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At what age can I put a pillow and blankets in the crib?

Most guidelines say to keep pillows, blankets and other soft bedding out of the crib for your baby's whole first year. Many pediatric sources say these items are lower-risk after 12 months, though some suggest waiting until closer to age 2, especially for a pillow.

Canadian and US safe-sleep guidance both stress a bare crib with only a fitted sheet through infancy, since soft bedding raises suffocation risk.

Strength of evidence

Strong

Based on major pediatric and public health guidelines (CPS/Caring for Kids, Health Canada, AAP, CDC, NHS) rather than a single study; these are consensus safe-sleep recommendations, not randomized trials.

What the evidence says

Canadian guidance (Caring for Kids/CPS and Health Canada) is clear that during the first 6-12 months, your baby's sleep space should have nothing loose or soft in it at all — no pillows, blankets, quilts, bumper pads or stuffed toys. This is because soft bedding can cover a baby's face, cause overheating, or lead to suffocation, and the risk of SIDS is highest in the first six months.

If you're worried about your baby being cold, Canadian and US sources both suggest a wearable blanket (sleep sack) or proper sleeper instead of loose blankets, since babies don't actually need blankets to stay warm at a comfortable room temperature.

For timing beyond infancy: the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that most experts feel these items pose little risk to healthy babies after about 12 months of age, though there's no research pinpointing an exact 'safe' age. A separate AAP-affiliated source specifically recommends waiting until age 2 before giving a pillow, timed with the move from crib to toddler bed.

Bottom line: keep the crib bare through at least the first year. After 12 months you can start thinking about a thin blanket if your child has moved past the highest SIDS-risk window, but many experts wait until the toddler-bed transition around age 2, particularly for a pillow.

Sources

✓Reviewed by CH, MD, FRCPC

Reviewed by a specialist physician certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, who has read this answer against the sources listed above and confirmed it reflects them. That is not medical advice about your child. How we review

Answer checked July 29, 2026

Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and no doctor-patient relationship is created by using this. Founded Parent has not examined your child and does not know their history, so this may not apply to you. In an emergency, call your local emergency number. What Founded Parent cannot do

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