Where should my baby sleep?
Babies should always be in the same room as you for the first six months for sleep, day and night. The risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is lower when you have your baby sleep in the same room as you, compared to having them sleep alone.
This doesn’t mean you can’t leave the room to make a cup of tea or go to the toilet, but they’re safest if you’re close by most of the time. It means you can keep an eye on them and attend to them if they need anything.
The safest place for a baby to sleep is in the same room as you but in their own separate sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket, lying on their back rather than their front or side. There are no devices on the market that can replace a parent or carer being in the same room as baby for safer sleep.
Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair
Sofas and armchairs are dangerous places to fall asleep with your baby. The risk of SIDS is 50 times higher when babies sleep on a sofa or armchair with an adult. They are also at risk of accidental death as they can easily slip into a position where they are trapped and can’t breathe.
Any time you think you might fall asleep with your baby, move them to a clear, flat, firm sleep surface. Make sure they are on their back on a flat surface, clear of extra items such as toys and blankets that could cover their head.
Co-sleeping with your baby
Co-sleeping is when parents or carers sleep together with their baby. Some parents choose to share a bed with the baby, and sometimes people fall asleep with their baby without meaning to. Whether you plan to co-sleep with your baby or you plan to sleep separately, we recommend learning more about co-sleeping.
There are ways to make your bed as safe as possible for your baby and situations when sharing a bed is high risk. Co-sleeping with your baby is very dangerous if:
- You or anyone in the bed has recently drunk any alcohol
- You or anyone in the bed smokes or the baby was exposed to smoking in pregnancy
- You or anyone in the bed has taken any drugs or medication that make you feel sleepy
- Your baby was born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or weighed under 2.5kg or 5.5 pounds when they were born.
In these scenarios, it’s always best to put baby in their own sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket.
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Room-sharing with your baby can give you peace of mind that your baby is in the safest place possible during the early months. As they get older, their needs will change, but for the first six months, keep them close by, but in their own separate sleep space such as a cot or Moses basket. This helps to lower the risk of sindrome della morte improvvisa del lattante (SIDS). Follow our safer sleep advice for lots more information about creating a safer environment for your baby.
Ogni bambino è al sicuro. Ogni famiglia sostenuta.
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