Safer Sleep for babies: the basics

The safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own cot or Moses basket. On an empty, flat and firm mattress in the same room as mum or dad.

Things you can do:

• Lie your baby on their back to sleep
• Keep their cot clear - no teddies, toys or loose blankets
• Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress
• Keep baby smoke-free in pregnancy and do not smoke or let anyone else smoke around your baby or in your home
• Avoid your baby getting too hot
• Sleep your baby in the same room as you for at least the first six months
• Breast feed your baby if possible

Things to avoid:

• Never sleep on a sofa or armchair with your baby, be extra careful not to do it by accident when you are tired. (SIDs is 50 times more likely if parents do this)
• Don’t sleep in the same bed as your baby if you smoke, drink or take drugs or if your baby was born prematurely or was of low birth weight
• Avoid letting your baby get too hot Don’t cover your baby’s face or head while sleeping or use loose bedding
• Avoid smoking during pregnancy and exposure to other people’s smoke. Once baby has arrived, do not let anyone smoke around your baby or in your home.

The safest place for your baby to sleep is in their own separate sleep space free from toys, blankets and pillows. This helps lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. But many parents find themselves co-sleeping whether they mean to or they fall asleep together unintentionally. Wherever you’re planning for your baby to sleep we recommend making your bed as safe as possible for your baby.

Co-sleeping with your baby is DANGEROUS if:

• You or anyone in bed has recently drunk ANY alcohol
• You or anyone in the bed smokes or the baby was exposed to smoking in pregnancy
• You or anyone in the bed has taken any drugs or medication that make you feel sleepy
• Your baby was premature (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or weighed under 2.5kg or 5.5 pounds when they were born

Things to do:

• Keep pillows and adult bedding away from the baby along with any other items that could potentially cover their head or cause them to overheat
• Removed slatted or decorated headboards
• Follow the safer sleep advice earlier i.e. sleeping baby on their back
• Don’t sleep with other children or pets as well- this will reduce the risk of accidents
• Check that baby cannot be trapped in the bedframe or headboard, fall out of bed or get trapped or wedged between the mattress and the wall
• Never leave your baby alone in an adult bed