Sadly, 4 babies die every week from SIDS and unsafe co-sleeping is certainly a factor. With greater awareness and information given to carers, we can together reduce this number!

This campaign is focusing on safer co-sleeping and it will help so many families have access to information to enable them to make their own informed decision on this subject and reduce hazardous co-sleeping situations.

The Lullaby Trust, Public Health England, Unicef UK Baby Friendly and Basis give some key advice for safer co-sleeping [source Lullaby Trust]

• Keep the space around your baby clear of pillows and duvets.
• Always sleep your baby on their back.
• Avoid letting pets or other children in the bed.
• Make sure your baby cannot fall out of bed or become trapped between the mattress and wall.
• Never leave the baby alone in the bed.

You should never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair, this increases the risk of SIDS by 50 times.

It is important to know there are some circumstances where it is dangerous to share a bed with your baby. You should not co-sleep if:

• Either you or anyone in the bed smokes (even if you do not smoke in the bedroom).
• Either you or anyone in the bed has recently drunk any alcohol.
• You or anyone in the bed has taken any drugs that make you feel sleepy.
• Your baby was born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or weighed under 2.5kg or 5½lbs when they were born.

They have also produced a great infographic to summarise these points

Images from Lullaby Trust

For more advice on safer sleep for your baby, download the free guide from the Lullaby Trust

If you have any top tips for safe co-sleeping please do share them in the Wharfedale & Craven Mumbler Chat Group.