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When should a baby move to their own room?

Canadian and international guidelines recommend keeping your baby's crib or bassinet in your own room for at least the first 6 months, since this is when SIDS risk is highest.

After 6 months, moving to their own room is generally considered safe, though some guidance suggests waiting up to 12 months for extra protection.

Strength of evidence

Strong

Recommendation is based on a joint national guideline combining large-scale epidemiological studies and expert consensus, alongside supporting cohort and case-control research.

What the evidence says

Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Canadian Paediatric Society recommend room-sharing (baby's crib, cradle, or bassinet in your room, not your bed) for at least the first 6 months of life, since this is when the risk of SIDS is highest. Room-sharing is linked to a lower risk of SIDS and makes nighttime feeding and checking on your baby easier.

Some sources note that keeping baby in your room for the full first year offers even more protection, though the biggest safety benefit is concentrated in those first 6 months. After that point, moving to their own room is considered safe as long as you continue safe sleep practices: back sleeping, a firm flat surface, and no soft bedding, toys, or bumpers in the crib.

One observational study also looked at the flip side: infants moved to their own room before 4 months actually slept longer and had fewer night wakings than those who stayed in a shared room longer, though babies who stayed with a parent longer were more likely to end up bed-sharing (which guidelines advise against). This suggests some tension between sleep-duration outcomes and SIDS-risk guidance, so many pediatricians still favor following the 6-month room-sharing recommendation.

When you do make the move, experts suggest doing it gradually, using the new room for daytime play and naps first, and keeping a consistent bedtime routine so your baby associates the new space with comfort and safety.

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

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