When Can Babies Sleep With a Blanket?

“Wait, my baby can’t sleep with a blanket? Like, at all?” Yep, that was my reaction when our pediatrician told me that blankets were a hard no for baby. It’s confusing—blankets feel like a basic comfort item, and the idea of baby sleeping without one can sound totally counterintuitive (and even a little worrisome—what if they get cold?!)

But here’s the truth: What seems cozy to us can actually be dangerous for babies. There’s a reason why pediatricians are firm about keeping cribs empty in that first year of life. So exactly when can babies sleep with a blanket? Here, pediatricians and real parents share facts and insights. Read on to learn when it’s safe to use a blanket, ways to keep baby warm in the meantime and how to introduce a blanket to your toddler when that milestone moment finally arrives.

Key Takeaways

• According to safe sleep recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), nothing should be in the crib with baby before 12 months, including any loose bedding, such as blankets, pillows and toys.
• In lieu of a blanket, swaddle baby (stop once they can roll over) and/or use wearable sleep sacks. Always dress baby in one more layer than you need for sleep.
• It’s safe to introduce a blanket to baby once they have the motor skills and strength to move it off their face and change positions, decreasing the risk for strangulation and suffocation. This may be around the 12-month mark or a bit later.
• When they’re ready, start by giving baby a blanket during playtime, then nap time and slowly work up to bedtime.

Can Newborns and Babies Sleep With a Blanket?

The AAPs warns against using blankets or any other bedding in baby’s crib until they’re at least 12 months old. Loose objects like this can increase the risk of entrapment, suffocation or even strangulation. This is because babies don’t yet have the development to lift or kick a blanket off themselves.

Adults use blankets to keep warm at night because we have fully functioning nervous systems that allow us to move blankets throughout the night, change positions and control our temperature, explains Sanjie Garza-Cox, MD, a board-certified neonatologist at Pediatrix Medical Group in San Antonio, Texas. “Babies, on the other hand, don’t have the strength to change head or body position to protect their airways and keep their lungs open. They can’t untangle themselves from blankets or keep themselves from rebreathing air if a pillow or a blanket gets near their face.”

The sad truth is that about 3,600 babies in the United States pass away each year from unsafe sleep environments, according to the AAP. A 2022 study found that babies who sleep with soft bedding like blankets and loose sheets have a 16-fold chance of sleep-related suffocation. This is why it’s critical to follow safe sleep practices with babies. Kirsten Bechtel, MD, a professor of pediatric emergency medicine at Yale Medicine, adds that this means that newborns and babies under one should have a separate sleep space, and be placed on their back in an empty crib with no pillows, blankets, toys or bumpers. This is the safest way for a baby to sleep and drastically reduces the risk of accidental death.

Swaddling vs. Using a Blanket: What’s the Difference?

Since we know that laying baby down with a blanket poses significant risks, pediatricians recommend using swaddles to keep babies warm and snug while they sleep. But you’ll want to be mindful of swaddling properly to ensure baby’s safety. “Swaddling should always be limited to below the shoulder line to avoid material from riding up to baby’s neck and face, causing them entanglement, strangulation and/or suffocation,” says Garza-Cox.

Keep in mind that babies don’t absolutely need swaddles to sleep—it’s just a handy method for soothing in those early months after birth. Once baby can break out of a swaddle or is rolling over on their own, it’s time to stop swaddling, says Bechtel. Babies need to be able to move freely on their own to avoid rebreathing air, getting stuck or suffocating.

When Can a Baby Sleep With a Blanket?

This is a bit of a loaded question. Generally, experts say it’s safe for children to sleep with a blanket after the one-year mark, but the answer can vary depending on baby’s development. The good news: as the nervous system matures, baby’s risk of suffocation decreases. “They’ll begin to show increased strength and coordination when they can sit up, pull up and walk,” says Garza-Cox. After baby’s first birthday, you can give them a blanket while they’re awake. If they can throw it out of the crib, they’re likely coordinated enough to sleep safely with it, advises Bechtel.

At what age can a baby sleep with a blanket?

Again, experts can’t definitively pinpoint a safe age for introducing a blanket, but the AAP suggests that blankets pose little risk to healthy babies after 12 months. On the other hand, some experts recommend waiting until baby is 18 months old or even 2. Remember, it all depends on the age at which your little one develops the motor skills they need to get a blanket off their face. “I let my daughter have a blanket once she started looking for something to cuddle…By that point she was able to move things away from her well,” says jsthomas618, a community member on The Bump. “That being said, I’d only give her crocheted blankets that had a wide knit and were very breathable.”

Tips to Keep Baby Warm at Night

Rest assured, baby doesn’t have to deal with being cold during their first year of life. While they can’t sleep with a blanket, there are other ways to ensure they stay warm, comfortable and safe while they sleep. Here, some tips to try.

• Layer clothing. Generally, babies only need one more layer than what you’re wearing to feel comfortable when sleeping, says Jean Moorjani, MD, FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. I followed this advice when I brought my babies home from the hospital. They slept in a short-sleeved onesie and a lightweight long-sleeved footed pajama zip-up over the top—it was one more layer than what I wear to bed!
• Use a sleep sack. Don’t want to swaddle/ Try a sleep sack! Also called wearable blankets, sleep sacks offer a unique way for baby to wear a “blanket” without the risk of entanglement. It’s like a cozy fabric bag that zips up around baby’s legs and body with a head and arm holes so baby can still move freely. Something to note: Sleep sacks should be treated as a layer. In other words, if you’re comfortably wearing a light pair of PJs to bed, baby should have on one layer of clothing with the sleep sack over it.
• Keep baby’s room at an ideal temperature. Overheating is a known risk factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), says Garza-Cox. That said, it’s also important baby isn’t too cold while sleeping. To that end, pediatric experts suggest keeping the thermostat for the room baby sleeps in between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

When and How to Introduce a Blanket to a Toddler

Introducing blankets to a toddler should start during supervised playtime, such as while reading or snuggling, suggests Garza-Cox. This gives your child a chance to learn how blankets work and how to move them around in a controlled environment. It’s also best to use lightweight, smaller blankets to start with.

If your toddler now seems comfortable with a blanket during wake times, you can add a blanket to their nap routine, and then eventually to bedtime. “During this process, it’s very important to focus on safety by making sure the blanket is age-appropriate, and that the toddler is strong enough to keep their neck and face clear of these items, and that they’re able to change positions freely,” says Garza-Cox.

Of course, baby might not take to a blanket right away! It may take a while for your little one to get used to their new sleep environment. “We tried a blanket at 13 months and my daughter hated it. We tried again last week and she loved it,” shares janinekrause, a community member on The Bump. “My sister’s son is over 2 and still doesn’t like blankets.”

It can be confusing to learn that sleeping with pillows, blankets and other bedding the way you do is unsafe for your little one. The good news is there’s lots of research that proves that safe sleep practices can help keep baby safe. After age one, your infant will most likely be ready to have a blanket in their crib—it’s up to them if they like it! Until then, don’t hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician with any questions or concerns.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.