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Wherever and whenever your baby sleeps, they need a safe sleep environment.

A safe sleep environment is one that helps to keep your baby’s airways open so they can breathe easily.

By creating a safe sleep environment, you can reduce the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy, or SUDI. SUDI includes sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, and fatal sleep accidents.

A safe sleep environment has 4 key parts – a safe sleep position, a safe sleep surface, a safe sleep space, a safe sleep location.

First, position. The safest sleep position for your baby is on their back.

When your baby sleeps on their back, it helps to keep their airways clear and allows their protective reflexes to work better if their airways become blocked.

These reflexes include swallowing and arousal, which includes things like stirring and waking up.

Once your baby can roll easily onto their tummy, and then back again, place them to sleep on their back but let them find their own sleep position. It’s very important to stop wrapping your baby for sleep as soon as they begin to show signs of rolling.

Next, the surface. Safe sleep surfaces are firm, flat and level.

This keeps your baby’s airways open and helps them breathe easily.

Make sure your baby’s mattress or sleep surface is firm, flat and level – not tilted.

Cover the mattress with a tight-fitting fitted sheet.

If you’re using a mattress protector, make sure it’s well-fitted and not padded or soft.

Now, the sleep space. Safe sleep spaces are clear of anything that might stop your baby from breathing easily.

Keep your baby’s sleep space clear of things that could cover their face, mouth and nose, like pillows, doonas, cot bumpers and soft toys, and things that might wrap around your baby’s neck, like dummy chains, blind cords and necklaces.

Keep your baby’s sleep environment cigarette smoke and vapour free.

Safe sleep spaces also protect your baby from overheating. Your baby should be warm but not hot.

Make sure your baby is dressed appropriately for the temperature of the room.

If you need to use a blanket, make sure it’s lightweight. Tuck it in securely at your baby’s chest, with their feet at the bottom of the cot. This reduces the risk of the blanket covering your baby’s head.

Or instead of a blanket, use a safe infant sleeping bag or suit. This has a fitted neck and arm holes.

Babies regulate their temperature mostly through their head. Remove beanies and hats before sleep so your baby doesn’t get too hot. Never use an electric blanket or hot water bottle in your baby’s sleep space.

Finally, location. It’s safest for your baby to sleep in the same room as you for the first 6-12 months.

The reflexes that keep your baby’s airways open work best when your baby can sense you close by.

For more information about safe sleep in a cot, portacot or cot alternative, visit raisingchildren.net.au/cots.

And to find out how to make co-sleeping safer, visit raisingchildren.net.au/co-sleeping.

No matter where your baby sleeps or who is caring for them, they should always have a safe sleep environment.

Remember, babies need to sleep on their back, on a firm, flat, level surface in a clear sleep space close to you.

It’s important to share safe sleep information with anyone who cares for your baby, including family, friends and carers.

For more information, visit raisingchildren.net.au.