Preparing for your baby's arrival comes with plenty of questions, and knowing how to help your little one sleep safely is one of the most important things to learn.
From choosing the right mattress to deciding what your baby should wear to bed, there is a lot of information to take in. The good news is that safer sleep doesn't need to be complicated. Following a few key recommendations for every sleep, day and night, can help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
At Pramworld, we want parents to feel confident when choosing their baby's sleep essentials. That's why we've put together this practical guide, based on the safer sleep advice from The Lullaby Trust, covering sleeping positions, cot safety, room temperature and the products your baby needs.
What Is Safer Sleep?
Safer sleep means following evidence-based advice to create the safest possible sleeping environment for your baby and reduce the risk of SIDS.
The Lullaby Trust recommends six key steps:
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep.
- Keep your baby's sleep space clear.
- Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress.
- Keep your baby smoke-free.
- Avoid letting your baby get too hot.
- Keep your baby sleeping in the same room as you for at least the first six months.
These recommendations apply to every sleep, including daytime naps and overnight sleep.
- Always Put Your Baby on Their Back to Sleep
The safest sleeping position for your baby is on their back, for every sleep, day and night.
Place your baby on their back when putting them down in their cot, crib, Moses basket or another suitable sleep space. Sleeping babies on their front or side increases the risk of SIDS.
Once your baby can roll from their back to their front and back again independently, continue to place them on their back at the start of every sleep. You don't need to keep turning them back if they change position themselves.
If your baby has a medical condition that affects their sleeping position, follow advice from your healthcare professional.
- Keep Your Baby's Cot Clear
When preparing your baby's sleep space, remember that a clear cot is the safest cot.
Soft toys, pillows, loose bedding and other unnecessary items can cover your baby's face or obstruct their breathing. Keeping the sleep space clear helps reduce these risks.
For safer sleep, avoid putting the following in your baby's cot:
- Pillows and duvets.
- Cot bumpers.
- Soft toys and comforters.
- Weighted blankets or weighted sleep products.
- Sleep positioners, wedges or straps designed to keep your baby in one position.
- Baby nests, pods or other soft products placed on the mattress.
Your baby needs a suitable, firm, flat mattress with a waterproof cover, alongside appropriate lightweight bedding if used. Follow the guidance for your chosen sleep space and bedding.
A fitted sheet should fit securely around the mattress, without loose fabric.
What About Baby Sleep Accessories?
It can be tempting to add extra items to make your baby's cot look cosy, but appearance should never take priority over safety.
The Lullaby Trust advises against products such as baby nests and sleep positioners for routine sleep. There is no need to add pillows, padded accessories or products claiming to keep your baby in a particular sleeping position.
When choosing nursery products, focus on the essentials and always check how each item is intended to be used.
- Choose a Firm, Flat Mattress
Your baby's mattress is one of the most important items in their sleep space.
Choose a mattress that is firm, flat and waterproof, and make sure it fits the cot, crib or Moses basket correctly, with no gaps around the edges.
Avoid mattresses that are soft, sagging, inclined or uneven. Do not raise one end of the mattress or use wedges to prop your baby up, even if they have reflux, unless a healthcare professional has given you specific medical advice.
A waterproof mattress cover can help keep the mattress clean and dry. Always use it as directed and make sure the sleep surface remains firm and flat.
When buying a cot mattress, check the manufacturer's size and compatibility guidance rather than assuming one mattress will fit every cot.
- Keep Your Baby in the Same Room as You for the First Six Months
The Lullaby Trust recommends that your baby sleeps in the same room as you for at least the first six months, for both daytime and overnight sleep.
Your baby should have their own separate sleep space, such as a cot, crib or Moses basket, positioned in the same room as you.
Room-sharing makes it easier to respond to your baby when they need you and is associated with a lower risk of SIDS compared with babies sleeping in a separate room.
This is worth considering when planning your nursery. Even if you've created a beautiful nursery, you may need a suitable sleep space beside your bed during those first six months.
A bedside crib, Moses basket or compact cot may be useful, depending on your space and your family's needs. Always check that the product is designed for your intended use and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Avoid Overheating
Babies can overheat if they become too warm, and overheating is associated with an increased risk of SIDS.
The Lullaby Trust recommends a room temperature of 16–20°C as a guide. A room thermometer can help you monitor the temperature where your baby sleeps.
Every baby is different, so check your baby regularly rather than relying on the room temperature alone.
How Should You Dress Your Baby for Sleep?
Choose sleepwear and bedding that are appropriate for the room temperature.
- Avoid dressing your baby in too many layers.
- Do not put a hat on your baby indoors while they sleep.
- Avoid duvets, quilts and bulky bedding.
- If using a baby sleep bag, choose the correct size and tog for your baby's weight and the room temperature, following the manufacturer's guidance.
- Check your baby's chest or the back of their neck to see whether they feel hot or sweaty. Their hands and feet may feel cooler, which is normal.
If your baby feels hot or sweaty, remove a layer and check them again.
Are Baby Sleeping Bags Safe?
A suitable baby sleeping bag can be a useful alternative to loose bedding, provided it is the correct size and used according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Check the recommended weight range, neck and arm openings, and tog rating. Your baby should not be able to slip down inside the bag, and the bag should not be too warm for the room.
Never use a weighted sleeping bag or weighted sleep product for your baby.
- Keep Your Baby Smoke-Free
Exposure to cigarette smoke increases the risk of SIDS. Keeping your baby away from smoke is an important part of safer sleep, both during pregnancy and after birth.
Avoid smoking around your baby or in your home and car. If you or anyone in your household smokes, follow NHS and The Lullaby Trust guidance on reducing your baby's exposure.
