What is a safe sleeping environment?

A safe sleeping environment means that all potential dangers have been removed and the baby is sleeping in a safe place. The ideal place for a baby to sleep is in a safe cot, on a safe mattress, with safe bedding in a safe sleeping place, both night and day.

Unsafe settings for baby's sleep-time include leaving baby unattended on an adult bed or bunk bed, placing baby on a waterbed, beanbag, couch, pillow or cushion, or with a sleeping adult or child on a couch, sofa or chair.

Keep baby's cot away from hanging cords such as blinds, curtains, or electrical appliances as they could get caught around baby's neck. Keep heaters or any electrical appliances well away from the cot to avoid the risk of overheating, burns and electrocution. Never use electric blankets, hot water bottles or wheat bags for babies.

Pillows - Safe or not safe?

No, pillows are not recommended to prevent a flat head, in fact, pillows are not necessary for baby for any reason as they increase baby's risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy, including SIDS and fatal sleep accidents. Red Nose does not recommend placing a pillow in baby's sleep environment.

A pillow may cover the baby's face and obstruct breathing or cause overheating. Furthermore, when a baby falls asleep propped up on a pillow, his/her head can fall forwards, pushing his/her chin down towards his/her chest. This can lead to his/her airway becoming blocked and reducing airflow.

Older babies in a cot can be at an increased risk of a sleeping accident by using pillows as a step to climb up and fall out of the cot.

Red Nose recommends delaying offering a pillow until baby is over two years of age and is no longer sleeping in a cot or portable cot.

Can a baby be slept on it's side?

Placing babies to sleep on the side doubles the risk of SUDI (SIDS and fatal sleeping accidents) and is not recommended as a safe alternative to sleeping a baby on the back. The side position is unstable: a baby is likely to roll into the high risk tummy position, placing the baby at nine times the risk of SUDI.

Rockers - Safe or not safe?

A bouncinette (also known as a bouncer or rocker) is a chair that allows baby to either bounce or rock in a reclined position.

It may have been suggested by family and friends that you place baby in a bouncinette in the first couple of months. Here are some things to consider when weighing up this suggestion.

As there is no Australian Standard for bouncinettes, we are careful to keep up to date with reports of accidents associated with their use. To date, the most frequent accidents associated with bouncinette use are falls and entrapment hazards. Furthermore, deaths have occurred when baby has been placed to sleep in a bouncinette.

Red Nose recommends that baby be slept on the back on a firm and flat surface.

When a baby falls asleep in a propped up device the head can fall forwards, pushing the chin down towards the chest. This can lead to the airway becoming blocked and reducing airflow.

Tilt your own head forward and place your chin on your chest. Try to breathe through your nose. Can you breathe freely? No. Babies breathe better when they are lying on their back on a firm, well fitting, flat (not tilted or elevated) mattress.

The Australian government draws on these reports and produces guidelines on ways to reduce these types of accidents, which are available in the Australian government's publication 'Keeping baby safe - a guide to infant and nursery products' available here.

Centre Policy

 Did you know that we have a Policy on Sleep & Rest? 

Please ask staff for a copy or you can read the policy in the Centre Policy folder which is available at all times in the foyer.

Where can I find more information?

More information can be found on the Parent Brochure stand in our foyer. Please feel free to take any brochures that may be of interest to you.

and more info can be found here https://rednose.com.au/