Skip to main content

When is it safe for your child to sleep with stuffed animals? Count on waiting longer than expected

The risks that come with baby sleeping with stuffed animals

Image used with permission by copyright holder

It seems almost unfair that bedraggled parents should be denied the simple pleasure of watching their adorable little one snuggle up with an only slightly less adorable stuffed animal — especially if it’s an effective solution in crib-training your baby.

Nevertheless, the truth is that the science is clear, and according to the data, it is simply too risky to allow stuffed animals in your baby’s crib or other sleeping place.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that babies not sleep with stuffed animals until they turn 1 year old. The AAP recommends against any object “that could increase the risk of entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation.” That includes stuffed animals.

Here’s everything you need to know about the risk, and how you can start incorporating stuffed animals as safely as possible after your baby’s first birthday has come and gone.

A baby sleeping in a crib
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Why is it unsafe for babies to sleep with stuffed animals? And how you can keep the sleeping space safe

The specific risk has to do with the fact that more than 3,500 babies in the U.S. die suddenly and unexpectedly every year while sleeping, be it from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or an accidental cause like suffocation or strangulation.

Medical experts define SIDS as the sudden and unexplained death of a child who is younger than 1 year of age. The exact cause of SIDS is unknown, and likewise, there is no known cure. However, some scientific studies have indicated that various factors in a baby’s living environment may increase the risk. This may include sleeping on the stomach or side, overheating, and exposure to tobacco smoke. Accidental suffocation from soft objects or co-sleeping (i.e., sharing a bed) may also play a role.

In an effort to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths, the AAP has released detailed guidance to raise awareness of the risks and what to do about it. In addition to stuffed animals, here are some other items that, according to the academy, should be kept out of a baby’s sleeping place:

  • Pillows
  • Quilts
  • Comforters
  • Sheepskins
  • Blankets
  • Toys
  • Bumper pads or other products that attach to the crib

Baby In swaddle sleeping

What if I’m concerned my baby will get cold? How you can safely maintain a comfortable sleep atmosphere

In cases where being cold is a concern, extra clothing is OK, but limit the layering to one more than the number of layers your baby is wearing. Swaddling is also OK as long as you place baby on their back.

A sleeping baby with a blanket in a crib
Africa Studio/Shutterstock

What stuffed animals are OK once it’s safe and which ones should I avoid?

The first birthday is listed as the cutoff, after which babies can sleep with stuffed animals. But what kinds of stuffed friends should not be allowed in the crib, or pose potential hazards outside those connected to sleep-related infant deaths?

A baby and a crib mobile
wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock

There are many options you can do to make sure you’re selecting the right stuffed animal for your baby. Although the science remains inconclusive on many of these items and the chances of a tragedy are low, it never hurts to make a more informed decision.

Things to be aware of include:

  • Make sure the stuffed animal is nontoxic and hypoallergenic — on the inside as well as the outside.
  • Look for well-made products. Before you bring home that stuffed canary from the arcade, check to see how it’s constructed and what it’s made of. Cheap toys can tear open and spill stuffing everywhere, which, on top of making a mess, can pose a choking hazard.
  • Avoid PVC and vinyl. Some stuffed animal parts may be made with these substances, such as eyes or a music crank. The problem is that PVC can contain various toxins like chlorine, lead, and heavy metals.
  • Watch out for phthalates. These chemicals can help make materials softer and plastic more pliable and are used in everything from raincoats to detergents. But they also may be toxic, especially to younger children. To be clear, science has not yet found a link between human health and exposure to phthalates. Still, it may be better to play it safe.
  • Choose natural materials. Step out of the chemical lab and instead opt for fabrics and other materials made from sustainable and organic cotton, wool, bamboo, and hemp. They’re safer choices and benefit the planet in the process.
  • Natural dyes and colors. Similarly, a growing number of manufacturers use plant-based dyes and pigments. These tend to be nontoxic options.

At the end of the day, make the decision that best fits your unique circumstances. But be aware of your baby’s sleep space and playthings to help maximize safety and avoid unnecessary risks.

