Safer sleeping tips

Newborn babies tend to sleep a lot – they just don’t sleep for very long at any one time! So you probably won’t get much sleep yourself, especially to begin with. But there’s nothing nicer than seeing your wee one happily snoozing – especially if you can grab a quick nap too. It’s always good to know how to keep your baby as safe as possible while they’re asleep, so here are some great tips for sweet dreams.

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Using the Baby Box for safer sleep

This video shows you how you can keep your baby safe when they're in the Baby Box.

Top tips for safer sleep

Tip #1: Safest sleeping position

Always put your baby to sleep on their back in a clear, flat, separate sleep space (for most babies this will mean a cot or Moses basket) with their feet at the bottom of their cot and any blankets tucked under their arms and under the mattress. This is the safest position for sleeping.

Tip #2: Check your baby's temperature

Check your baby is a comfortable temperature by touching their tummy, or the back of their neck. Your baby’s face and head should stay uncovered when they’re asleep. Try to keep the room temperature between 16 and 20 degrees so your baby doesn't get too hot or cold and make sure their bedding is appropriate for the time of year.

Tip #3: No smoking

Never allow anyone to smoke anywhere near your baby – and never put your baby in a room or car where people have smoked, as this increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) (cot death). You can find out more about SIDS on our common questions about safer sleeping page.

Tip #4: Keep the space clear

Ensure that the sleep space is kept clear of all items such as pillows, duvets or cot bumpers and there is nothing within reach of the space, such as blind cords, soft toys or nappy sacks.

Tip #5: Keep them close

Your baby should stay in the same room as you for daytime sleeps as well as at night (great that the Baby Box is so portable!)

Tip #6: Be careful

Never fall asleep with your baby on a sofa or a chair.

Tip #7: Think ahead

Planning ahead means you can ensure your baby has a safe sleep place.

You should any time you think you might fall asleep with your baby make sure they are on their back in a clear, flat, separate sleep space.

Also, babies need a sober carer to be able to respond to their needs. Sometimes alcohol and drugs like cannabis and even some medicines make this harder for carers to do. Planning ahead to have another adult like a close family member or a partner around to take care of the baby can be a good idea for those times.

It’s really important to plan for babies to sleep in their own safe, clear, flat, separate sleep space such as a cot or Moses basket if their carer has had any alcohol or drugs, or if they smoke.

What the professionals say

"We introduce safer sleep right from early pregnancy so that mums and dads get an idea of some of the equipment they need to think about, the equipment they need to buy to avoid things like cot bumpers, avoiding putting things into cots, just having the cots with blankets only, having cellular blankets rather than cot quilts or anything like that, to avoid pillows, and we try so that they’re starting to think about all that even during pregnancy.”