Safe Sleep Guidelines: What Hasn’t Changed

By Elena Fraser, Safety & Compliance Editor | Safety & Standards Column | Childcare Standards Council

For new and expectant parents, few topics are as pressing or as emotionally charged as safe sleep for infants. While advice evolves with new research, some fundamentals have remained consistent for decades.

In this article, we’ll review the core principles of infant sleep safety that continue to stand the test of time, offering clarity amid shifting trends and online noise.

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Why Safe Sleep Still Matters

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as cot death, remains a serious concern, even though rates in the UK have declined significantly since public health campaigns began in the early 1990s.

According to the Lullaby Trust, approximately 200 babies die unexpectedly each year in the UK. Many of these deaths are still unexplained, but we know that safe sleep practices can significantly reduce the risk.

The Basics That Haven’t Changed

Here are the safe sleep guidelines that have remained consistent for decades, and why they still matter today.

1. Always Place Baby on Their Back to Sleep

Since the 1991 “Back to Sleep” campaign, placing babies on their backs for every sleep, day and night, has been one of the most important messages to parents and carers. Sleeping on the back keeps airways open and reduces the risk of suffocation. Despite evolving discussions on sleep positions, no alternative has proven safer.

Still valid in 2025. The safest sleep position for babies under 12 months is on their back.

2. Use a Firm, Flat Mattress with a Fitted Sheet

A firm, flat sleep surface remains a foundational part of sleep safety. Soft mattresses or sleeping surfaces can increase the risk of suffocation and overheating. Avoid memory foam or inclined sleep products.

Still valid in 2025. Use a safety tested cot or Moses basket with a firm mattress and a fitted cot sheet, no extras needed.

3. Keep Sleep Environments Clear of Hazards

Pillows, soft toys, cot bumpers, duvets, and loose blankets all pose suffocation or entanglement risks. While these items may seem comforting, they are not safe for sleep.

Still valid in 2025. A bare cot is a safe cot. Keep it free from anything not essential to sleep.

4. Avoid Bed Sharing, Especially in Risky Situations

The guidance around bed sharing remains nuanced. While some parents do bed share, it is especially dangerous if the adult has consumed alcohol, smoked, or is overly tired. Sofas and armchairs are never safe places to fall asleep with a baby.

Still valid in 2025. If you do choose to bed share, follow NHS and Lullaby Trust guidance meticulously.

5. Keep Baby’s Sleep Space in Your Room for the First Six Months

Room sharing (not bed sharing) is recommended for at least the first six months. Keeping your baby’s cot or Moses basket in your room makes it easier to monitor them, respond to needs, and lower the risk of SIDS.

Still valid in 2025. The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a separate sleep space in the same room.

What Has Changed And What Hasn’t

While some modern sleep products and parenting trends have added confusion, none of the longstanding safe sleep principles have been overturned by new evidence.

In fact, many newer trends have raised red flags for paediatric experts and regulatory bodies.

Inclined Sleepers and Rockers:

Inclined baby sleepers and rockers have been pulled from shelves in multiple countries after links to sleep related deaths. Babies can slump forward in these products, blocking airways.

Weighted Sleep Products:

Weighted sleep sacks and blankets are increasingly marketed to parents, but paediatric sleep researchers remain cautious. These products may restrict movement or impact breathing, especially in younger infants.

Sleep Monitors and Apps:

While digital sleep monitors can provide reassurance, they do not replace safe sleep practices. Parents should not rely on monitors to justify unsafe choices, like tummy sleeping or bed sharing in high risk conditions.

Bottom line: New gadgets may come and go, but the safest sleep remains simple, consistent, and grounded in medical consensus.

Consistency Brings Peace of Mind

With so much advice online and often conflicting, parents may feel overwhelmed. But the key message here is reassuring: the core recommendations haven’t changed because they work.

The science around safe infant sleep is well established. Where guidelines evolve (e.g., product recalls or nuanced research), it is often to refine, not replace, the foundation. The safest choice for your baby is still the simplest one.

Final Thoughts

As a parent or carer, you're constantly learning and adapting, but when it comes to sleep safety, it’s comforting to know that some truths are enduring.

Always follow the basics: back to sleep, firm mattress, no soft items, and room sharing for the first six months. These simple steps continue to save lives in 2025, just as they have for the past 30 years.