These tips will keep your baby safe and sound while sleeping.

Let your baby sleep unencumbered. Don't wrap your bundle of joy in blankets or comforters when he's in the crib. He can quickly become entangled and might not be able to free himself. Pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed animals or dolls don't belong in the bassinet or crib. And remember that babies can quickly overheat. Put yours to sleep in lightweight clothes and set the thermostat at a comfortable 70 degrees. Infant sleepwear should fit snuggly and be made of flame-resistant fabric, with no drawstrings, ribbons, or anything else that might catch on something. Buttons and snaps should be firmly attached to avoid becoming a choking hazard. (See bare cribs are safest for babies.)

Use the proper sheets. Use ones made to fit the mattress in your crib, bassinet or play yard. If a sheet isn't the correct fit, your baby may pull it up and become entangled. Test the sheet by pulling up on each corner to make sure it doesn't pop off the mattress corner.

Always put your baby to sleep on his back, not his stomach, to minimize the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and rebreathing, a sometimes fatal circumstance that can occur when a baby is sleeping on his stomach or trapped in soft bedding. As a result the child "rebreathes" his own carbon dioxide rather than breathing in oxygen-rich fresh air. The lack of oxygen can cause death.

Don't use a sleep positioner to keep your baby on his or her back. Many sleep positioner models, including some made of memory foam, can be lethal; if the infant moves down and presses his or her face against the soft surface, the air passages can be blocked, causing suffocation. Or, babies can "rebreathe" their own carbon dioxide, potentially causing SIDS. (See 5 products not to buy for baby.)