{"id":11418,"date":"2026-09-11T12:01:40","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T12:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forbabyboss.com\/?p=11418"},"modified":"2026-09-11T12:20:06","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T12:20:06","slug":"baby-sleep-safety-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forbabyboss.com\/it\/baby-sleep-safety-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Baby Sleep Safety: A Guide to Safer Sleep (NHS & Lullaby Trust Guidance)"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article summarises official UK safer sleep guidance from the NHS and The Lullaby Trust. It is general information, not medical advice \u2014 if you have specific concerns about your baby’s sleep, health visitors and GPs can give guidance tailored to your child.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is rare, but safer sleep practices measurably reduce the risk, and the guidance is consistent, specific and freely available from the NHS and The Lullaby Trust. Since 1991, an estimated 31,951 babies’ lives have been saved in the UK through the adoption of safer sleep advice, according to The Lullaby Trust. This guide sets out the current guidance in plain terms.<\/p>\n

The core rules<\/h2>\n

1. Always place your baby on their back to sleep<\/h3>\n

This applies to every sleep, day and night, until your baby is 12 months old \u2014 not just at bedtime. The NHS is explicit that babies should not be put down to sleep on their side or front. If your baby can roll over on their own once they’re a bit older, you don’t need to keep turning them back over, but you should always start every sleep on their back.<\/p>\n

2. Keep your baby in your room for the first six months<\/h3>\n

Both the NHS and The Lullaby Trust recommend room-sharing \u2014 baby sleeping in the same room as you \u2014 for at least the first six months, for every sleep, day and night. This should be on a separate, baby-specific sleep surface (a cot, Moses basket, crib or travel cot next to your bed), not in the bed with you.<\/p>\n

3. Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress<\/h3>\n

The mattress should be firm and flat \u2014 soft or padded surfaces increase risk. The NHS guidance is specific: your baby’s head should not sink into the mattress by more than a few millimetres. A new mattress is preferable; a previously-used one is generally considered acceptable only if it has been stored clean, dry and in a smoke-free environment, and you’re confident of its history and condition.<\/p>\n

4. Keep the cot clear<\/h3>\n

No pillows, duvets, cot bumpers, soft toys, comforters, positioning wedges or straps, and no pods or nests on the mattress. The NHS advises making sure there is nothing in the cot that could cover your baby’s mouth or nose. If you use blankets, they should be tucked in firmly, no higher than your baby’s shoulders, and not doubled over. Baby sleeping bags of an appropriate tog rating for the room temperature are a widely recommended alternative, and when using one, there should be no other bedding in the cot.<\/p>\n

5. Keep the room at the right temperature<\/h3>\n

The Lullaby Trust recommends a room temperature of 16\u201320\u00b0C. Getting too hot is a known risk factor for SIDS, so this is worth checking with a room thermometer rather than guessing, particularly in winter with heating on or in summer heatwaves.<\/p>\n

6. Keep your baby’s environment completely smoke-free<\/h3>\n

Both organisations are unambiguous: the risk of SIDS is significantly higher if a parent smoked during pregnancy or smokes after the baby is born, and this includes exposure to secondhand smoke in the home and car.<\/p>\n

Co-sleeping and where risk increases sharply<\/h2>\n

Co-sleeping (sharing a bed with your baby) carries increased risk in certain circumstances, and the NHS specifically advises against bed-sharing if you or your partner:<\/p>\n