Safer sleep for babies

In support of Safer Sleep Week (13th-19th March), we’re sharing important information from The Lullaby Trust about safer sleep for babies.

A survey commissioned by The Lullaby Trust has shown that over 55% of parents are unsure of the safest sleep position for their baby. The charity is tackling that with clear advice to parents that we encourage you to share.

Ensuring your baby sleeps safely will significantly reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is rare, but it can still happen. The good news is that there are steps that you can take to reduce the risk of it occurring.

Quick tips for safer sleep

DO

• Always place your baby on their back to sleep
• Keep your baby smoke-free during pregnancy and after birth
• Place your baby to sleep in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for the first six months
• Breastfeed your baby
• Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition

AVOID

• Never sleep on a sofa or in an armchair with your baby
• Don’t 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 while sleeping or use loose bedding
• Remove all pillows, soft bedding, cot bumpers and soft toys from the cot

The Lullaby Trust promotes the ABCs of safer sleep: ALWAYS sleep your baby on their BACK in a CLEAR cot or sleep space (free of bumpers, toys and pillows).

Settling babies to sleep on their front was normal until the national ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign in 1991. This campaign along with promoting the awareness of SIDS and safer sleep, by The Lullaby Trust, over the 25 years since, has led to a widespread change in how parents sleep their babies. As a result, SIDS rates in the UK have reduced by 85% since 1991. However, the rates could still be much lower and research has shown that if all parents followed safer sleep advice, the lives of many more babies could be saved.