Safe Sleep for Babies and Small Children

It is important to remember that sleep is a developmental process, and that sleep needs will change throughout our lifetime. Newborn babies may sleep for around 18 hours a day, often for around 2-3 hours at a time. During the first year, overall sleep duration reduces to approximately 15 hours in a 24 hour period and the majority of sleep becomes concentrated to nighttime as the circadian rhythm develops, which regulates heart rate, temperature and our body clock, as well as the production of hormones which make us feel sleepy or alert. Night waking is normal during early infancy and healthy babies experience several awakenings a night, at the end of each sleep cycle. It is important to remember that newborn babies have small stomachs and wake regularly for feeds at night, around 2-3 hourly.

The Lullaby Trust ABC’s of safer sleep advise that your baby should Always sleep on their Back in a Clear cot or appropriate sleep space. How to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS):

There is no advice that can guarantee the prevention of SIDS, however there are several things you can do to significantly reduce the risk of it happening.

Helpful Advice

Things to do

Always place your baby on their back at the bottom of their crib, cot or moses basket in your room for the first 6 months of your baby’s life.
Keep your baby away from smoke during pregnancy and after.
When your baby is sleeping ensure you have a good room temperature between 16-20oC.
Breastfeeding lowers the risk of SIDS and if you breastfeed for at least 2 months, the risk of SIDS is halved. If you wish to breastfeed longer, you can continue to provide this protection and reduce the risk.

Things to avoid

Never sleep on a sofa or in a armchair with your baby
Do not share a bed with your baby if you smoke, drink alcohol or take drugs or if you are extremely tired.
Do not let your baby get too hot, make sure your baby’s head is not covered.
Avoid having soft toys in your baby’s sleep space.
Do not use loose bedding such as pillows, duvets and quilts, cot bumpers, sleep positioners or sleep nests. Please refer to the Lullaby trust for safe sleeping advice. http://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/

Premature babies (born before 37 weeks) and/or babies of a low birth weight (under 2.5kg) are vulnerable to SIDS and although, they are sometimes positioned on their front to sleep in hospital, this is for medical reasons. It is important to follow safe sleep advice once you are home and sleep your baby on their back to reduce the risk of SIDS.

BASIS (Baby sleep info source) have an infant sleep info app that parents can download which provides information on normal sleep development and sleep safety. This can be accessed here:

Safe sleep top tips for going away with your baby this summer

If you are going away this summer with your baby please plan ahead and think about Safe sleep, ensuring your baby has a safe space to sleep and the person putting them to bed knows about safe sleep, can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death (SIDs).

The following links will help you think about planning ahead and share the safe sleep message with friends and relatives who may look after your baby at nap time.