what age can babies sleep with blankets

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is not safe for babies less than 12 months old to sleep with blankets. This is because introducing a blanket into an infants sleep space too early increases the likelihood of accidental suffocation and puts the baby at an increased risk of experiencing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which is the most common cause of infant death. SIDS most frequently affects babies between birth and six months, but deaths may still occur in infants up to 12 months of age. Therefore, it is recommended to wait until the baby is at least 12 months old before introducing a blanket. However, most medical experts feel that soft bedding poses little danger in the crib to healthy babies after 12 months of age and ideally when theyre 18 months or older. It is important to note that loose blankets easily cover a baby’s mouth and nose, restricting breathing, and soft bedding can conform to the shape of the babys face and head, increasing the chance that the baby will breathe in the air they just breathed out, causing rebreathing, which is dangerous during sleep. Therefore, parents can use sleep sacks or wearable blanket sleepers to keep their babies warm and cozy until they are old enough to handle the blanket transition.