Your Toughest Baby Product Questions—Answered!

The absolute safest place for a baby to sleep is a full-size crib because it's subject to federal safety standards, says Laura Reno, director of public affairs for First Candle/SIDS Alliance, in Baltimore, Maryland. Moses baskets, bassinets, and co-sleepers aren't subject to the same regulations.

To reduce the risk of suffocation, SIDS, and entrapment, a crib should have a firm, tight-fitting mattress and top sheet with nothing else—no blankets, stuffed animals, or other toys. If you decide to use crib bumpers, which aren't necessary, says Reno, they should be meshy and tight-secured.

According to recently-revised recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), it's best to place the crib in your bedroom; Reno recommends that arrangement until your baby is at least six months old. After that, it's fine to move the crib to the nursery, she says. To keep your baby warm, dress your baby in a sleep sack or footed sleeper, with layers underneath if necessary.