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 10 to 14, 2025.

#SafeSleep #SafeSleepWeek2025

Safe Sleep Week theme

The theme for Safe Sleep Week 2025 is Safe sleep – Keep it simple with this messaging for parents and caregivers:

With so many baby products available in-store and online, it can be hard to know which ones to buy or borrow for your baby. When it comes to sleep, reduce the risks of suffocation and overheating by keeping your baby's sleep environment simple.

Key messages

• The only products your baby needs for a safe sleep are:
• a crib, cradle or bassinet that meets Canada safety regulations
• a firm, flat mattress with a tightly fitted sheet
• simple, fitted sleepwear, like a sleeper
• As a general rule, avoid products:
• with soft padding
• they may be a suffocation risk
• without a firm, flat sleeping surface
• they can allow your baby to move into a position where they cannot breathe
• that can cause your baby to overheat
• overheating is a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome
• Some products that you may find in stores or online that might not be safe for sleep include:
• baby nests, pods, loungers and other soft products like bedding sets, pillows, bumper pads, crib mattress pads and nursing pillows
• crib wedges, sleep positioners, inclined sleepers, baby hammocks
• bed-side sleepers and in-bed sleepers
• crib tents
• Before you buy, check for product recalls and advisories and ask yourself if:
• the product is safe for your baby
• it's safe for you baby to fall asleep in the product
• you know how to use this product safely

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 and LinkedIn:
  • X: @GovCanHealth/@GouvCanSante
  • Facebook: Healthy Canadians/Canadiens en santé
  • 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
  	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. Place your baby alone, on their back for every sleep. Have your baby sleep in a crib, cradle or bassinet. Proved a firm, flat sleep surface with only a fitted sheet Avoid all soft items like blankets bumper pads and nests. Learn more at: www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/safe-sleep.html	Poster 1 (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. Place your baby alone, on their back for every sleep. Have your baby sleep in a crib, cradle or bassinet. Proved a firm, flat sleep surface with only a fitted sheet Avoid all soft items like blankets bumper pads and nests. Learn more at: www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/safe-sleep.html	Poster 2 (PDF, 277 KB)

• Social media posts
  
  Facebook 1

  Image	Text	View or download
  	Photo of a baby sleeping on their back alone in their crib. Place your baby alone, on their back for every sleep.	Facebook 1 (1200x1000, 1.01 MB)

  Twitter 1

  Image	Text	View or download
  	Photo of a baby sleeping on their back alone in their crib. Place your baby alone, on their back for every sleep.	Twitter 1 (1200x675, 659 KB)

  Facebook 2

  Image	Text	View or download
  	Photo of a baby on their back alone in their crib. Have your baby sleep in a crib, cradle or bassinet.	Facebook 2 (1200x1000, 1.04 MB)

  Twitter 2

  Image	Text	View or download
  	Photo of a baby on their back alone in their crib. Have your baby sleep in a crib, cradle or bassinet.	Twitter 2 (1200x675, 733 KB)

  Facebook 3

  Image	Text	View or download
  	Photo of a baby on their back alone in their crib. Avoid all soft items like blankets, pillows, bumper pads and nests.	Facebook 3 (1200x1000, 0.97 MB)

  Twitter 3

  Image	Text	View or download
  	Photo of a baby on their back alone in their crib. Avoid all soft items like blankets, pillows, bumper pads and nests.	Twitter 3 (1200x675, 614 KB)

  Facebook 4

  Image	Text	View or download
  	Photo of a baby sleeping on their back alone in their crib. Provide a firm, flat surface with only a fitted sheet.	Facebook 4 (1200x1000, 949 KB)

  Twitter 4

  Image	Text	View or download
  	Photo of a baby sleeping on their back alone in their crib. Provide a firm, flat surface with only a fitted sheet.	Twitter 4 (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
• Cribs, cradles and bassinets
• Dressing your baby for sleep
• 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