Newborn sleep safety

Where should my baby sleep?

A cot or Moses basket is the safest place for your baby to sleep. The sleeping surface should be firm, flat, and waterproof. The sleeping space should be kept clear and nothing soft should be near your baby’s head that can be pulled over the head or face. For at least the first 6 months, it is best to sleep in the same room as your baby.

What is the safest way for my baby to sleep?

It is safest for babies to sleep on their back. Always keep your baby’s head uncovered. Tuck any blanket under your baby’s arms so the blanket cannot move up and cover their head. Your baby’s feet should touch the end of the cot in the “feet-to-foot” position. Babies do not need pillows, so these are best avoided.

Sleeping bags designed for babies are available and are a safe way for your baby to sleep. These should fit well around the shoulder so there is no chance of your baby’s head slipping down inside the sleeping bag. Sleeping bags have a “tog” rating which tell you the warmth they will provide.

What temperature is best for my baby?

A normal room temperature of somewhere between 16-20 degrees Celsius is appropriate for the room your baby sleeps in. There is normally no need to increase the temperature of the room higher than this. The easiest way to help your baby get to the right temperature is to add or remove extra layers, such as with blankets. It is not recommended to increase a room’s temperature beyond the range of 16-20 degrees to warm up your baby.

Is co-sleeping with my baby safe?

Co-sleeping is where you and your baby sleep next to each other in the same space. This could be sleeping in the same bed as your baby, or sleeping sat on a chair or sofa with your baby on your lap. It is normal to cuddle your baby in these places, and as parents to a newborn baby you are likely to be tired, however it is safest to place your baby back in their own cot to sleep.
It is particularly important not to co-sleep with your baby if you have drunk any alcohol, have been smoking, taken recreational drugs, taken any medication causing drowsiness, or are extremely tired.
It is not recommended to co-sleep with your baby if they were premature (born before 37 weeks). It is also safest to avoid co-sleeping with your baby if they are unwell.
It is best not to let your baby co-sleep with other children or animals.

Is it safe to let my baby sleep in a car seat?

It is best to not let baby to sleep for too long in a car seat. Whenever this is unavoidable, it is best to take your baby out of the car seat as soon as you get to your destination and let them sleep on a firm, flat, dry surface.
Babies must be secured in their own specialised car seat whenever they travel in cars. It is not safe to travel with a baby in your lap during car journeys.

What is SIDS and what can I do?

SIDS stands for sudden infant death syndrome. A small number of babies in the UK suddenly die each year with no explanation. There have been many studies looking into the best ways to lower the chance of SIDS.

Some ways to lower the chance of SIDS are:

• Not smoking during pregnancy
• Not smoking in the same household as your baby
• Making sure your baby sleeps on their back
• Try to avoid co-sleeping with your baby, especially on a chair or sofa
• Never co-sleep with your baby if you have had any amount of alcohol, smoked, taken recreational drugs, medications that make you drowsy, or you are extremely tired
• It is best not to co-sleep with your baby if they are unwell
• It is best not to co-sleep with your baby if they were born premature (before 37 weeks)
• It is best to sleep in the same room as your baby for the first 6 months
• Keep your baby’s head uncovered – tuck any blankets under your baby’s arms so the blankets cannot move up and cover the head
• Position your baby’s feet at the end of the cot in the “feet-to-foot” position
• Do not let your baby get too hot or too cold – add or remove layers to warm up or cool down your baby as needed
• Breast-feeding is linked to a lower rate of SIDS; this is true for even short periods of breast-feeding and if you also give your baby formula