Safer Sleeping

• Until your baby is six months old, lie them on their backs. After this you can carry on lying your baby on their back but you may find they are active enough to roll over

• Lie your baby with their feet at the base of the cot or use a baby sleeping bag. This ensures their heads can’t be covered by bedlinen which can cause overheating

• It is recommended that your baby should sleep in a mosses basket or carry cot in your room for their first six months

• Ensure the temperature in the nursery is cool (around 18C)

• Until your baby is over a year old, avoid duvets, pillows and sheepskins as these may cause them to overheat

• Ideally avoid smoking in the house and certainly in the nursery

• Invest in a good monitor that will help you stay in touch with your baby’s needs through the night

• If your baby is sleeping throughout the day, rather than letting them sleep in a car seat or rocking chair, let them sleep in their mosses basket or cot as this will not only help build routine but is also better for their spine as they are laid completely flat

Top Tip

• Establishing a routine as early as possible will not only help you but also help your baby associate the difference between play and sleep time. Some handy tips include:

• Put your baby down for their morning, afternoon nap and night sleep awake, so they are aware of their surroundings and can learn to send themselves off to sleep without the need for you to be present

• Create bedtime routine as early as possible. This may include their last meal, short play, a bath, story time, their last milk feed and bed. Keeping to the same routine will help your baby adjust to what you are asking them to do

• Create ‘quiet time’ an hour before bed. Remove all stimulating toys, try to avoid sugary drinks or snacks and generally lower