Safer Sleep

Safer Sleep for Baby focusses on six easy to follow steps which you can follow any time you put your baby down to sleep.  

Step 1:	Always protect your baby from cigarette smoke during pregnancy and after birth. If you or your partner smokes, never share a bed with your baby. This can increase the risk of death for your baby.
Step 2:	Give your baby a clear, flat, separate sleep space, in the same room as you, such as a cot or Moses basket. Never fall asleep with baby on a sofa or chair; this can increase the risk of death by 50%.
Step 3:	Never fall asleep with baby after drinking alcohol or taking drugs, including medications that may make you drowsy.
Step 4:	Always put your baby to sleep on their back with their feet to the foot of the cot or Moses basket.
Step 5:	Keep baby’s head and face uncovered and make sure they don’t get too hot. The room they sleep in should be between 16-20°c.
Step 6:	Breastfeed your baby. If you need help with breastfeeding, talk to a health professional or contact your local family hub.

Resources, including booklets and posters can be shared with parents and carers at any contact had with midwives, health visitors, GPs, social workers. Professionals working with families should complete a safer sleep assessment during contacts. All resources can be found in the Safer Sleep toolkit. 

You can find the Safer Sleep Toolkit here.