Safe sleep for babies: what every caregiver should know

Safe sleep advice only works if everyone who puts your baby down follows it, not just you. Grandparents may remember different advice from when they had babies. A new nanny may have worked with families who did things differently. This guide sums up the core NHS advice in plain words, so it’s easy to share.

What position should a baby sleep in?

The first rule is the simplest, and it applies to every sleep, day or night:

Feet to foot means your baby’s feet are at the foot of the cot, so they can’t wriggle down under the covers. If someone looking after your baby isn’t sure what that looks like, show them once. It’s much easier than describing it.

Where should a baby sleep?

The NHS advises a separate sleep space close to you:

“Every sleep” includes daytime naps. That can be the hardest part to keep up when life gets busy, and the part most worth mentioning to other caregivers.

What should be in a baby’s cot?

Less than you might think. The NHS says:

Cots sold with bumpers, or gifts of soft toys and pillows, can make this surprising to some family members. It helps to explain that you’re following NHS advice, rather than a personal preference.

A safe sleep checklist to share

Copy this into a message for anyone who helps with naps or nights:

1. On their back, for every sleep, day and night.
2. Feet to foot: feet at the foot of the cot or Moses basket.
3. Own sleep space: a separate cot or Moses basket.
4. Same room as an adult for every sleep, for at least the first 6 months.
5. Firm, flat mattress.
6. Clear cot: no pillows, duvets, cot bumpers, loose blankets or soft toys.

The NHS page on reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), linked in the sources below, has more detail. It’s worth reading together with anyone who regularly looks after your baby.

Why does every baby sleep differently?

Safe sleep is about how and where your baby sleeps, not how long. Sleep itself varies a great deal:

That’s why comparing your baby with a friend’s rarely helps. For the amount of sleep WHO describes at each age, see how much sleep a baby needs.

Talking to grandparents about safe sleep

Advice for babies has changed over the years, and grandparents usually want to do the right thing. A few things that tend to help the conversation:

• Lead with the source: “This is what the NHS says now.”
• Show, don’t just tell: put the baby down together once.
• Make it easy: set up the cot or Moses basket at their home the way you’d like it.
• Write it down, so nobody has to remember the details.

Briefing a nanny or babysitter

Professional carers may already know the guidance, but every family is different. On their first day, go through the checklist, show them where your baby sleeps, and agree how naps will be logged so you can see them later.

Questions to ask your midwife or health visitor

If anything about your baby’s sleep set-up is unclear, ask. Some questions worth writing down before a visit:

• Is our cot or Moses basket set up the way the NHS advises?
• How do we keep naps safe when we’re out, or at a grandparent’s home?
• Where can I read the full NHS advice to share with our nanny?
• What should I do if my baby will only settle in a different position or place?

Keep everyone on the same page with BabyLifeLog

In BabyLifeLog, safe sleep advice from the NHS appears in the guidance cards for your baby’s exact week, with the source linked. That makes it easy to show a grandparent where the advice comes from.

Every nap and night sleep is logged with a sleep timer that keeps running when you close the app, and each entry shows who logged it. Leave a handover note for the next person, such as “last nap ended at 2pm”, and invite grandparents and your nanny free. To learn more, see sharing baby care with your partner, grandparents and nanny.