Safe sleeping

Where should my baby sleep?

The safest place for your baby to sleep for the first 6 months is in a clear safe sleeping space, such as a cot or moses basket in the same room as you.

It's very important not to share a bed or other sleep space with your baby if you or your partner:

• are smokers (no matter where or when you smoke)
• have recently drunk alcohol
• are excessively tired
• are drowsy from taking prescription medication
• have recently used drugs

The risks of bed / sleep space sharing are also higher if your baby was:

• premature (born before 37 weeks) 
• a low birth weight (below 2.5kg or 5.5lb)

As well as a higher risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (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 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). If you are sitting with your baby and you feel tired, there is a risk you may fall asleep. It's safest to put your baby back in their cot/moses basket.

The safest place for a baby to sleep is a separate cot, crib or Moses basket. They should have a firm, flat, waterproof mattress.

You should not use:

• pods or nests
• pillows, duvets or thick heavy bedding
• cot bumpers
• hammocks
• sleep positioners

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

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. Fortunately, there are steps parents can take to help reduce to chance of this tragedy occuring. Most SIDS deaths happen when babies are 6 months old or less.

How to reduce the risk of SIDS:

• Place your baby on their back to sleep, in a cot in the same room as you, for the first 6 months.
• Place your baby in the "feet to foot" position with their feet at the end of the cot or Moses basket.
• Don't smoke during pregnancy or after birth and don't let anyone smoke in the same house as your baby.
• Don't share a bed with your baby if you have been drinking alcohol, if you take drugs, or you're a smoker.
• Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair.
• Don't let your baby get too hot or cold. The best room temperature is about 16C - 20C.
• If it's very warm, your baby may not need any bedclothes other than a sheet.
• Keep your baby's head uncovered. Their blanket should be tucked in under their arms, not above shoulder height.
• Babies often have minor illnesses, visit our pages for more information or download the Baby Check app from the Lullaby Trust.
• If your baby is unwell seek medical help.

Bed sharing (co-sleeping)

Babies should sleep in a clear sleep space. A cot or Moses basket is best. We know that some families also bed share. You can try to reduce the risk whether you fall asleep accidentally, or choose to bed share. 

As well as a higher risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (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.

To reduce the risk when bed sharing:

• Keep pillows, sheets, blankets away from your baby. Keep any other items away that could cover your baby’s face and affect their breathing or cause them to overheat. A high number of infants who die as a result of SIDS are found with their head covered by loose bedding.
• Follow all of our other safer sleep advice on this page to reduce the risk of SIDS such as sleeping baby on their back.
• Avoid letting pets or other children also join you in the bed.
• Make sure baby won’t fall out of bed or get trapped between the mattress and the wall.

It is very dangerous to sleep with your baby if:

• Never sleep on a sofa or armchair with your baby. This can increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death by 50 times.
• You or your partner smoke (even if you do not smoke in the bedroom).
• You or your partner has drunk alcohol
• Your or your partner have taken medication or drugs.
• Your baby was born before 37 weeks.
• Your baby weighed 2.5kg or less at birth.

You should never sleep together with your baby if any of the above points apply to you or your partner. 

Visit the Lullaby Trust for more information on reducing the risk of co-sleeping 

Sleeping away from home

You and your child may visit family or friends. It is important to plan how you will create a safe sleep space for your child.

• Plan ahead
• Use a cot or Moses basket
• If using a travel cot it should have rigid sides and base
• An empty drawer placed on the floor could be used as a temporary cot
• Control the temperature of the room. The best temperature is 16C – 20C
• Place your baby on their back to sleep
• Place your baby in the “feet to foot” position with their feet at the end of the cot or Moses basket
• Keep your baby’s head uncovered
• Babies should be taken out of their car seat when you are not travelling. You should take a break every 2 hours and remove your baby from their car seat to let them move around

Where should you seek help?

• If it is non-urgent, speak to your midwife, health visitor, or local community pharmacist
• For an urgent out of hours GP appointment, call NHS 111.
• You should only call 999 or go your nearest A&E department in critical or life threatening situations.