The safer sleep message
There is no advice that guarantees the prevention of SIDS or SUDC but families or parents/carers should be informed that, by following the safer sleep advice, it is possible to significantly lower the risk of this tragedy occurring.
Parents/carers or families make decisions on safer baby care, for example about where to sleep their new baby and what bedding to buy, at different times. Therefore it is vitally important for midwives and other professionals working with parents or carers during pregnancy to target parents with our safer sleep message.
This advice should be followed up by the midwife after the birth, and again by the health visitor in the early weeks of the baby’s life.
It is essential that all professionals in touch with parents and visiting the family home make sure that the messages are understood by them, and do not assume that someone else has already offered leaflets or other materials.
Publications to order and download
Our aim is to provide you with the tools to help you get this sensitive message across in a clear and accessible way.
For orders up to 100 copies there is a small charge for postage and packaging. Orders for over 100 copies are charged at cost plus packaging.
If you’d prefer to print your own materials, you can download our publications here.
Download or purchase our bereavement support leaflets to share with bereaved families. This includes includes our leaflet ‘when a baby or young child dies suddenly and unexpectedly’, which provides useful and supportive information around grief and loss and the practical processes and arrangements that are necessary after the death of a baby.
Discover our online baby safety advice
From protecting babies from infection, learning all about safer sleep, and what products families should or shouldn't buy - we're here to help. Be sure to share our baby safety webpages with the families you work with.
Training
If you’re interested in training for yourself or a group of colleagues on SIDS and the current safer sleep advice, please see our training pages. We also have a collection of useful videos and animations that are free to watch and share, to help us spread vital safer sleep awareness and reduce the risk of SIDS.
Bereavement support
Discover more about our bereavement support services.
Baby Loss Awareness Week takes place 9 – 15 October. During this week families all over the world commemorate the lives of their babies and share memories of the all too brief time they had together.
More information about our advice
Should you have questions about the advice, the research background, or anything else, then please see our safer sleep advice pages or contact our information line on 0808 802 6869 or [email protected].
Useful resources
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Safer sleep for babies: a guide for professionals
A comprehensive guide to safer sleep for professionals working with families
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Professionals antenatal guide - safer sleep from day one
A guide for health professionals on delivering safer sleep information to parents, produced by The Lullaby Trust, Unicef UK Baby Friendly and Baby Sleep Information Source (Basis).
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Safer sleep awareness for early years settings booklet
A safer sleep guide for childminders, foster carers , nannies and nursery settings.
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Advice for early years settings poster
A handy poster with advice on what babies should sleep in in early years settings
