Baby sleep products
A wide range of products are sold with promises of improving babies’ sleep and making them more comfortable.
These include sleep positioners, baby pillows, cuddle cushions, sleep pods, baby nests, cot bumpers and other products designed to provide comfort or soothing while a baby sleeps.
However, babies do not need these products and can even be put in danger. The safest sleep space for a baby is a clear sleep space.
Safer sleep guidance
A clear sleep space (cot, Moses basket or bassinet) is the safest place for a baby to sleep. It should contain only a firm, flat waterproof mattress and either a securely tucked-in blanket or a well-fitting sleeping bag.
Anything unnecessary should be removed from the sleep space, as items such as pillows, duvets, bumpers, toys, nests or positioning products can increase the risk of suffocation or overheating.
For more safe sleep advice, visit the Lullaby Trust: https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/baby-safety/safer-sleep-information/safer-sleep-overview/
Keep the sleep space clear
Babies do not need pillows, cushions, pods, nests or cot bumpers when they sleep.
Products placed in a baby’s sleep space can put them at risk of suffocation or overheating. For example, a baby’s nose or mouth may become covered, making it harder for them to breathe. Some products may also increase the chances of a baby overheating.
Not recommended for sleep
We do not recommend using:
- Sleep positioners designed to keep a baby in one position while they sleep
- Baby pillows
- Cuddle cushions
- Sleep pods and baby nests with padded sides
- Cot bumpers that fit around the inside of the cot
- Hooded sleeping bags
- Products placed in a baby’s sleep space to provide comfort, support or soothing while they sleep such as cushions with automated patting functions and cuddly toys
Products placed inside a baby’s sleep space can put them at risk of suffocation or overheating. For example, a baby’s nose or mouth may become covered, making it harder for them to breathe.
Babies do not need pillows, cushions, pods, nests or cot bumpers when they sleep. The safest sleep space for a baby is a clear, flat, firm separate sleep space (e.g. a cot or Moses basket).
What your baby needs for safe sleep
For most babies, all that is needed for safe sleep is a cot, moses basket or bassinet with a firm, flat, waterproof mattress and lightweight bedding.
To help keep your baby at a comfortable temperature, if required, use either a blanket that is securely tucked in, or a well-fitting sleeping bag without a hood. If you choose to use a baby sleeping bag, look for one that meets BS EN 16781.
Top tips
Keep your baby’s sleep space clear.
- Do not use sleep positioners, pillows, cushions, pods or nests
- Do not use cot bumpers.
- To keep your baby at a comfortable temperature, if required, use a tucked-in blanket or a sleeping bag that meets BS EN 16781.
- Always read product levels, safety warnings and instructions before using a baby product.
More advice:
- Lullaby Trust: https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/baby-safety/safer-sleep-information/
- Office for Product Safety and Standards: Product Safety Alert: Baby Sleep Pillows (PSA8) - GOV.UK