Safe sleep for your baby

Of all the things to get right with a newborn, safe sleep is the one most worth being careful about. The good news is that the guidance is simple, consistent, and dramatically reduces the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), including SIDS.

Red Nose Australia’s core advice is easy to remember. Always put your baby to sleep on their back — not their side or tummy — for every sleep, day and night. Keep their head and face uncovered. And use a safe sleep surface: a firm, flat mattress in a cot that meets the Australian safety standard.

Keep the sleep space clear. No pillows, doonas, cot bumpers, soft toys or loose bedding, which can cover a baby’s face or cause overheating. A safe infant sleeping bag — or firmly tucked-in light bedding no higher than the chest — is the way to go. Dress your baby for the room temperature rather than over-bundling them.

Share a room, not a bed. Red Nose recommends your baby sleeps in their own safe sleep space — a cot or bassinet — in the same room as you for at least the first six to twelve months, which is both safer and handy for feeds. If you feed in bed and there’s any chance you might doze off, set the bed up to reduce risk and move your baby back to their own space afterwards.

A smoke-free environment, before and after birth, matters a great deal too, and breastfeeding (if you can) offers some added protection. None of this is about perfection or fear — it’s a handful of habits that quickly become second nature.

A few extra points come up often. Tummy time is important for development, but only while your baby is awake and supervised — never for sleep. Once your baby can roll both ways on their own, it’s fine to let them find their own position, while you still always start them on their back. If you use a dummy, offering it for sleep is fine and may even be protective, but don’t force it or keep replacing it once they’re asleep. And car seats, prams, bouncers and slings aren’t safe for long, unsupervised sleeps — if your baby drops off in one, move them to a flat, firm surface when you can. Away from home, the same rules apply: a portable cot with a firm, flat mattress is the safest bet.

For the full, current guidance — including on swaddling, dummies and travel — Red Nose Australia is the trusted Australian source, and your child health nurse can answer anything specific to your baby.