Safer Sleeping Resources
For families with babies and young children.
The colder months can be difficult for families, especially with the added worry of heating bills during the current cost of living crisis. For those that have young children and babies, that may be concerned about trying to keep the home warm, and the recommended room temperature of 16-20 degrees might be hard to achieve. The first thought might be to bed share or wrap baby up, but this can increase the chances of SIDS, also known as cot death. The safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own cot or Moses basket.
Follow the tips below to ensure baby sleeps safely this winter.
- Place baby in their own clear, flat, separate sleep space, e.g. a cot or Moses basket.
- Firmly tuck in sheets and blankets (no higher than the shoulders).
- Choose the correct tog of sleeping bag for the different seasons.
- Remove hats from babies' heads when inside.
- Don't use hot water bottles in any baby sleep space.
- Don't place extra blankets on top of babies in a sleeping bag.
- Don't place baby's cot next to a heat source e.g. radiator or heater.
- Don't place baby under adult bedding.
- Don't put baby in outdoor clothes to sleep indoors.
Never bed share if:
- Either you or your partner smokes
- Either you or your partner has drunk alcohol or taken drugs
- Baby was born premature (before 37 weeks)
- Baby was born at a low weight (2.5kg or less)
For more support and advice to help families this winter, visit: Let's manage tough times - Bury Council.
For further information about safer sleeping, read NHS advice here: Reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) - NHS (www.nhs.uk), or visit The Lullaby Trust: The Lullaby Trust - Safer sleep for babies, Support for families.