Safer Sleep Advice

Sadly, every year a small number of babies die suddenly and unexpectedly in their sleep. Often there is no underlying health condition. This is called Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). 

The Lullaby Trust has been fundraising since 1971 to conduct research into the causes of SIDS. While the cause is still unknown, their research has provided several indicators; SIDS is most likely to happen during the first six months, with babies born prematurely, underweight or twins and multiple births being at a higher risk. Smoking while pregnant or sharing a bed with your baby if you or your partner smoke, take drugs or have consumed alcohol also increases the risk. 

The Lullaby Trust, Unicef UK Baby Friendly and Baby Sleep Information Source (BASIS) have created Safer Sleep Advice for Babies. The advice follows the results of years of scientific research into the causes of SIDS.  

Since the campaign began in 1991, the rate of SIDS has fallen by 80%. 

How To Safely Put A Baby To Sleep 

The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a cot, lying on their back in the same room as you. 

Follow the steps below every sleep time to keep your baby as safe as possible. It is essential to follow the safer sleep advice every sleep, every night until your baby is 12 months old. 

• Your baby should be put to sleep on their back, on a firm, flat mattress. Always return babies to their back if they roll over. 

• Use a lightweight blanket tucked in across their chest and under their arms. 

• Never use bumpers, pillows or soft toys, as they increase the risk of overheating and can restrict airflow. 

• Place your baby in the ‘feet-to-foot’ position, with their feet touching the end of the cot, Moses basket, or pram. 

• Breastfeeding your baby for the first two months has been proven to reduce the risk of SIDS by half. 

• Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress. 

• Sleep your baby in the same room as you for the first six months. 

 Never fall asleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair. The risk of SIDS is 50 times higher for babies that sleep on a sofa or armchair with an adult.  

 Safer Sleep Bedding 

To sleep your baby safely, it’s best to use lightweight, breathable bedding. Don’t use cot bumpers, pillows or anything else that may impair your baby’s breathing or cause your baby to overheat. Cellular blankets are a good idea as they allow the air to circulate while keeping your baby warm. Make sure blankets are tucked in, no higher than the shoulders, as loose bedding can move and wrap around your baby.  

ergoPouch partnered with the Lullaby Trust to create the HugMe blanket as a safe alternative to blankets. The HugMe blanket fits securely around the mattress and won’t come loose or untucked. It’s made from breathable organic cotton and is available in two warmth variations depending on the season. The blanket is firm enough to provide security and comfort to help with startle reflex as well.  

Baby sleeping bags like the Tommee Tippee Grobag Cocoon Swaddle Sleeping Bag, are another safer sleep option to try. Swaddlebags are tight around the top of your baby and loose around the bottom. This creates a feeling of security while enabling the ‘frog-legged’ sleeping position, which is recommended for correct hip development. Your baby will feel safe and secure, encouraging calm, natural sleep. Like the ergoPouch HugMe blanket, Swaddlebags are fixed to remove the risk of tangling. Available in different TOG ratings depending on the temperature, they keep your baby’s whole body at the same temperature. 

What About the Mattress? 

Choosing a suitable cot mattress can be tricky. Manufacturers would like to you to believe there’s a lot to consider. In actual fact, the decision is a fairly easy one; to protect your baby as much as possible from the risk of SIDS the mattress should be firm, flat and waterproof. A waterproof mattress will stop bacteria getting in. 

A firm mattress ensures your baby’s head doesn’t sink in. This can make them overheat or restrict the airways. Baby nests or sleeping pods have raised, cushioned areas and are unsuitable for this reason. As a simple guide, your baby’s head should not sink more than a few millimetres into their mattress. 

If your budget allows, it’s best to try and buy a new mattress so that you know it’s smoke-free and hasn’t been stored anywhere damp or dirty. 

For those times when you’re out and about, holidaying with your loved ones, you might wonder how you can practice safer sleep. The best option is to pack your own travel cot. Travel cots often have a very firm base for your baby to sleep on and this is the perfect surface for safer sleep. Importantly, follow your safer sleep routine and avoid unnecessary loose-fitting blankets, pillows, bumpers and toys.  

If taking your own sleep apparatus isn’t an option, hotels usually have travel cots available to use. Make sure you check it over and clean the surface before you sleep your baby. Then use your own blanket and follow your usual sleep schedule. Keep it simple and stick to the routine. 

Keep To The Routine 

It’s useful to create a safer sleep routine; this way, you won’t forget anything. Follow the latest advice to create a sleep preparation routine and communicate it to caregivers. Having a routine that remains the same at every sleep time will also have a positive impact on your baby’s sleep.  

SIDS can happen at any time of the day and it happens quickly. Parents of young babies should supervise them regularly while sleeping. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Why isn’t there a cure for SIDS? 

While there is no way to prevent SIDS, research has identified many factors that can reduce the risk of it happening to your baby significantly. Scientific research is ongoing and getting closer to finding exactly why it happens and what can be done to prevent it completely.  

What causes SIDS? 

Experts believe SIDS affects babies vulnerable to certain environmental issues. The way they respond to issues such as overheating, tobacco smoke, breathing obstructions like bedding, or a minor illness is thought to be a common factor in SIDS deaths. 

What if my baby falls asleep on my chest? 

Babies often drift off to sleep in places other than their cots. If this happens, it’s important to move them to a clear, firm, flat surface. If your baby falls to sleep in a chair, rocker, or similar, its head may slump over, restricting the airways. 

What temperature should the room be? 

The Lullaby Trust recommends a room temperature between 16 and 20 degrees C to help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. 

Can my baby sleep in a car seat? 

Because of the risk of overheating and your baby’s airways becoming restricted, long journeys in the car should be broken up into intervals. This way you can check on your baby regularly. 

Is it OK to co-sleep with my baby? 

Safer sleep advises against co-sleeping. To reduce the risk of SIDS, your baby should sleep in their own clear, flat, separate sleep space. Adult beds and bedding are not designed for small babies - they can become tangled in bedding, overheat or their breathing may be restricted by a soft mattress.  

The team at Sky Rockets are keen to research the sensitive issues and information surrounding SIDS. Hopefully, we can use our platform to raise awareness of Safer Sleep practices and promote the support offered by the Lullaby Trust for the benefit of families everywhere.