Safe-sleep guidance reduces sleep-related deaths, including suffocation and SIDS. Use it for every nap and night and align grandparents and child carers. If a medical condition requires another position, follow only the specific plan from the clinician caring for your baby.
Key takeaways
- 01
Baby starts every sleep on the back
- 02
Firm, flat, level mattress
- 03
Only a fitted sheet in the cot
1. Four foundations of the sleep space
Place baby on the back at the start of every sleep on a firm, flat, level mattress that fits a safety-approved cot or bassinet, covered only by a fitted sheet. Keep out pillows, loose blankets, toys, bumpers, inclined pads, and positioners. Share the adult room, ideally for at least the first six months, but use a separate infant sleep surface.
- Sofas and armchairs are not sleep spaces
- Do not use an adult bed as the routine sleep space
2. Night feeds and extreme tiredness
Keep the cot near the bed so baby can return after feeding or comforting. If you might fall asleep in bed, clear pillows, blankets, and soft items from the area before bringing baby over, then return baby to the separate space as soon as you wake. Never sleep with baby on a sofa or armchair. Share night shifts when possible to reduce dangerous exhaustion.
- An alarm does not replace an alert caregiver
- Move baby from a car seat after travel according to safety guidance
3. A 30-second room check
Before lights out, check: baby starts on the back; head and face are uncovered; the mattress is firm and flat; only a fitted sheet is present; cords, curtains, nets, and objects are out of reach; the room is comfortable and baby is not overheated. Post this list for grandparents and carers. Products marketed for deeper sleep or reflux do not replace safe-sleep standards.
- Recheck after another caregiver settles baby
- Ask the clinician for preterm or medically complex babies
Practical checklist
- Baby starts every sleep on the back
- Firm, flat, level mattress
- Only a fitted sheet in the cot
- No pillows, loose bedding, toys, or bumpers
- Same room, separate sleep surface
- Every caregiver knows the same rules
How NIMO built this guide
NIMO writes and localizes each guide for Vietnamese families, then checks key facts against the official references below. The links support the guide; they are not the guide itself.
Edited by NIMOVietnamese expert review pending
Fact-check references
This content is for information only and does not replace medical advice. For severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, or unusual unresponsiveness, contact a local medical facility or emergency service immediately.