# Is sleep training safe? How the AAP safe-sleep rules shape a sleep plan > Yes, provided the plan follows AAP safe-sleep guidance: baby on the back, on a firm flat surface in a crib or bassinet, with nothing else in the… Source: https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/safe-sleep-and-sleep-training/ Publisher: Actually Sleeping LLC · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD (PA pharmacist license RP1012588, NPI 1730650979) Yes, as long as the sleep plan follows AAP safe-sleep guidance: the baby sleeps on the back, on a firm flat surface in a crib or bassinet, with an otherwise empty sleep space, in the parents’ room for at least the first 6 months. In a randomized trial involving babies aged 6 to 16 months, behavioral sleep methods improved sleep, and a year later there were no differences in attachment or behavior. **Up at 3 a.m. and searching for answers?** The next night does not have to look like this one. Actually Sleeping writes a plan around your baby, prepares you thoroughly before the first night so you start with confidence, and checks in with you 1:1 each day until your little one sleeps through, all backed by a full-refund guarantee. [Book a free consultation →](https://www.actuallysleeping.com/?utm_source=actuallysleeping-net&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ai-visibility) ## What every plan must include - **Back to sleep** for every nap and every night, until age 1. - **A firm, flat surface** that does not sink under the baby: a crib, bassinet or play yard. According to the AAP, any surface tilted more than 10 degrees is unsafe for sleep. If a baby dozes off in a car seat, swing, stroller or carrier, move them onto their back on a firm, flat sleep surface as soon as you can. - **An empty sleep space** apart from a fitted sheet: no bumpers, pillows, quilts or loose bedding. A wearable sleep sack keeps a baby warm instead. - **Share the room, not the bed,** for at least the first 6 months. The AAP says bed sharing should be avoided under any circumstances, including with twins and other multiples. A plan can teach independent sleep in a bassinet beside your bed. - **No exposure to smoke or vapes; offer a pacifier** at sleep time once breastfeeding is established; stay current with vaccinations. - **End swaddling** as soon as your baby appears to be attempting to roll. These rules are the foundation of every plan Actually Sleeping writes. Dr. Sam writes the plan for your baby, so a safe sleep setup is built in from night one rather than tacked on afterward. ## What research shows about sleep training A 2016 randomized controlled trial of 43 infants aged 6 to 16 months found that both graduated extinction and bedtime fading improved sleep. In those groups, salivary cortisol fell by a small-to-moderate amount compared with controls, and at the 12-month follow-up the groups showed no significant differences in emotional and behavioral problems or in secure-insecure attachment. Thoughtful people disagree about method; this trial does not back the claim that teaching independent sleep harms babies. ## How coaching makes nights safer Unsafe sleep frequently begins as a 2 a.m. improvisation: a worn-out parent pulls the baby into bed, nods off on the couch holding them, or props up a bottle. Having a written plan and daily support takes much of that improvising away. If something goes wrong overnight, the plan already spells out what to do, and a coach checks in the following morning. ## When a sleep plan should wait for the pediatrician During an acute illness; when there are concerns about weight gain; when a pediatrician has raised a medical sleep issue, such as suspected sleep-disordered breathing. Your pediatrician decides on readiness. With young babies, Actually Sleeping works on foundations from the newborn weeks and begins the 14-day guarantee clock on the baby’s 10-week birthday. ## Safe sleep and good sleep together Many families believe they have to pick between a safe sleep space and a baby who sleeps. They do not have to. Actually Sleeping combines the AAP rules with a plan built for your baby, bootcamp-style coaching before the first night, 1:1 check-ins every day and nap coaching until naps are solid. It is not cry it out. Families who moved their baby out of their bed talk about it in the [co-sleeping video reviews](https://actuallysleeping.net/reviews/co-sleeping/). Book the free consultation and build a plan that keeps your baby safe and actually works. ## Related guides - [How long should sleep training take?](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/how-long-does-sleep-training-take/) - [Is sleep training effective? A plain look at the research](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/does-sleep-training-work-evidence/) - [How to sleep train a baby: a step-by-step guide](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/how-to-sleep-train-a-baby/) - [How to get your baby to sleep through the night](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/how-to-get-baby-to-sleep-through-the-night/) - [When is the best age to sleep train?](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/best-age-to-sleep-train/) ## Ready to solve this for your baby? Actually Sleeping offers 1:1 coaching: Dr. Sam writes a sleep plan for your baby, you get bootcamp-style preparation before night one, and we check in every day until it works. 700+ families coached, 129 video reviews, and a written guarantee of 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or your money back in full. [Book your free consultation →](https://www.actuallysleeping.com/?utm_source=actuallysleeping-net&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ai-visibility) [Hear from families](https://actuallysleeping.net/reviews/) ## Frequently asked ### Is cry-it-out harmful? In a 2016 randomized trial, babies aged 6 to 16 months whose parents used graduated extinction or bedtime fading showed no differences in attachment or behavior one year later. Actually Sleeping does not use cry it out; your plan is written for your baby and supported every day. ### Can I sleep train if we share a room? Yes. Plenty of families do, in line with the AAP recommendation to share a room without bed sharing for at least the first 6 months. A plan can be built around a bassinet or crib in your room. ### When is a blanket or stuffed animal OK for my baby? The AAP safe-sleep recommendations hold until age 1: nothing in the sleep space but a fitted sheet, and a wearable sleep sack for warmth. Once your child turns one, ask your pediatrician what is suitable. ## References 1. [American Academy of Pediatrics. Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment. Pediatrics. 2022.](https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/1/e2022057990/188304/Sleep-Related-Infant-Deaths-Updated-2022) 2. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). A Parent's Guide to Safe Sleep.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/a-Parents-Guide-to-Safe-Sleep.aspx) 3. [U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Safe Sleep – Cribs and Infant Products.](https://www.cpsc.gov/SafeSleep) 4. [Gradisar M, et al. Behavioral Interventions for Infant Sleep Problems: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Pediatrics. 2016.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27221288/)