What every parent should know

Most SIDS deaths happen in the first six months of life. Health bodies in many countries agree on the core advice, and the 'Back to Sleep' campaigns that started in the 1990s were followed by large falls in SIDS rates. The American Academy of Pediatrics updated its recommendations in 2022, and the NHS and the Lullaby Trust give matching guidance in the UK. The advice applies to naps as well as nights, and to anyone caring for the baby.

01Sleep position and sleep surface

Babies should always be placed on their back to sleep. The AAP advises a firm, flat, non-inclined surface that meets safety standards, such as a cot, Moses basket or bassinet, and recommends against inclined sleepers and products not designed for sleep. Sitting devices such as car seats, swings and slings are not for routine sleep.

What helps

  • Place your baby on their back for every sleep, day and night.
  • Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition, with a fitted sheet only.
  • Keep pillows, duvets, bumpers, positioners and soft toys out of the sleep space.
  • Move a baby who falls asleep in a car seat, swing or sling onto a flat surface when you can.

02Where your baby sleeps

The NHS and AAP advise keeping the baby in a cot or crib in your room for at least the first six months. Sleeping with a baby on a sofa or armchair is particularly dangerous. The NHS advises against sharing a bed with your baby, especially if you or your partner smoke, have drunk alcohol, have taken drugs or medicines that make you drowsy, are very tired, or if the baby was premature or of low birth weight.

What helps

  • Room-share without bed-sharing for at least the first six months.
  • Never fall asleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair; put the baby down if you feel sleepy.
  • If you do bed-share, follow the Lullaby Trust's safer bed-sharing advice and avoid the high-risk situations listed.
  • Make sure every carer, including grandparents and babysitters, knows the rules.

03Smoke, overheating and other factors

Smoking during pregnancy and around the baby increases the risk of SIDS. Overheating is also a risk factor. The AAP notes that breastfeeding, offering a dummy (pacifier) at sleep time and routine immunisations are associated with a lower risk, and that weighted sleep products should never be used.

What helps

  • Keep your baby smoke-free before and after birth, including in the car and home.
  • Keep the room at a comfortable temperature and avoid hats and heavy layers indoors.
  • Breastfeed if you can; any breast milk is beneficial.
  • Keep up routine vaccinations and avoid weighted sleeping bags, blankets or swaddles.

Weekly checklist for parents of babies

  • Back to sleep, every sleep, with every carer.
  • Check the cot each night: flat mattress, fitted sheet, nothing else.
  • Keep the baby in your room for at least six months.
  • Never sleep with the baby on a sofa or armchair.
  • Keep the home and car smoke-free.
  • Check the room temperature and your baby's layers before sleep.

When to see a professional

  • Your baby seems unwell, feeds poorly, or is unusually sleepy or floppy.
  • Breathing that seems difficult, noisy or with pauses.
  • A fever in a baby under three months.
  • Any questions about safe sleep for a premature or low birth weight baby.

Call emergency services immediately if your baby stops breathing, turns blue or grey, cannot be woken, or has a seizure. Start baby CPR if they are not breathing normally.

Where ONU fits

ONU is for adults. It does not monitor babies and should never be used to check on a baby's breathing or sleep; the AAP advises against relying on home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS. Parents can use ONU to keep an eye on their own sleep and recovery during the demanding early months, and the safe sleep advice on this page is what protects the baby.

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Common questions

When does the risk of SIDS go down?

Most SIDS deaths happen in the first six months. Continue following safe sleep advice for the first year, especially placing your baby on their back.

What if my baby rolls onto their tummy?

Always place your baby on their back. Once babies can roll both ways on their own, you do not need to turn them back, but keep the sleep space clear.

Do baby breathing monitors prevent SIDS?

No product has been shown to prevent SIDS. The AAP advises against using home monitors as a way to reduce the risk and recommends following safe sleep practices instead.

Can my baby nap in a car seat?

Car seats are for travel. Babies should not routinely sleep in sitting devices; move them to a flat surface when you arrive.

Sources and further reading

Educational information drawn from the public-health sources listed on this page. It is not a diagnosis, a treatment plan or a guarantee that you will avoid an illness or injury. ONU does not diagnose, treat or prevent disease. Speak to a qualified professional about anything that concerns you, and follow the rules of your employer, sport or local health service.