Keep Your Baby Safe This Christmas: Essential Sleep Tips for Parents

Safe Sleep Reminders for a Festive Season

As Christmas approaches, parents in Cornwall are being urged to prioritise safer sleeping practices for babies. The festive period often disrupts routines, with visits to family and friends, late nights, and increased alcohol consumption creating new challenges for keeping little ones safe.

Cornwall Council’s public health team, in partnership with the Our Safeguarding Children Partnership (OSCP) and the Lullaby Trust, is raising awareness about the risks posed by changes to normal sleeping routines, which can increase the likelihood of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Tragically, around 300 babies in the UK die suddenly and unexpectedly every year, many of these deaths potentially preventable through safer sleep practices.

Since 2019, 24 babies in Devon and Cornwall have died where unsafe sleeping was a factor. These figures highlight the importance of following evidence-based advice to protect your child.

Top Safer Sleep Tips from the Lullaby Trust

The Lullaby Trust offers simple, practical tips to ensure babies sleep safely, whether at home or while visiting loved ones this Christmas:

• Always place your baby on their back to sleep
• Place your baby to sleep in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for the first six months
• Place your baby in the “feet to foot” position, with their feet touching the end of the cot or Moses basket
• Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress that is in good condition
• Make sure there are no pillows, heavy duvets or cuddly toys in the cot or Moses basket
• Keep your baby’s head uncovered – if they have a blanket, it should be tucked in no higher than their shoulders
• If you’re staying with family or friends this Christmas then a travel cot with a rigid frame and base is a safe place for your baby to sleep
• It’s ok for your baby to fall asleep in a car seat when travelling, but they should be taken out as soon as you get to your destination and placed onto a firm, flat surface to sleep
• If your trip involves driving for long periods of time, you should stop for regular breaks
• Keep your baby smoke-free during pregnancy and after birth
• Breastfeed your baby if you can – for support with breastfeeding, talk to your midwife or health visitor

What to Avoid

Certain practices significantly increase the risk of SIDS and should be avoided:

• Never sleep on a sofa or in an armchair with your baby – this can increase the risk of SIDS by 50 times
• Don’t sleep in the same bed as your baby if you smoke, have recently drunk any alcohol, taken drugs or medication that makes you feel sleepy, or if your baby was born prematurely or was of low birth-weight
• Avoid letting your baby get too hot

Support and Advice for Families

For families with questions about creating safer sleeping spaces, health visitors and midwives can provide personalised advice.

Cllr Barbara Ellenbroek, cabinet member for children and families at Cornwall Council, said:
“The birth of a baby is such a special and happy time for families, and parents want to make sure that the newest member of the family is kept safe and comfortable. A parent’s greatest priority is keeping their child safe right from the first moments.

“So, we want to remind people during this Christmas season, when families are often away from home staying with relatives, that the Lullaby Trust’s Safer Sleep tips should be followed.”

Rachel Wigglesworth, Director of Public Health for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, added:
“Christmas is traditionally the season when people spend time with their families, often staying overnight at a relative’s house. Take a travel cot for baby to keep them safe and comfortable.

“If you’ve had an alcoholic drink or taken medication, you need an appropriate adult to take care of your baby. Baby will be safest in their own separate sleeping place, ideally in a cot in your room. By following the Lullaby Trust’s top tips, you and baby can have a fun and safe Christmas holiday.”

Chief Superintendent Ben Deer, Chair of OSCP, echoed this advice:
“We know that Christmas is a special time for families. We are proud to support this campaign to make sure as many parents, and professionals, know about the Lullaby Trust and their advice on how to make sure babies are sleeping safely.”

Further Information

For more advice on safer sleep for babies, visit the Cornwall Council website or the Lullaby Trust website.