Safer sleep for babies

There are simple steps you can take to sleep your baby safely to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). We do not know what causes SIDS. For many babies it is likely that a combination of factors affect them at a vulnerable stage of their development, which leads them to die suddenly and unexpectedly.

However, we do know you can significantly reduce the chance of SIDS occurring by following safer sleep advice. This can give you peace of mind to enjoy your special time with your baby.

Things you can do:

• Put your baby on their back for all sleeps, day and night
• Share a room with your baby for the first six months. The safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own clear, flat, separate sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket in the same room as you.
• Place your baby on a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition
• Keep your baby in a smoke-free environment day and night

Things to avoid:

• Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair
• Avoid letting your baby get too hot
• Don’t cover your baby’s face or head while sleeping, or use loose bedding.
• Do not co-sleep with your baby if you or anyone in the bed has drunk alcohol, smoked or taken any drugs or medication that make you drowsy

This video contains further advice of how to reduce the risk of SIDS: