Safe sleep advice for parents and carers

Advice about how to keep your baby safe whilst sleeping and help you to relax whilst they sleep.

Sadly, 5 babies each week in the UK die unexpectedly due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). There is no single cause identified for these deaths, but research does tell us about the risk factors to SIDS and how parents/carers can keep their baby as safe as possible whilst sleeping.

Things you can do:

• Always place your baby on their back to sleep
• Keep your baby in smoke-free home during pregnancy and after birth
• Place your baby to sleep in a separate cot or moses basket
• Make sure they are in the same room as you for the first six months
• Breastfeed your baby
• Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition

Things to avoid:

• Never sleep on a sofa or in an armchair with your baby
• Do not sleep in the same bed as your baby if you smoke, drink or take drugs or are extremely tired, 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 whilst sleeping
• Avoid loose bedding

To find out more, visit the Lullaby Trust website.