The rules for safe sleep are one of the rare areas in parenting where the evidence is strong, the guidance is consistent, and following it genuinely saves lives. The Lullaby Trust estimates that safer sleep advice has helped save over 31,000 babies since 1991.
The non-negotiable rules
Always place your baby on their back to sleep, in the feet-to-foot position - feet touching the bottom of the cot. Keep the sleep space completely clear: no pillows, no duvets, no cot bumpers, no soft toys, no pods or nests, and no loose blankets. Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress.
Room sharing
Your baby should sleep in their own cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for at least the first six months, for every sleep including daytime naps. The risk of SIDS is measurably lower when babies sleep near a parent.
Temperature
Keep the room between 16-20 degrees C. Overheating increases SIDS risk. Check your baby's temperature by feeling their chest or the back of their neck - hands and feet often feel cool and that's normal. Remove hats and extra layers as soon as you come indoors.
Bed sharing risks
Never share a bed if either parent smokes, has consumed alcohol, has taken drugs or drowsiness-causing medication, or if the baby was born before 37 weeks or weighed under 2.5kg. Never fall asleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair - the risk of SIDS in that situation is fifty times higher than in a cot.