Safer sleep for baby

Smoking increases the risk of your baby dying unexpectedly.

Quitting smoking is one of the most positive and rewarding achievements you can do when pregnant and after you have had your baby.

Even if you or your partner smoke in a different room to your baby, the risk of your baby dying unexpectedly increases.

Even if you only smoke a few cigarettes a day, it can still harm your baby. Smoke will stay on your clothes and chemicals continue to come out in your breath and skin for hours after you have smoked a cigarette, so the only way to protect your baby is to give up altogether. 

The key to giving up for good is to get support from your family, friends and professionals.

You will have a specialist stop smoking service in your area that will be able to inform, advise and support you. 

For help to quit smoking call your local Stop Smoking Service in Lancashire on 0808 196 2638 (free from landlines and mobile phones) or visit Smokefree Lancashire.

You can also search for stop smoking support services near you on the NHS website.

Giving up will help to improve the health of you and your baby. Plus just think of all the money you would save - why not use some of it to reward yourself for giving up.

The room your baby sleeps in should be between 16-20°C. Use a thermometer to check the temperature. If it’s too hot, you can turn down the heating or open the window.

To check if your baby is too warm, the best place to feel is on their chest, with the back of your hand. Don’t worry if baby’s hands or feet feel cool, this is normal.

If they are too warm remove a layer of bedding and/or clothing. If using a sleep bag remove your baby’s clothes and make sure you continue to fit the sleep bag according to safety instructions.

Clothing

What your baby should wear to sleep will depend on:

• your baby

• the temperature of the room

• what bedding you choose for your baby

• the time of year

Your baby should never wear a hat while they are asleep inside. Remember to remove warm clothing and hats when you come in from outside, even if this means waking your baby.

Bedding

• Use sheets, cellular blankets or a correctly fitted sleep bag.

• Use no more than 6 layers, this includes the vest and baby grow.

• Baby sleep bags come in various togs and each one should have a label that says when it is best to use it as a guide.

• If anyone is sharing a bed space with your baby, ensure the space baby is in, is free from any adult bedding.

• Don’t use pillows and duvets (under 12 months) as they increase the risk of suffocation and overheating. Pillow use alone has been shown to increase the chance of death occurring by 2.5 times.

Remember! If you fold a blanket or sheet this should be counted as a double layer.

Some care givers choose to sleep in a bed with their baby, perhaps to support breastfeeding, or to provide reassurance to baby. Whatever the reason for bed sharing, there are some important things to remember:

• Keep baby free from pillows, loose sheets, blankets or any other items that could obstruct your baby’s breathing or cause them to overheat. A high proportion of babies who die while sleeping are found with their head covered by loose bedding.

• Do not let pets or other children in the bed with baby.

• Make sure baby won’t fall out of bed or get trapped between the mattress and the wall.

• Never leave a baby alone in the bed as they are at risk of falling out or wriggling into a dangerous position.

• If you bring baby into the bed during the night wake anyone else in the bed to let them know what you are doing to help stop them accidently rolling on to baby.

The safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own clear, flat, separate sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket. Sharing a bed with an adult is a significant risk for babies born prematurely or at a low birthweight, which is common in multiples.

Never share a bed if either you or your partner smokes (even if you do not smoke in the bedroom) as this increases the risk of your baby dying.

Never share a bed if either you or your partner has drunk alcohol or taken drugs (including medications that may make you drowsy) this can make you less responsive to a baby.

Never share a bed if you are extremely tired.

Never share a bed if your baby was born premature (37 weeks or less).

Never share a bed if your baby was born at a low weight (2.5kg or 5½ lbs or less).

The safest place for your baby to sleep is in their cot, crib or moses basket in your room with you for the first 6 months. If baby won't settle without you, try moving where they sleep next to your bed as this may reassure them that you are near. If you have a partner ask for their help, perhaps take it in turns to care for baby while the other sleeps.

There may be times when your baby remains unsettled. Placing your baby skin to skin with you and gently rocking can provide comfort.

Make sure you and your partner do not put yourselves in a position where you could fall asleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair. 

The safest position for your baby to sleep in is on their back, even if baby doesn't like it, so keep trying. There may be other reasons behind them being uncomfortable in this position, for example if they have a cold. Your health visitor or GP will be able to advise you on ways you can help with this.

Don’t worry too much if your baby moves onto their side on their own. Once they are strong enough to roll off their back onto their front you are fine to leave them this way.

The ideal temperature for a baby’s room is between 16 - 20oC but if you can’t get the temperature exactly between these, don’t worry. Just make sure you dress baby in the appropriate sleep wear and remove or add layers of bedding dependant on whether the room is too hot or too cold. 

If your baby is going to be sleeping somewhere different for the first time, whether this is on holiday or at a baby sitters, it's important that whoever is looking after them follows the safer sleep advice.

Before you go away there are a few extra things you should think about.

Whether your baby is spending the night at grandparents or you are going away on your holidays it's still important to follow our six steps to safer sleep. There are also some other factors that you need to consider. These are:

• At home, your baby will probably sleep in the same cot or Moses basket every night. Before you go away, it's really important to plan ahead – will the place you are staying provide a travel or ordinary cot, or will you need to take one with you?

• If you are using a cot that's been provided, make sure you examine it for any hazards. Is the cot assembled correctly? Is it free from cot bumpers, toys and excess bedding?

• You should also make sure the cot is not positioned near anything that could be a hazard, such as blind cords that the baby could become entangled in, or near a window sill that things could fall off.

• Make sure your baby doesn’t get too hot. Check the weather conditions and forecast, check the heating settings and make sure your baby is dressed appropriately. Have you got the correct bedding for the temperature? The ideal temperature for your baby's room is between 16-20 degrees centigrade.

• If the baby is going to be sleeping in a separate room, will you be able to hear them or do you need to take baby monitors?

Sleepless nights and caring for a baby can be hard but getting the right information from health professionals and talking to other parents can help. Here are some ideas from people who know what you are going through:

"Even though I’m not the best singer, Thomas loves lullabies and I find they really help to settle him when he wakes in the night."
Andy and Thomas

"If Bella keeps me up in the night I make sure I nap during the day when she does, the cleaning can wait!"
Emma and Bella

"When I’m up feeding my baby in the night I put on a night light and read a magazine to help stop me from falling asleep."
Shaghafta and Muhammad Eesa

"When my grandson stays over for the night I make sure I stick to his routine; quiet time, bath, book and then into his cot in our room. Doing this means he (usually) goes to sleep just like he would at home."
Steve and William