Where should my baby sleep? 

We recommend your baby sleeps in the same room as you for the first six months.  

To reduce the risk of sudden infant death (SIDS), you should: 

• Put them down to sleep on their back, on a flat surface.  
• Keep your baby’s head uncovered – their blanket should be tucked in no higher than their shoulders. 
• Remove anything that could cover their face, such as loose sheets or toys.
• Place your baby in the “feet to foot” position, with their feet at the end of the cot or Moses basket. 
• Do not let your baby get too hot or cold.

The Lullaby Trust recommends keeping your baby close by in a separate cot or Moses basket.  This also makes it easier to cope with night feeds. 

In the first few months they may roll onto their front. Gently place them back onto their back until they can confidently roll over and back without support.  

Check in with your health visitor if you want to make sure the way your child sleeps is safe for their stage of development. 

You can also read the NHS guidance on reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 

Some parents choose to co-sleep with their baby in the same bed. The Lullaby Trust has some tips on making co-sleeping safer, including:  

• Clear a space on the bed for baby to sleep, free of blankets, pillows, and bedding.  
• Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or chair. 
• Your baby should not share a bed with anyone who smokes. 
• Don’t bedshare if your baby was premature or had a low birth weight. 
• If you are co-sleeping with your baby you should consider  potential risks before every sleep. If you are unwell, have taken medication or consumed alcohol, your awareness could be affected and on that occasion a cot or Moses basket will be safest place for your little one to sleep. 

Many babies fall asleep during the day in their buggy, car seat, or other places where they feel comfortable.  

It’s tempting to let your baby stay asleep in a car seat even once you stop driving. We recommend that you move your baby to a safer surface.  The Lullaby Trust has information on safe sleeping in car seats. 

If they have fallen asleep on a flat, stable surface, like a pram, it’s ok to let them sleep. Make sure you remove any extra layers, blankets and toys so that they don’t get too hot or risk suffocation.