Experts warn against common mistakes to give your baby the safest sleep

From keeping your infant in your bedroom for the first six months to ensuring cots contain just two key items, The Lullaby Trust trust has these top tips for safe sleeping

Being a new parent can be overwhelming and when it comes to ensuring your baby sleeps well, a leading charity says safety can be compromised. “Many have come to associate a ‘good’ or ‘contented’ baby with one that sleeps uninterrupted, but it is vitally important for families to understand that it is usual and expected for babies under one (or sometimes older) to wake up during the night,” said Jenny Ward, chief executive of The Lullaby Trust.

Four babies a week in the UK die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, known as SIDs, and The Lullaby Trust is determined to reduce that number. Put simply, the condition means the unexplained death of a baby between one month and one year of age, often while sleeping. “We know that greater awareness of safer sleep leads to a decrease in the numbers of babies dying,” said Jenny, urging parents to follow these simple tips…

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The ABCs of safer sleep

The basics of safer sleep are simple to follow: Always sleep your baby on their back, in a clear cot or sleep space.

Sleep position

Put your baby on their back for every sleep, day and night. The best way to make sure your baby sleeps on their back is to do this from day one. This is the best sleeping position for a baby as the risk of SIDS is particularly high for babies who are sometimes placed on their front or side.

The safest place

The safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own clear, flat, separate sleeping space, such as a cot or moses basket. It’s also recommended to use a firm and flat mattress in good condition, with a waterproof cover.

You will know if the mattress is firm enough, and your baby’s head shouldn’t sink further than a few millimeters. The waterproof cover helps to keep the mattress clean and dry.

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Sleep in the same room

The safest place for a baby to sleep is in the same room as you for at least the first six months, both day and night. When your baby sleeps in the same room, but not the same bed as you, the risk of SIDS significantly reduces.

This doesn’t mean you can’t leave the room to make a drink or go to the toilet. If you want, you can keep the door open. But your baby is safest when they’re sleeping and you’re nearby.

A clear cot

Parents and carers have a massive range of baby sleep products to choose from now, and it can feel overwhelming. But the advice is simple: the safest cot is a clear cot.

Babies need just two items in their cot – a firm, flat, waterproof mattress and lightweight bedding or baby sleeping bag. Bumpers, toys, loose bedding, pods, nests or anything else can put babies at a higher risk of having their heads or faces covered.

Keep baby smoke-free

It’s known that smoking around babies is not good for their health, but the evidence is strong for smoking and SIDS, too. Smoking could be linked to 60% of sudden infant deaths.

As a result, we advise not just stopping smoking during pregnancy, but also keeping your baby, and any places they spend time (eg a car), completely smoke-free.

Visit The Lullaby Trust website for more information on safer sleeping.

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