How to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at every sleep, including room temperature, bed sharing, car seats and slings.
In short
- Always on her back, in her own cot.
- Nothing in the cot but a flat mattress.
- Never sleep with her on a sofa.
Every sleep, day and night
- Put her on her back to sleep.
- Put her feet at the foot of the cot, Moses basket or pram.
- Use her own cot or Moses basket.
- Keep it in the same room as you for at least the first 6 months.
- Use a firm, flat mattress. Her head should not sink in by more than a few millimetres.
- Keep the cot clear. No pillows, duvets, bumpers, loose blankets or soft toys.
- Do not use sleep pods or nests.
- If she rolls onto her front, turn her onto her back. Once she can roll both ways by herself, you can leave her.
- If she was born early, follow this advice until a year after her due date.
- Think about a dummy at sleep time. If you breastfeed, wait until feeding is going well.
- Breastfeed if you can. It protects her.
- Keep her routine vaccinations up to date.
Not too hot
Keep her room between 16C and 20C. A room thermometer helps. Use a baby sleeping bag that fits well around her shoulders, or a light cellular cotton blanket. Tuck a blanket in firmly, no higher than her shoulders.
Feel her chest or the back of her neck. Cool hands and feet are normal. If her skin is hot or sweaty, take off a layer.
Take off her hat and extra layers as soon as you come indoors. Do this even if it wakes her. Never put her to sleep with a hot water bottle or an electric blanket. Keep her away from radiators, heaters, fires and direct sun.
If she ends up in your bed
- Never fall asleep with her on a sofa or in an armchair.
- Her own cot is always the safest place.
- In your bed, lie her on her back on a firm, flat mattress.
- Keep pillows, sheets and blankets away from her.
- Do not swaddle her. A baby sleeping bag is safer.
- Keep other children and pets out of the bed.
- Never leave her alone in an adult bed.
- Make sure she cannot fall out or get trapped against the wall.
- Never share a bed if she was born before 37 weeks.
- Never share a bed if she weighed less than 2.5kg at birth.
- Never share a bed if you or your partner smoke.
- Never share a bed if you or your partner have had 2 or more units of alcohol.
- Never share a bed if you or your partner have taken drugs.
- Never share a bed if you or your partner take medicine that makes you drowsy.
- Never share a bed if you are extremely tired.
- Never share a bed if she has a fever or seems ill.
Smoke, car seats and slings
Do not smoke around her. Do not let anyone smoke in the same room as her.
She can fall asleep in her car seat while you travel. Take her out as soon as you arrive. Then lay her on a firm, flat surface.
In a sling, keep it tight. Always keep her face in view. Keep her chin off her chest. Take her out of the sling to feed her.
