It's lovely to have your baby with you for a cuddle or a feed, but it's safest to put them back in their cot before you go to sleep.
The safest place for your baby to sleep for the first 6 months is in a cot, lying on their back, in the same room as you.
Lullaby Trust safer sleep advice gives simple steps for how you can sleep your baby to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) which is commonly known as cot death. It can give you the peace of mind to enjoy this special time. This advice is based on strong scientific evidence and should be followed for all sleep periods, not just at night.
If you have any questions about SIDS or safer sleep, please call The Lullaby Trust information line on 0808 802 6869 (lines open Monday-Friday 10am-2pm) or contact your Midwife or Health Visitor for more support.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby where no cause is found. This is also known as “cot death”. While SIDS is rare, it can still happen and there are steps parents can take to help reduce the chance of this tragedy occurring.
To find out more, please visit The Lullaby Trust Website.
The safest place for your baby to sleep for the first 6 months is in a cot in the same room as you.
It's especially important not to share a bed with your baby if you or your partner:
The risks of bed sharing are also increased if your baby was:
As well as a higher risk of SIDS, there's also a risk you might roll over in your sleep and suffocate your baby. Your baby could get caught between the wall and the bed, or roll out of an adult bed and be injured.
Never sleep with a baby on a sofa or armchair. It's lovely to have your baby with you for a cuddle or a feed, but sleeping with your baby on a sofa or armchair is linked to a higher risk of SIDS. It's safest to put your baby back in their cot/Moses basket before you go to sleep.
It is important to make sure that your baby’s room is a comfortable temperature – not too hot or too cold. The chance of SIDS is higher in babies who get too hot. Try to keep the room temperature between 16 -20°C. Find out more.
Some parents choose to share a bed (also known as co-sleeping) with their babies. It is important for you to know how to do this safely and that there are some circumstances in which bed-sharing with your baby can be very dangerous.
Co-sleeping more safely:
If you are bedsharing with your baby you should consider any risks before every sleep. It is easy for your situation to change if you are unwell or have drunk any alcohol, which means your baby will be safest in a separate sleep space such as a cot or Moses basket on that occasion.
Co-sleeping with your baby is very dangerous if:
In these scenarios, it is always best to put baby in their own safe sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket. Keeping the cot or Moses basket next to your bed might make this easier.
Never fall asleep on a sofa or armchair with your baby. The risk of SIDS is 50 times higher for babies when they sleep on a sofa or armchair with an adult. They are also at risk of accidental death as they can easily slip into a position where they are trapped and can’t breathe.
The safest sleeping position for a baby is on their back so always place your baby on their back to sleep and not on their front or side.
Sleeping your baby on their back (known as the supine position) for every sleep, day and night, is one of the most protective actions you can take to ensure your baby is sleeping as safely as possible.
There is substantial evidence from around the world to show that sleeping your baby on their back at the beginning of every sleep or nap (day and night) significantly reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Visit The Lullaby Trust website to find out more.
Warmer weather can make following safer sleep advice more complicated. The Lullaby Trust have put together some tips on how to enjoy the summer and keep baby safe when the weather is hot.
Visit The Lullaby Trust website to find out more.
We know that the colder months can be difficult for families. You may be worried about the costs of living and have to make difficult choices for you and your family. Or you may be worried about paying your heating bills. You may be concerned about trying to keep your home warm, keeping draughts out and keeping your baby warm.
The recommended room temperature is 16-20 degrees, this may be difficult to maintain in the colder months. It can be tempting to wrap your baby up to keep them warm, however, we know that overheating a baby increases the chances of SIDS (also known as cot death). Research shows babies are better to be cooler than too hot.
Things to avoid:
Visit The Lullaby Trust website for things to consider for your baby and their sleep space during the colder months.
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