Safe sleeping: put babies on their backs to sleep

Put babies on their backs to sleep, not on their tummies or sides.

Put your baby to sleep on their back. This cuts the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) including SIDS and fatal sleeping accidents.

Put babies on their backs to sleep, not on their tummies or sides.

Don’t put your baby on their tummy to sleep. Babies who sleep on their tummies are at greater risk of SUDI.

Put babies on their backs to sleep, not on their tummies or sides.

Don’t put your baby on their side to sleep. Babies who sleep on their sides are at greater risk of SUDI.

Safe sleeping environment

Use a mattress that is flat, firm and fits the cot well.

Use a mattress that is flat, firm and fits the cot well. Put your baby’s feet at the bottom of the cot and tuck in the sheets firmly. Have the cot in your room for the first 6-12 months.

Sleep baby at the bottom of the cot; remove any pillows, toys or soft furnishings from the cot.

Don’t use quilts, doonas, lamb’s wool, pillows, soft toys, bumpers or anything that could cover your baby’s head. Don’t let baby sleep on a couch or armchair.

Reducing SUDI risk: breastfeed, avoid overheating, don’t smoke

Breastfeed baby.

If you can, breastfeed your baby or feed baby with expressed breastmilk for the first six months. Breastfeeding reduces SUDI risk.

Don't overdress baby.

Don’t overdress your baby. Keep baby’s face and head uncovered. Overheating is a SUDI risk.

Try to quit smoking.

Don’t smoke during pregnancy or around your baby. Smoke is a SUDI risk. If it’s hard to quit smoking, call Quitline on 137 848 for help.

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Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

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