This is a non-accredited awareness course developed using publicly available safe sleeping guidance from Red Nose Australia.
This course:
Learners should follow their organisation’s current sleep and rest policies, risk-assessment procedures and applicable regulatory requirements.
Babies are particularly vulnerable while sleeping because they cannot always move away from unsafe bedding, soft surfaces or objects that interfere with their breathing.
Safe sleeping practices aim to reduce the risk of:
Safe sleeping recommendations should be followed for every sleep, including daytime naps, overnight sleep and sleep away from home.
By the end of this course, learners should be able to:
Red Nose Australia identifies six key recommendations that help reduce the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy.
1. Always place baby on their back to sleep
A baby should be placed on their back at the beginning of every sleep.
Back sleeping helps keep the baby’s airway clear and allows protective reflexes to work effectively. It reduces the risk of suffocation, overheating and choking.
Do not routinely place a baby:
Side sleeping is unstable because a baby may roll onto their stomach.
Continue placing the baby on their back at the start of every sleep.
When a baby can confidently roll from back to front and front to back independently, they may choose their own sleeping position. The sleep space must still remain firm, flat and clear.
Do not use restraints, wedges or sleep positioners to prevent rolling.
2. Keep baby’s head and face uncovered
A baby’s head and face must remain uncovered during sleep.
This helps:
Babies regulate temperature through their head and face. Hats, beanies, hoods and loose blankets can trap heat or cover the baby’s face.
Remove hats, beanies and hooded clothing before placing a baby to sleep indoors.
3. Keep baby smoke-free before and after birth
Exposure to smoking during pregnancy and after birth increases the risk of sudden infant death.
Babies should be protected from:
No one should smoke near a baby or in an area where the baby sleeps.
4. Provide a safe sleeping environment for every sleep
The safest sleep environment is generally a compliant cot with:
Red Nose describes the safest place for a baby to sleep as a safe cot with a safe mattress and safe bedding.
The cot should be kept away from:
5. Sleep baby in their own safe sleep space in the same room as a parent or caregiver
Red Nose recommends that a baby sleep in their own safe sleep space in the same room as their parent or caregiver for at least the first six months.
This recommendation applies to both daytime and night-time sleep. Room sharing is different from sharing the same bed or sleep surface.
A baby should not routinely sleep:
Falling asleep with a baby on a couch or sofa creates a particularly high risk of a serious sleeping accident.
6. Breastfeed baby where possible
Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy.
Families who are unable to breastfeed, or who choose not to breastfeed, should still follow all other safe sleeping recommendations. Safe sleeping information must be communicated respectfully and without judgement.
Before placing a baby in a cot, check the complete sleep space.
The cot should:
Do not use a cot that has:
The mattress must be:
There should not be large gaps between the mattress and the sides of the cot.
Do not add:
A mattress should not be tilted or inclined unless a qualified health professional has provided individual medical advice and the arrangement is consistent with applicable policies.
The cot should remain clear.
Remove:
Where a lightweight blanket is used:
A correctly fitted baby sleeping bag may be used instead of blankets.
A safer sleeping bag should:
A baby should be comfortably warm, not hot.
Consider:
Check the baby’s chest, back or abdomen rather than using their hands or feet to judge body temperature.
Remove hats, beanies and outdoor clothing when the baby is sleeping indoors.
Wrapping may help some young babies settle. However, it must be performed safely.
When wrapping a baby:
Placing a baby in a safe cot is only one part of safe sleeping practice. Sleeping babies must also be appropriately supervised.
Early childhood services should use active or continuous supervision practices consistent with:
A physical sleep check should consider:
Do not rely only on:
Services should document sleep checks according to their policies and procedures.
Families may have cultural practices, preferences or previous experiences relating to infant sleep.
Educators and carers should:
Listen respectfully.
A baby may occasionally have an individual medical need that affects their sleeping arrangements.
Where a different sleep position or arrangement is requested for medical reasons:
Products designed for transport, sitting or play are not automatically suitable as routine sleep spaces.
Babies should not routinely be left sleeping in:
When practical and safe to do so, move a sleeping baby to an approved firm, flat sleep surface.
During necessary travel, use the restraint correctly and supervise the baby according to the manufacturer’s instructions and road-safety requirements.
Immediately check a baby if they:
Check for danger.
Check whether the baby responds.
Call for assistance.
Send someone to call Triple Zero on 000 and obtain an automated external defibrillator, where available.
Open and check the baby’s airway.
Check for normal breathing.
Begin infant CPR if the baby is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
Follow the emergency operator’s instructions.
Continue until qualified help takes over or the baby begins breathing normally.
Only perform CPR according to your current training and workplace emergency procedures.
Safe sleeping awareness training does not replace accredited first aid or CPR training.
Before every sleep, confirm:
