10 things you need to know about safe baby sleep

1 Get the bedroom temperature right
The ideal temperature is 16-20ºC, with 18ºC (65ºF) being perfect. Babies who get too hot are at an increased risk of cot death, so your baby should never sleep with, or near, any heated appliances. If he’s sweating, remove some of the bedding or use a lower tog baby sleeping bag.

2 Sort your baby’s bedding
Use lightweight blankets or a hoodless baby sleeping bag with the right size opening at the neck to stop your baby slipping down inside the bag. Don’t use a duvet or pillow if your baby’s under 12 months. If you can, try to buy a new mattress for each new baby and only use an existing one if it’s in good condition and fits the cot properly.

3 Always put your baby to sleep on his back
Your baby should sleep on his back, but when he’s awake allow him to lie on his front or sit up safely. If babies play on their front their muscles will develop properly, avoiding the risk of misshapen heads. A baby under six months should be turned on to his back if found sleeping on his front.

4 Think ‘feet to foot’
To avoid your baby’s head getting covered while he sleeps, place his feet to the foot of the cot with the bedclothes tucked in and no higher than his shoulders so he can’t wriggle under the covers.

5 Avoid co-sleeping
If you co-sleep, you may roll over and suffocate your baby. It’s especially dangerous if you (or your partner) smoke, have been drinking, take medication that makes you drowsy, or if your baby was premature, a low birthweight, or is under three months old. Or if you’re really tired.

6 Babies should share your room
For the first six months, the safest place for your baby to sleep is in a cot in a room with you so you can check on him regularly. You’ll be much quicker to pick up on any problems if he’s sleeping in the same room as you.

7 Smoking is linked to cot death
Recent scientific evidence shows that around 30% of cot deaths could be avoided if parents didn’t smoke around their children. Even if you do smoke, you can reduce the risk by always smoking outside.

8 Soothers are safe…
Settling your baby to sleep with a dummy can reduce the risk of cot death. Don’t worry if the dummy falls out while your baby’s asleep, and don’t force him to take a dummy if he doesn’t want it.

9 …but sofas aren’t
You must never fall asleep with your baby on the sofa – it’s not safe.

10 Breastfeeding can help
It’s safe, natural and increases your baby’s resistance to infection. Research shows that even partly breastfed babies are less likely to die of cot death than babies who were never breastfed.