how to guides
Everything you need to know about sleep safety for your baby
This page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.
If you have a newborn or young baby, talking about SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is terrifying, but necessary.
There are steps that you can take to reduce the risk – and we've pulled together all the essential advice so your baby can sleep as safely as possible: see our guide, below.
Our favourite safe sleeping buys:
1. SnuzPouch 0-6m Sleeping Bag 2.5 Tog
*2.5 tog for all year round comfort
*Clever zip for easier nappy changing access
*Made from OEKO-TEX 100 certified cotton which can be machine-washed and tumble-dried
Baby sleeping bags like this one by Snuzpod are the ideal bedding for newborns and older babies, as they keep them cosy without any danger of overheating. Always choose the right thickness (tog rating) for the time of year.
2. Evoluna i-Size 2
*Suitable from birth to around 15 months old
*Can be reclined completely flat for better comfort and to aid breathing and spine development
*Enhanced side impact protection thanks to a large energy-absorbing layer
You can buy lie-flat car seats, which are useful if you travel long distances frequently with your family. The Evoluna i-Size car seat by Kiddy can lie flat both in and out of the car, so you can be reassured that your newborn is travelling as safely as possible.
3. GroEgg
*Changes colour with the temperature of the room
*Digital thermometer with large, easy to read display
*Gentle night light with three different light levels
The GroEgg room thermometer not only monitors the temperature in your baby's room - it acts as a nightlight, too. It also glows red or blue if the room temperature is too hot or cold.
1. Put baby to sleep on their back
When experts recommended that babies be placed to sleep on their back in the early 1990s, the rate of death from SIDS dropped dramatically. Statistics are now over 50% lower.
This is because babies who sleep on their front are more likely to overheat, have pauses in breathing, and rebreathe air they have just inhaled, which is low in oxygen.
Placing your baby to sleep on their back until they are at least 12 months is sound advice for protecting your baby – and you should make sure that relatives and babysitters know the rules, too.
Once your baby starts rolling at five or six months old, you will find them in all sorts of different positions.
There is no need to panic, as their risk of SIDS has started to drop by this age, but it is worth moving them to their back when you find them in a different position.
It's also best to place your baby in the "feet to foot" position, with their feet at the end of their cot or Moses basket, according to the NHS.
2. Choose safe bedding
There have been several studies that link a higher risk of SIDS to soft sleeping surfaces, such as beanbags, sofas, comforters, waterbeds, and quilts. The NHS advises not to use duvets, quilts, baby nests, wedges, bedding rolls or pillows when your baby sleeps.
You should use a baby mattress that is firm, flat, well-fitting, clean and waterproof on the outside. Cover the mattress with nothing but a single well-fitted sheet.
Avoid using blankets and instead choose a sleeping bag that will keep your baby warm without any risk of their head becoming covered.
The "feet to foot" position will also help to prevent your baby from wriggling under the covers and their head becoming covered.
Never place soft toys inside the cot and avoid cot bumpers, which pose a risk to your baby and prevent air circulating freely.
Learn more about choosing baby bedding.
3. Avoid sleep positioners
You will find various sleep positioners on sale that promise to keep your baby on their back throughout the night.
The official advice is not to use them, after a spate of infant deaths through suffocation. Instead, make a habit of checking your baby regularly.
4. Let baby sleep in their own bed
According to the NHS, there is an association between co-sleeping with your baby on a bed, sofa or chair, and SIDS.
It can be tempting to cuddle your baby on the sofa all evening, but being a parent is tiring and you run the risk of dozing off too.
If that happens, your baby is at a much higher than average risk of SIDS, so you should always take your sleeping baby and place them in their basket, crib or cot to sleep on their own when they drop off.
It's especially important not to share a bed with your baby if you or your partner are smokers, have recently drunk alcohol or have taken medication or drugs that make you sleep more heavily.
Learn more about safe co-sleeping.
5. Never let baby sleep for too long in their car seat
Babies can get very hot sleeping in their car seats, which means they are at a much greater risk of SIDS.
Their heads are also positioned in a way that can inhibit breathing, so you should always transfer them to their cot, crib, or Moses basket as soon as you get home.
The same rule applies for prams, bouncy seats, infant carriers, slings and swings, especially if your baby is under four months old.
In the car, you should ideally have a second adult travelling in the back with your baby, or you can use a mirror to keep an eye on them. If your baby changes position or slumps forward then it's advised to take them out and sit them upright.
6. Sleep in the same room as your baby
Statistics prove that sleeping in the same room as your baby for at least the first six months reduces the risk of SIDS significantly.
However, avoid sharing a bed with your baby as it poses risks.
Instead, place their crib, cot, or Moses basket next to your bed so they are close when they wake, and place them back inside after their feed.
7. Make sure your baby doesn’t overheat
It's important that your baby doesn’t overheat when they are sleeping.
Dress them in one more layer than you would wear in the same temperature – and make sure you check on your baby regularly for signs that they are hot, such as sweating or damp hair.
Invest in a thermometer for the baby’s room so you can make sure their room is close to the NHS recommended temperature of about 18C.
Never cover their head when they are sleeping with hoods or hats, as this can increase their body temperature dramatically, and may also pose a suffocation risk.
8. Stop smoking
The NHS also advises that parents can reduce the risk of SIDS by not smoking during pregnancy or after the baby is born.
Don't let anyone smoke in the house, ask visitors to smoke outside, and avoid taking your baby into smoky places.
You can find more info on SIDS by visiting the charity Lullaby Trust, which raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families.
Read on:
• The best baby bath thermometers
• What should your newborn wear in bed?
