Safe sleep

Understanding the guidelines on safe sleeping is important. As a parent ensuring you are following the guidelines below will help you to relax also.

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.

This video summarises the safe sleep guidelines. The lullaby trust website goes into more detail with useful information on car seats, mattresses, the use of dummies and swaddles.

Safer Sleep For Babies - YouTube

https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/