Posters
Poster 1
| Image | Text | View or download |
|---|---|---|
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A poster showing 4 safe sleep tips for babies. Image shows a sleeping baby on their back. Safe Sleep Week Tips for Safe Sleep Does your baby sleep in a safe space? Follow these tips to keep your baby safe during every sleep. Share these safety tips with everyone who cares for your baby.
Learn more about safe sleep. |
(PDF, 186 KB) |
Poster 2
| Image | Text | View or download |
|---|---|---|
 |
A poster showing 4 safe sleep tips for babies. Image shows a sleeping baby on their back. Safe Sleep Week Tips for Safe Sleep Does your baby sleep in a safe space? Follow these tips to keep your baby safe during every sleep. Share these safety tips with everyone who cares for your baby.
Learn more about safe sleep. |
(PDF, 277 KB) |
Social media posts
Facebook 1
| Image | Text | View or download |
|---|---|---|
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Photo of a baby sleeping on their back alone in their crib. Place your baby alone, on their back for every sleep. |
(1200x1000, 1.01 MB) |
X 1
| Image | Text | View or download |
|---|---|---|
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Photo of a baby sleeping on their back alone in their crib. Place your baby alone, on their back for every sleep. |
(1200x675, 659 KB) |
Facebook 2
| Image | Text | View or download |
|---|---|---|
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Photo of a baby on their back alone in their crib. Have your baby sleep in a crib, cradle or bassinet. |
(1200x1000, 1.04 MB) |
X 2
| Image | Text | View or download |
|---|---|---|
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Photo of a baby on their back alone in their crib. Have your baby sleep in a crib, cradle or bassinet. |
(1200x675, 733 KB) |
Facebook 3
| Image | Text | View or download |
|---|---|---|
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Photo of a baby on their back alone in their crib. Avoid all soft items like blankets, pillows, bumper pads and nests. |
(1200x1000, 0.97 MB) |
X 3
| Image | Text | View or download |
|---|---|---|
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Photo of a baby on their back alone in their crib. Avoid all soft items like blankets, pillows, bumper pads and nests. |
(1200x675, 614 KB) |
Facebook 4
| Image | Text | View or download |
|---|---|---|
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Photo of a baby sleeping on their back alone in their crib. Provide a firm, flat surface with only a fitted sheet. |
(1200x1000, 949 KB) |
X 4
| Image | Text | View or download |
|---|---|---|
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Photo of a baby sleeping on their back alone in their crib. Provide a firm, flat surface with only a fitted sheet. |
(1200x675, 612 KB) |
Related links
- Safe sleep on the go
- Safe sleep for your baby
- Safe sleep for your baby (poster)
- Setting up a safe nursery
- Safe sleep image guidance
- Cribs, cradles and bassinets
- Dressing your baby for sleep
- Infant safe sleep for grandparents
- Creating a safe sleep environment for your baby
- Joint statement on Safe Sleep: Reducing sudden infant deaths in Canada
- Circumstances surrounding sudden and unexpected sleep-related deaths, 2015 to 2020