Sleep Training a 13-Month-Old Who Stands in the Crib
Continue placing your baby on their back to sleep and allow them to remain in whatever position they assume once they can roll both ways, while maintaining a completely bare crib environment to ensure safety. 1
Understanding Normal Development at This Age
At 13 months, your baby standing in the crib is a normal developmental milestone and actually indicates they have the motor skills to reposition themselves during sleep. The AAP recommends continuing to place infants supine (on their back) until 1 year of age, but once an infant can roll from supine to prone AND from prone to supine, they can be allowed to remain in whatever sleep position they assume. 1 Since your 13-month-old can clearly stand, they have well surpassed this rolling milestone.
Critical Safety Priorities During Sleep Training
Maintain a Bare Crib Environment
The most important safety consideration is keeping all soft objects and loose bedding completely removed from the crib, especially now that your baby is mobile and standing. 1, 2 This includes:
- No bumper pads (these contribute to suffocation, entrapment, and strangulation deaths) 1
- No pillows, quilts, comforters, or loose blankets 1, 2
- No stuffed toys or pillow-like objects 1
- Use sleep clothing like a wearable blanket instead of loose blankets 1
Some caregivers mistakenly use bedding to try to prevent an infant from rolling or standing, but this bedding can cause suffocation and entrapment. 1
Ensure Proper Crib Safety Standards
Your crib must meet current Consumer Product Safety Commission standards, including: 1
- Slat spacing less than 2-3/8 inches
- Firm, snugly fitting mattress
- No drop sides
- No missing hardware or broken components
- Check that the crib has not been recalled
Research shows that many children between 12.5 and 36.5 months can climb out of cribs with the minimum 26-inch side rail height, with 90% climbing from corners and 10% climbing over the sides. 3, 4 Ensure your crib meets current height standards and has no corner post extensions that could create catch points. 4
Sleep Training Approach
Placement Strategy
- Always place your baby on their back initially, even though they will likely stand up immediately. 1, 2 This maintains the safest initial positioning.
- Do not try to force them to stay down or use any devices/bedding to restrict their movement 1
- Once placed supine, if they stand or move to another position, allow them to remain in whatever position they assume. 1
Reassurance About Safety
Parents can be reassured that the incidence of SIDS begins to decline significantly after 4 months of age. 1 At 13 months, your baby is well past the highest-risk period for sleep-related deaths, which peaks in the first 6 months. 1
Room-Sharing Considerations
The AAP recommends room-sharing (infant sleeping in parents' room on separate surface) ideally for the first year of life, but emphasizes the first 6 months are particularly critical. 1, 2 At 13 months, if you choose to transition to a separate room, this is past the highest-risk period, though room-sharing can continue to facilitate monitoring and nighttime care. 1
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Never place your baby on a couch or armchair for sleep, as these are extremely dangerous and place infants at extraordinarily high risk of death. 1
- Do not elevate the head of the crib (this is ineffective and may cause the baby to slide into a compromised position) 1, 2
- Avoid using car seats, swings, or other sitting devices for routine sleep 1
- If you bring the baby into your bed for nighttime feeding or comforting, return them to their own crib when you're ready to sleep. 1, 2
Marketing Awareness
Be aware that approximately half of retail crib displays and 35% of current magazine advertisements depict unsafe sleep environments that don't adhere to AAP guidelines, most commonly showing bumper pads and loose bedding. 5 Don't let marketing influence you to add unsafe items to the crib.