Creating a safe sleep space for your baby doesn’t have to be complicated, but getting it right matters more than most parents realise. We walk you through the key steps — from cot setup and room temperature to bedding, positioning and monitor use — so you can feel confident your baby is sleeping as safely as possible. Practical, evidence-based and easy to follow.
Setting up a calm, safe place for your baby to sleep is more important than filling a nursery with lots of products. This guide shares practical tips based on current Red Nose Australia safe sleep recommendations to help you create a simple, safe sleep space at home.
1. The safest sleep position
Place your baby on their back for every sleep — daytime naps and overnight. Back sleeping helps keep your baby’s airway clear and is recommended for all healthy babies from birth, unless your baby’s doctor or midwife gives you specific medical advice to do something different.
Once babies are able to roll on their own, you can still place them down on their back to start sleep, then let them find their own position. There’s no need to use wedges or positioners to keep them in place — these are not recommended for safe sleep.
2. Keep baby’s head and face uncovered
Your baby should sleep with their head and face uncovered so they can breathe easily and stay at a comfortable temperature. Hats, beanies, hooded clothing and loose blankets can cover a baby’s nose or mouth and make it harder for them to breathe.
Take off your baby’s hat or beanie as soon as you come inside or before putting them down to sleep. If you use bedding, make sure it is tucked in securely at chest level so it can’t ride up over their face.
3. Keep the sleep space clear
A safe cot or bassinet looks quite plain — and that’s a good thing. The sleep surface should be flat and clear, with your baby placed on their back, tucked in or in a safe sleep sack, and nothing else in the cot.
- no pillows or nursing pillows
- no soft toys or comforters in the cot while baby is sleeping
- no loose bedding, doonas, quilts or lambskins
- no cot bumpers or padded liners
- no wedges, positioners or products that claim to keep baby in a certain position
Keep decorative items for supervised awake time, and remove them from the cot or bassinet when it’s time for sleep.
4. Choose the right mattress and cot
Use a firm, flat mattress that fits snugly in the cot or bassinet, with no gaps around the edges where your baby could get trapped. The mattress should not sag or lose its shape when your baby is lying on it.
Choose a cot that meets the current Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2172 for household cots, or AS/NZS 2195 for folding cots. When you set up the cot, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and keep the mattress at the lowest safe height once your baby can pull up or stand.
5. Room sharing
Red Nose recommends that babies sleep in their own safe sleep space in the same room as a parent or caregiver for the first six months.
This might be a bassinet, portable cot or cot placed next to your bed. Room sharing makes it easier to see and check on your baby, feed them overnight and respond to their needs, while still giving them their own clear, safe sleep surface.
6. Temperature and clothing
Dress your baby for sleep in light layers that match the room temperature. As a general guide, your baby usually needs a similar number of layers to you, plus one extra light layer if needed. It’s safer to add a layer of clothing than to use heavy blankets or doonas.
Avoid overheating by keeping your baby’s head uncovered and checking their chest or back, rather than hands or feet, to see if they feel comfortably warm. If your baby feels hot, sweaty or flushed, remove a layer.
7. Keep hazards away from the cot
Place your baby’s cot or bassinet away from hazards that they could reach, pull into the cot or become tangled in.
- keep blind and curtain cords well out of reach and secured
- position the cot away from windows, heaters, fans and electrical appliances
- keep mobiles, wall hangings and shelves out of reach so nothing can fall into the cot
- avoid placing the cot near power points or cables your baby could grab
Do regular checks as your baby grows and becomes more mobile, as they may suddenly be able to reach items that were previously out of the way.
BubScout Tip
A safe sleep space doesn’t need lots of products. Keeping your baby’s sleep surface clear, flat and appropriate for their age is the priority. If you’re unsure about a product, check the latest Red Nose Australia advice or speak with your child health nurse or doctor.
