Safe Sleep

Safe sleep at each stage 

Newborn 

  • room in with baby and provide their own sleep space (bassinet, moses basket, cot, wahakura or pepi-pod) with a firm mattress for every sleep 
  • place the infant on their back to sleep with their feet touching the end of their bed 
  • breastfeed baby (even partially beneficial) 
  • swaddle using a wrap, use arms out swadling from 6 weeks 
  • if using a blanket make sure it is light and tucked in tight an no higher than chest level. 
  • keep the baby’s room cool (18-20°C), don’t overdress and no hats when sleeping 

2-6 months 

  • continue to place the baby on their back to sleep and if they choose can roll onto their front 
  • continue to ‘room in’ with baby until 6 months and keep them in their own sleep space for every sleep 
  • transfer baby to a cot when they have reached the weight, height or age limits or reached the developmental milestone as specified by the manufacturer 
  • transfer baby from a swaddle to a sleep suit once they start to show signs of rolling 

6-12 months 

  • continue to place the baby on their back to sleep and if they choose can roll onto their front 
  • place baby in their own sleep space for every sleep 
  • do not introduce any pillow or blankets until baby is out of a cot and over 12 months 
  • a cuddly toy may be introduced after 7/8 months as long as it is not so small it’s a choking risk or so large it is a suffocation risk 

Safe sleep check 

this three point check is offered as a safety habit for parents for every time and place their baby sleeps.

1. Check vulnerability 

  • less vulnerable? more vulnerable? 
  • Always in own baby bed if more vulnerable eg. cot, wahakura. or Pepi-Pod? 

2. Check position 

  • lying face-up (on the back)? 
  • plenty of space around the face and head for breathing? 
  • no chance that these conditions will change? 

3. Check place 

  • smokefree? 
  • in a protected space, free from any hazard? 
  • with a responsible and sober person close by? 

Safe sleep summary 

  • starting in pregnancy, make babies as resilient (strong) as possible 
  • for every sleep, make it as easy as possible for babies to breathe 
  • in every place they sleep, make the environment, as safe as possible 

It’s highly dangerous to bedshare when: 

  • baby was exposed to tobacco smoke during pregnancy (this increases the risk of SUDI by 32 times) OR if there is smoking in the household (this includes outside). The risk from vaping is unknown 
  • you have been drinking alcohol or taking drugs 
  • sleeping on a couch or a recliner/armchair