Editors' Recommendations

Scott Harris
Scott Harris is a freelance writer based near Washington, DC, with more than a decade of experience covering health…
Does your baby sleep with their mouth open? What to know about mouth breathing in babies
Mouth breathing in babies could be an indicator of mild to serious health concerns
Baby sleeping in a bed with their mouth open

Your adorable sleeping baby is so sweet to watch, but how they sleep can also be an indicator of a more serious issue, like if your baby sleeps with their mouth open. Mouth breathing in babies can be a warning sign for certain health issues like sleep apnea. If your baby sleeps with their mouth open, you'll want to bring it up with your baby's pediatrician.
There are a few potential causes of mouth breathing in babies and different ways to resolve each one. It's important to get the correct information about mouth breathing in babies and to bring it to the attention of your pediatrician. You can then take any necessary steps so you and your baby can both sleep more soundly.

What causes mouth breathing in babies?
There are a few different reasons a baby may breathe through their mouth while they are sleeping. Some are temporary reasons that aren't red flags while other causes mean you'll want to follow up with your pediatrician.
Babies don't naturally breathe through their mouths while asleep. If there is an obstruction to a newborn baby's nose, they would be more likely to wake up rather than switch to mouth breathing because of their facial anatomy at that stage of development.
First, if your baby has a stuffed-up nose from a cold or allergies, they won't have another option but to breathe through the mouth until the nose opens back up. Usually, a baby will go right back to sleeping with a closed mouth once the congestion clears. Sometimes, mouth breathing becomes a habit after a cold.
Another reason for mouth breathing is a condition called sleep apnea, in which the upper airway is obstructed. Mouth breathing during sleep is one symptom of sleep apnea in addition to snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep, and restless sleep. While sleep apnea in adults usually causes them to be tired during the day and to gain weight, in children it more often causes them to have behavioral problems and to get enlarged tonsils or adenoids. The enlarged tonsils or adenoids may also be the cause of sleep apnea.
Risk factors for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea include obesity, Down syndrome, abnormalities in the skull or face, cerebral palsy, sickle cell disease, neuromuscular disease, a history of low birth weight, and a family history of obstructive sleep apnea. Your baby may have also been born with a deviated septum, which is an abnormality in the cartilage and bone that separates the nostrils. This can lead to trouble breathing through the nose when asleep.

Read more
When do babies start talking? Should you be concerned if yours isn’t?
Learn why baby babbling is music to a parent's ears
Father talking to his infant child

Baby's first year is such an exciting time. As new parents, we are amazed at all those milestones, like rolling over and baby's first smile. One milestone many parents anxiously await is baby's first words. Will it be "mama" or "dada?" The more important question, though, may be, "When do babies start talking?"

A baby' speech development actually begins at birth. The sounds they hear, including their parents, talking is a vital step in speech development. So, when should your baby be saying those exciting first words, and should you be worried if yours isn't talking yet?
When do babies start talking?
As with all of those memorable milestones, when a baby begins to talk falls within a range. Most babies will say that treasured first word somewhere between 12 and 18 months. Once that first word comes out, it won't be long before baby is putting small words together like "up ma."

Read more
What is the Ferber Method, and is sleep training safe for my baby?
Is sleep training using the Ferber Method right for your child? Learn more here
A baby awake in their crib in a sleep sack.

One thing every parent has in common is sleep deprivation. No one really tells you before you welcome your bundle of joy just how sleepless your nights, days, and everything in between can be with a new baby in the house, but it doesn't take long to learn the hard way. Getting your baby to sleep can be a struggle, which is why many parents choose to sleep train their baby, often using the Ferber Method.
The Ferber Method is named for Richard Ferber, M.D., a pediatrician who created the method in the mid-80s and based his 1985 bestselling book,

 on his methodology. If you've been struggling with sleep deprivation and are eager to get just a few hours of uninterrupted sleep, sleep training may be something to consider.

Read more