Safe Sleep for Babies: How to Reduce the Risk of SIDS
A clear checklist for making your baby's sleep space as safe as possible, for naps and nights.
Before you use this guide: This is general educational information, not an individual medical assessment. We do not identify a clinician reviewer on this page, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor, midwife or paediatrician.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related infant deaths are rare, but there is a lot that families can do to lower the risk. The advice is simple and applies to naps as well as night sleep.
The essentials
- Place your baby on their back for every sleep. Once your baby can roll both ways on their own, you do not need to turn them back.
- Use a firm, flat mattress in a cot, crib or bassinet that meets safety standards, with a fitted sheet.
- Keep the sleep space bare: no pillows, duvets, bumpers, sheepskins, wedges, positioners or soft toys.
- Keep your baby's head and face uncovered.
- Keep your baby's cot in your room, but not your bed, for at least the first six months.
Keep your baby comfortable, not hot
- A room temperature of about 16 to 20°C is often recommended.
- Dress your baby in light layers. If their chest or the back of their neck feels hot or sweaty, remove a layer.
- Take hats and outdoor clothes off indoors, and never cover your baby's head while sleeping.
Things that raise the risk
- Sleeping on a sofa, armchair or beanbag, especially with an adult. Never do this.
- Smoking during pregnancy or around your baby.
- Bed-sharing if you or your partner smoke, have had alcohol, take drugs or sedating medicines, or are very tired, or if your baby was premature or small.
- Using car seats, slings or swings for routine sleep. If your baby falls asleep in one, move them to a flat, firm sleep surface as soon as you can.
Things that help lower the risk
- Breastfeeding, if it works for you and your baby
- Offering a dummy (pacifier) at nap and bedtime once breastfeeding is established. If your baby refuses it, do not force it.
- Keeping up with routine vaccinations
- Antenatal care, and avoiding alcohol and drugs in pregnancy
What about monitors and gadgets?
Wearable monitors, sleep positioners and wedges have not been shown to prevent SIDS, and some are unsafe. A simple, firm, empty sleep space is the best protection.
Make sure grandparents, babysitters and childcare providers know these rules too. If you are ever unsure about your baby's breathing, colour or responsiveness, seek emergency help immediately.
Trusted resources to read next
These public health resources provide additional information. Guidance can vary by country, so prioritise advice from your own care team and local health service.
- CDC: Helping babies sleep safely — Safe sleep environment recommendations for babies.
- NHS: Early days — Newborn checks, feeding, and support during the first days.
This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.