Keeping baby's airway (breathing tube) open

How to keep your baby's airway open so they can breathe easily while they’re sleeping. Find safe ways for your baby to sleep, to help keep their airway open and clear.

A close up of a baby on their side, smiling. Their tongue is slightly sticking out, they have light skin and dark curly hair and their hands are clasped just in view.
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A baby’s airway is very delicate

Your baby’s airway is very delicate and it’s possible for it to become blocked, narrowed and or folded, making it difficult for them to breathe. 

Some baby products and sleeping positions make this more likely, but there are steps you can take to keep their airways clear and open so they can breathe easily.

Protecting your baby's ability to breathe:

Your baby's airways can become blocked, narrowed or folded. This can make it difficult for them to breathe.

Illustration depicting baby in an unsafe cot, with lots of loose bedding. The baby's airway has become blocked, and an illustration of the airway into the baby's lungs depicts this.

Baby's airway is blocked.

Loose bedding or soft-sided pods and pillows can block your baby's airway.

Illustration depicting baby in an unsafe sleeping position, on their front. The baby's airway has become narrowed, and an illustration of the airway into the baby's lungs depicts this.

Baby's airway is narrowed.

Your baby sleeping on their tummy or becoming wedged against an adult can block or narrow your baby's airway.

Illustration depicting baby in an unsafe baby product for safer sleeping. The baby's airway has become folded, and an illustration of the airway into the baby's lungs depicts this.

Baby's airway is folded.

Sleeping in a sitting position or sling (causing your baby's chin to touch their chest) can fold your baby's airway.

Illustration depicting a baby sleeping on their back and showing how open the baby's airways (ability to breathe) are. There is a tick to indicate this is the correct way to safe sleeping for babies. play video

What can affect baby's breathing?

Certain products and sleeping positions can cover your baby’s face, block their airways, or cause them to become folded or narrowed. These include:

  • Loose bedding  
  • Soft-sided pods 
  • Pillows  
  • Sleeping on their tummy 
  • Becoming wedged against an adult  
  • Sleeping in a sitting position 
  • Sleeping in a sling.

Keeping your baby’s airway clear and open

  1. Keep your baby’s face clear of any items such as bedding and toys.
  2. Place your baby on their back, in their own cot or Moses basket. 
  3. Always sleep your baby on a firm, flat mattress.

Let’s look at each of these in more detail.

Remove all unnecessary items and loose bedding from your baby’s cot, including toys, pillows and cot bumpers.  

The safest cot is a clear cot. Keeping the cot clear of unnecessary items lowers the risk of your baby’s face being covered by things like toys or loose bedding, which could block their airways. This lowers the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Young babies often breathe through their noses, which is why we advise keeping their whole face clear.

Illustration depicting baby safely sleeping on their back in a cot. The parent's hands are blocking the items that shouldn't be there too as they are unsafe, which are two toys - one doll and one duck.

The safest way for your baby to sleep is on their back, in their own cot or Moses basket.

If your baby sleeps on their front, known as “prone”, there are a number of things that can put them at risk:

  • Their airway can become narrowed as this position puts pressure on their chest.
  • Their chin can become pushed back, meaning their tongue can block their airway.
  • It’s easier for a baby to choke if they vomit because of the positioning of the windpipe and food pipe, shown in the picture below.
  • If the surface they’re sleeping on is very soft, cushioned or padded, the air can’t flow and they can’t breathe easily.
Illustration depicting baby laying on their front in an unsafe sleeping position. The illustration shows that their airway, ability to breathe, is blocked. Marked with a cross. Illustration depicting baby laying on their back in a safer sleeping position. The illustration shows that their airway, ability to breathe, is open. Marked with a tick.

Babies can fall asleep in places that are not designed for them to sleep in – places that are not firm and flat.

If your baby falls asleep in a baby bouncer, rocker, reclining chair, or propped in a sitting position, move them onto a firm, flat surface, and remove any items such as toys and pillows. This will help keep their airway open.

Even if your baby is awake, always make sure their head is not slumped onto their chest and that their nose and mouth are clear. Babies have heavy heads and short necks. This means their heads can easily flop down onto their chests, restricting their airways and stopping oxygen from getting to their lungs – especially in the first few months of life.

The picture below shows how sleeping on their back, in a firm, flat sleep space, helps to keep a baby’s airway clear and open.

Illustration depicting baby in a safer sleep position in a cot. They are sleeping peacefully with a blanket tucked in under their armpits, and an empty cot. There is a tick indicating this is correct.

Products that can restrict baby’s airway

There are lots of products available for babies to sit in and sleep in but some are not the safest options for sleep because they don’t protect your baby’s airway.  

Illustration depicting baby's airways being restricted, as an illustrated baby's head is sitting on their chest. This is restricting their airways (ability to breathe). Illustration depicting a baby sleeping on their back and showing how open the baby's airways (ability to breathe) are. There is a tick to indicate this is the correct way to safe sleeping for babies.
A baby is sleeping on their back. They have light skin and dark hair and wear a light yellow sleep suit.

 Don’t use the following for sleep:

  • Anything that keeps your baby in a seated, or “inclined”, position, such as bouncy chairs, swings, hammocks and beanbags. This is because baby’s head can fall forwards.
  • Sleep positioners or anything that restricts a baby’s ability to roll.
  • Duvets and cot bumpers, and thick, heavy or weighted bedding, as these items could cover the baby’s mouth and nose, blocking their airway.

If your baby falls asleep in products like the ones shown below, move them onto a firm, flat, clear space, such as a cot or Moses basket.

It is also important to keep your baby’s airway clear when using a sling or car seat.

Illustration of a baby in a pram. Their head is tilting forward which is causing their airways to close. There is a cross to indicate it is unsafe. An illustration depicting a baby sleeping in a car seat. There is a cross to indicate it is unsafe, as the baby's head is tilted with their head on their chest which could block their airways.
An illustrated baby is sleeping in a swing but there is a cross to indicate it is unsafe. The baby's head is tilted onto their chest, which suggests their airways (ability to breathe) is at risk. An illustrated baby is in a cot and within the cot is a hammock. There is a cross to indicate this is unsafe for the baby. This is because their head appears to be tilting onto their chest, which can cause their airways, ability to breathe, to become blocked.
An illustrated baby is sleeping in a pod, but there is a cross to indicate it is unsafe. The baby's head is tilting onto their chin which might suggest their airways, ability to breathe, is restricted. An illustrated baby is surrounded by sleep positioners, and there is a cross to indicate it is unsafe. The baby's head is tilting towards their chest, which might suggest their airways, ability to breathe, is compromised.
A baby is being fastened into a car seat by their parent. They have light skin, a small amount of light hair and are looking to the side, smiling at their parent.

Remember

Babies’ bodies are different to adults. Their airways are much more delicate and their heads are heavier, so their heads can flop forwards and restrict their breathing. If their noses and mouths get covered by toys or bedding, or even press against soft surfaces, the air can’t flow and their breathing can be impaired. This means it’s important to take steps to keep their airways open and clear. Sleep them on their backs on a clear, flat, firm surface, so you can be confident that your baby can breathe easily.

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Discover more about safer sleep

Our safer sleep advice has been developed after decades of research, that still continues today. Learn more about keeping your baby safe.

Safer sleep information
Breastfeeding Room sharing Co-sleeping Room temperature Keeping a clear cot Sleeping position Safer sleep overview