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How should my baby sleep? Red Nose's six safe sleep steps

Red Nose's six safe sleep recommendations for every baby from birth to 1 year, what makes a cot safe, and the free advice line to call.

A baby sleeps on their back in a sleeping bag in a bare cot beside the parents' bed, a parent's hand resting on the rail

Red Nose has six steps to reduce the risk of sudden infant death. They apply to every baby from birth to 1 year, and following them for every sleep, day and night, helps keep baby safe. Grandparents and anyone else who puts your baby down need to know them too, since advice has changed a lot since the 80s and 90s.

Questions about your baby's sleep? Call the Red Nose Safe Sleep Advice Line on 1300 998 698, 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (AEST). It's free.

The six steps

  1. On their back, every time. Back sleeping keeps the airway clear and lets baby's protective reflexes work.
  2. Head and face uncovered. Babies cool themselves through the face and head, so an uncovered head helps stop overheating and suffocation.
  3. Smoke-free, before and after birth. No smoking around baby, and never where baby sleeps. Quitline is free on 13 78 48.
  4. A safe sleep space, night and day. A safe cot, a safe mattress and safe bedding, with baby's feet at the bottom of the cot.
  5. Their own space, in your room, for at least the first 6 months.
  6. Breastfeed, if you can. Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of sudden infant death.

What makes a cot safe

  1. The cot meets the Australian standard. Be careful with an old or second-hand cot: never use one not known to meet today's standard.
  2. The mattress is firm, flat (not tilted or raised) and the right size, with no more than a 20 mm gap at the sides and ends.
  3. Bedding is lightweight, tucked in firmly, and comes no higher than baby's chest. Or use a sleeping bag that fits well across the neck and chest, with arms out and no hood.
  4. Nothing soft or bulky. No doona, loose blankets, pillows, cot bumpers, lambswool or soft toys. Red Nose says soft toys and comforters shouldn't go in the sleep space until at least 7 months old, corrected for prematurity.

When baby starts rolling

Most babies start rolling around 4 to 5 months. Keep placing them on their back. Once rolling starts, move from a bassinet to a cot, stop wrapping, and give more tummy time while awake. A baby who rolls confidently can stay in the position they choose.

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