Baby sleep patterns
What might baby sleep look like, depending on your baby's stage of development? We will walk you through what to expect in the first year.
New information for Safer Sleep Week
This Safer Sleep Week, we've updated our expert information on sleep deprivation, and launch brand new information on baby sleep patterns.
Sleep deprivation
Tips on coping with sleep deprivation as a parent or carer, and on preventing yourself from falling asleep unsafely.
Saving babies' lives
We know that greater awareness of safer sleep leads to a decrease in the numbers of babies dying.
Sadly around four babies a week still die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and if all parents were aware of safer sleep advice, many lives could be saved. Around 700,000 babies are born every year in the UK and we want to reach all new parents and carers with our life-saving messages.
Safer Sleep Week 2025 runs from 10 – 16 March and will focus on:
- Exploring baby sleep patterns. How long should your baby sleep for their age?
- Busting baby sleep myths. Are any myths backed by evidence, and what about products that promise to help your baby sleep for longer?
- Supporting you through your own lack of sleep. We’ll help with sleep deprivation, and make it easier for you to follow safer sleep with your baby, even when exhausted.
With you by our side, we can keep babies safe and save babies’ lives. Do your bit for Safer Sleep Week by:
- Doing your own fundraising surrounding Safer Sleep Week. Whether it’s a bake sale, a personal challenge or a group combining forces, we’d love to help you. Register your fundraising activity and become a Lullaby Hero.
- Share our social media content far and wide during Safer Sleep Week. You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or TikTok on @LullabyTrust.
- Download and display our safer sleep posters to raise vital awareness.
- Sign up to be a Lullaby GEM (Gives Every Month), to help us reach as many families as possible with our life-saving safer sleep advice. You can be there for every family, for every baby, forever.
For more information or for press enquiries, contact our team on [email protected] – hearing from you is the best part of our job.
Resources for professionals
Download the below resources for professionals, to help keep babies safe, and empower the families you work with using trusted information.
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Baby sleep patterns poster
This poster was launched for Safer Sleep Week 2025. It explains baby sleep patterns from birth through to 12-months-old.
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Safer sleep for babies easy read card
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True and false cards
This resource contains true and false cards that you can ask parents and carers to sort through into piles of true or false.
Other campaigns
Baby Loss Awareness Week
Baby Loss Awareness Week happens every year in October. It is an opportunity to raise awareness of baby loss and campaign for the provision of better bereavement care.
Infection Prevention Week
Infection Prevention Week is all about raising awareness of how we can all keep babies safe from infection, empowering parents and carers to trust their instincts!