Safe sleep image guidance
It's essential to choose images for your safe sleep posts that reflect the key safety messages. Photos that accurately show safe sleep environments reinforce those messages and model best practices for caregivers. Photos that show unsafe sleep environments reinforce unsafe sleeping practices, which can put infants at risk.
Why it matters
Media trends often favour aesthetic room setups—but many feature unsafe elements like stuffed animals, pillows, bumper pads, netting, and blankets. Babies may also be shown in unsafe sleep positions or wearing items not recommended for sleep.
Prioritizing safety over style ensures every post, campaign, and article promotes trustworthy guidance and protects babies across Canada.
Safe sleep image checklist
Use this guide to select visuals that reflect safe sleep practices and Canadian safety recommendations, both for the sleep space, and where relevant, images of the baby.
The sleep space
Crib, cradle and bassinet safety
- Crib, cradle, or bassinet meets Canadian regulations, for example:
- No drop-sides
- Corner posts less than or equal to 1.5 millimeters above crib, cradle, or bassinet sides
- Firm, snug-fitting mattress
Figure 1: Text description
An empty, wooden crib, with a firm, tight fitting mattress and a fitted sheet. The crib has stable sides with no drop-sides. It is in a room with a single wooden chair. There is a white pillow on top of the chair. There is a round rug in the room.
Figure 2: Text description
A white drop-sided crib with a firm, tight fitting mattress and a fitted sheet. There is a pillow in the crib and a white rug on the floor with toys on it. There is a basket in the corner of the room.
Crib placement
- Crib, cradle, or bassinet shown away from
- artwork
- loose cords
- other furniture
- canopies and tents
- windows and window covering cords
Figure 3: Text description
A nursery with an empty crib that is placed away from cords, furniture, windows, and other hazards. There is a dresser, chair, stool, and round floor pillow in the room. There is a square, white rug in the room.
Figure 4: Text description
A nursery with a crib with bumper pads and a canopy hanging over the crib. The crib is placed next to a dresser in the room. There is a chair with pillows in the room on a square rug.
Free of soft items
- No blankets, pillows, or soft toys
- No bumper pads, wedges, or sleep positioners
- No baby nests, pods, or loungers inside the sleep space
Figure 5: Text description
A baby asleep on their back in an empty, wooden crib. The crib has a firm, snug-fitting mattress, and a fitted, yellow and white striped sheet. The baby is wearing a blue onesie.
Figure 6: Text description
A baby asleep in their back in a crib with large, puffy, braided bumper pads. The baby is sleeping on top of a folded blanket and is covered with an additional blanket.
The baby
Sleep position and location
- Baby is sleeping alone, on their back, in a crib, cradle, or bassinet.
- Not on stomach or side
- Not sharing sleep space with adults, children, or pets
- Not sleeping in strollers, car seats, slings, carriers, bouncy chairs, or highchairs
Figure 7: Text description
A baby asleep alone on their back in an empty basinet. The bassinet is next to an adult bed where a caregiver is watching the baby. The baby is wearing a white and black sleeper.
Figure 8: Text description
A baby asleep on their stomach on top of their sleeping caregiver. The caregiver is laying on their back with head on a pillow.
Sleep clothing and accessories
- Baby is dressed in sleepwear, like a sleeper, that's appropriate for room temperature.
- No outerwear, like snowsuits
- No daywear, especially those with buttons or straps
- No accessories, like hats, headbands, bibs, or jewellery
Figure 9: Text description
A baby asleep on their back on a blue and white crib sheet. The baby is wearing a navy and white sleeper.
Figure 10: Text description
A baby asleep on their back on top of some blankets. The baby is wearing multiple layers including outerwear. The baby's head is covered in three layers.
Face and head visibility
- Baby's face is fully visible and unobstructed.
- No items covering the head or face
- No props or bedding blocking the baby's airway
Figure 11: Text description
A baby asleep on their back with a fully visible face. The baby is wearing a gray and black striped sleeper.
Figure 12: Text description
A baby asleep on their side wrapped in a fuzzy, white blanket. The blanket is covering the baby's head and part of their face.