Antenatal guide for pregnant women

It's lovely to have your baby with you for a cuddle or a feed, but it's safest to put them back in their cot before you go to sleep. The safest place for your baby to sleep for the first 6 months is in a cot, lying on their back, in the same room as you.

To reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) the safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own clear, flat, separate sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket. However, we know that many parents find themselves co-sleeping whether they mean to or not. Wherever you’re planning for your baby to sleep we recommend making your bed a safer place for baby. Our advice on co-sleeping with your baby will tell you how.

When not to co-sleep

Whether you choose to co-sleep or it is unplanned, there are some key risks you should avoid. 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 when they were born.

In these scenarios, it is always best to put baby in their own safe sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket. Keeping the cot or Moses basket next to your bed might make this easier.

Never fall asleep on a sofa or armchair with your baby. The risk of SIDS is 50 times higher for babies when they 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.

Co-sleeping more safely

Adult beds have not been designed or safety tested for infant sleep in the same way as, for example, a cot or Moses basket. Whether you choose to bedshare, or it is unplanned, it is best to think ahead.

• Keep pillows and adult bedding away from your baby or any other items that could cover their head or cause them to overheat. A high proportion of babies who die as a result of SIDS are found with their head covered by loose bedding.
• Remove slatted / decorated headboards.
• Follow all The Lullaby Trust’s other safer sleep advice to reduce the risk of SIDS such as making sure the baby is sleeping on their back.
• Do not bring other children or pets into bed with you. This will help to reduce the risk of accidents.
• Check that your baby cannot be trapped in the bedframe or headboard, wedged or fall out of bed or get trapped between the mattress and the wall.
• Never leave your baby alone in an adult bed. It’s important to consider any risks that an adult bed may pose to your baby, especially while you are asleep.