The Lullaby Trust also advises against sharing a bed with your baby if you or your partner smoke, even if you don't smoke in the bedroom.
- Never Fall Asleep with Your Baby on a Sofa or Armchair
Holding your baby for a cuddle or feed is a special part of early parenthood. However, it's important to think about where you are sitting, particularly when you're tired.
Falling asleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair is dangerous and significantly increases the risk of SIDS and accidental suffocation.
If you feel sleepy while feeding or cuddling your baby, place them in their own safe sleep space before you fall asleep.
This is particularly important during night feeds, when exhaustion can make it easy to drift off without meaning to.
A comfortable nursing chair can be useful for feeding, but it should never be treated as a place for you and your baby to sleep together.
- What Should You Know About Co-Sleeping?
Co-sleeping can mean sharing a bed with your baby or falling asleep together unintentionally. The safest place for your baby to sleep is in their own clear, flat, firm, separate sleep space in the same room as you.
The Lullaby Trust recommends that parents understand the risks associated with bed-sharing, even if they do not intend to do it. This is particularly important because parents can fall asleep unexpectedly while feeding or comforting their baby.
Bed-sharing is especially dangerous if:
- You or your partner smoke.
- You or your partner have consumed alcohol.
- You or your partner have taken drugs or medication that causes drowsiness.
- You are extremely tired.
- Your baby was born prematurely or had a low birth weight.
Never fall asleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair.
For detailed advice about co-sleeping and circumstances in which bed-sharing is particularly dangerous, read The Lullaby Trust's co-sleeping guidance.
- What About Dummies, Swaddling and Baby Monitors?
Parents often have questions about products that claim to help babies sleep. It's important to understand how they should be used and whether they are appropriate for your baby.
Dummies
The Lullaby Trust provides guidance on dummy use as part of its safer sleep advice. If you choose to offer a dummy, follow current guidance and your baby's needs. Never force your baby to take one, and don't attach it to clothing, bedding or a soft toy while they sleep.
For more detail, consult The Lullaby Trust's official safer sleep information.
Swaddling
If you choose to swaddle your baby, follow current NHS and The Lullaby Trust advice and the product instructions carefully. Always place a swaddled baby on their back to sleep, avoid overheating and stop swaddling as soon as they show signs of trying to roll.
Never use weighted swaddles or weighted sleep products.
Baby Monitors and Sleep Gadgets
A baby monitor may help you hear or see your baby while they sleep, but it does not replace safer sleep practices or having your baby sleep in the same room as you for at least the first six months.
The Lullaby Trust advises parents to be cautious about products that claim to prevent SIDS or reduce its risk. No monitor, sensor or sleep gadget can replace the recommended safer sleep steps.
- A Simple Safer Sleep Checklist
Before each sleep, use this checklist to help you remember the essentials.
- Place your baby on their back.
- Use a separate sleep space with a firm, flat mattress.
- Keep the cot clear of pillows, soft toys, bumpers and other unnecessary items.
- Check that the mattress and fitted sheet fit correctly.
- Dress your baby appropriately for the room temperature.
- Keep the room at a comfortable temperature, using 16–20°C as a guide.
- Keep your baby smoke-free.
- Keep your baby sleeping in the same room as you for at least the first six months.
- If you feel sleepy while holding your baby, place them in their own safe sleep space.
These steps are intended to make safer sleep easier to follow every day. If you're ever unsure about a product or your baby's sleeping arrangements, check the official guidance before using it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Safer Sleep
What is the safest sleeping position for a baby?
The safest position is on their back for every sleep, day and night. Once your baby can roll independently from back to front and back again, continue placing them on their back at the start of each sleep.
What temperature should a baby's room be?
The Lullaby Trust recommends a room temperature of 16–20°C as a guide. Check your baby regularly for signs of overheating, such as a hot or sweaty chest or neck.
How long should my baby sleep in the same room as me?
Your baby should sleep in the same room as you, in their own separate sleep space, for at least the first six months.
Can my baby sleep with a blanket?
If using blankets, follow safer sleep guidance and ensure they are lightweight, firmly tucked in and no higher than your baby's shoulders, with their feet positioned at the foot of the cot. Do not use duvets or bulky bedding. A correctly sized baby sleeping bag may be an alternative.
Are baby nests safe for overnight sleep?
The Lullaby Trust advises against baby nests and pods for routine sleep. Choose a suitable, separate sleep space with a firm, flat mattress instead.
Can I let my baby sleep in their car seat at home?
An infant carrier is designed primarily for car travel, not as a routine sleep space outside the car. When you reach your destination, take your baby out of the carrier and place them in a suitable, flat sleep space if they need to continue sleeping.
Can a baby sleep in a Moses basket?
Yes, provided the Moses basket is suitable for your baby's age and size, is used according to the manufacturer's instructions and provides a firm, flat sleep surface. Keep it clear of unnecessary items and place it in the same room as you for at least the first six months.
Does a baby monitor prevent SIDS?
No. A baby monitor cannot prevent SIDS and should never replace safer sleep guidance. Follow the recommended steps for every sleep, regardless of whether you use a monitor.
Final Thoughts: Make Safer Sleep Part of Every Day
Safer sleep is about building simple, consistent habits rather than buying lots of products. Always place your baby on their back, keep their sleep space clear, use a firm and flat mattress, avoid overheating and keep them in the same room as you for at least the first six months.
When choosing your baby's cot, mattress, Moses basket or sleeping bag, look for products that meet your needs and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Extra accessories are not a substitute for the basics.
At Pramworld, we want parents to feel informed and confident as they prepare for their new arrival. For more detailed advice, visit The Lullaby Trust's official safer sleep information and speak to your midwife or health visitor if you have questions about your baby's individual needs.