Red Nose Australia recommends six evidence-based safe sleep practices that reduce the risk of SIDS and fatal sleep accidents. and the most important one is always placing your baby on their back to sleep, in their own safe cot, with a firm mattress and no loose bedding. According to Red Nose, SIDS rates in Australia have dropped by over 80% since safe sleep campaigns began in the 1990s. Following these six recommendations is the most effective thing you can do to protect your baby.
Not sure when to make the switch? Read our guide on when to stop swaddling — rolling while swaddled is a SIDS risk every parent should know about.
This guide covers each of the six safe sleep recommendations in detail, how to set up a safe cot step by step, the difference between room sharing and bed sharing, seasonal safety, and the role of dummies and breastfeeding in SIDS prevention. All information is based on Red Nose Australia's safe sleep guidelines
These align with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep guidelines, which Red Nose adapts for Australian families.; Australia's leading authority on SIDS prevention.
Red Nose Australia's six safe sleep recommendations are based on decades of research and are endorsed by every major Australian health organisation. Here they are in full:
Red Nose Australia helpline: Call 1300 998 698 for free safe sleep information and support. Available to all Australian families. You can also visit rednose.org.au for detailed safe sleep resources.
A safe cot is the foundation of safe sleep. Here's exactly what it should look like, according to Red Nose Australia:
Room sharing means your baby sleeps in the same room as a parent or caregiver, but in their own cot or bassinet. Bed sharing means sleeping in the same bed as your baby.
Room sharing: recommended. Red Nose Australia recommends room sharing for at least the first 6 months, ideally 12 months. A cot or bassinet next to your bed is protective against SIDS and also makes night feeds and settling easier. You can hear your baby, respond quickly, and check on them easily without getting up.
Bed sharing: not recommended. Red Nose advises against bed sharing, especially if your baby is under 4 months, was born premature or at low birth weight, or if you or your partner smoke, have consumed alcohol, are extremely tired, or are taking medication that makes you sleep heavily. Sofa sleeping with a baby is particularly dangerous — the risk of suffocation is significantly higher than in an adult bed.
If you do bring your baby into your bed for feeding or comfort, Red Nose recommends making the bed as safe as possible: remove pillows and doonas near the baby, keep the baby on their back, and place them back in their own cot as soon as you're ready to sleep.
When it's cold, the temptation is to add extra bedding, but layering your baby — not the cot — is the safest approach. Use a higher TOG sleeping bag (2.5 or 3.5 TOG) with layers underneath. Never use hot water bottles, electric blankets, or wheat bags in the cot. If using a room heater, set it to 18–20°C and keep it at least one metre from the cot.
Overheating is a SIDS risk factor. In hot weather, dress your baby lightly — a nappy and a 0.2 TOG sleeping bag (or no bag above 26°C). Use a fan to circulate air (not blowing directly on the baby). Keep blinds closed during the day to prevent the room from heating up. Watch for signs of overheating: flushed cheeks, rapid breathing, damp hair, or a sweaty neck.
For more detail, see our room temperature and baby sleep guide.
Red Nose Australia notes that dummy use during sleep is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS. While researchers don't fully understand why — it may be that the dummy helps keep the airway open or prevents the baby from falling into a very deep sleep — the association is consistent across multiple studies.
Red Nose guidelines for dummy use: Combined with safe swaddling, dummies provide two evidence-backed layers of SIDS protection.
A common point of confusion: tummy time is for awake, supervised play — never for sleep. Tummy time helps your baby develop neck, shoulder, and arm strength and prevents flat spots on the back of the head (positional plagiocephaly). But tummy time should only happen when your baby is fully awake and you're watching them.
Start with short periods (1–2 minutes, 2–3 times a day) from birth and gradually increase. As soon as your baby shows signs of tiredness (yawning, grizzling, turning away), move them to their back for sleep.
Red Nose Australia recommends keeping soft items out of the cot until at least 12 months. After 12 months, the risk of SIDS drops significantly, but safe sleep habits remain important. Many parents continue using sleeping bags rather than introducing blankets after 12 months, since sleeping bags are safer and stay in place through the night.
If you do introduce a blanket after 12 months, use a lightweight cellular blanket, tuck it in firmly at the foot and sides of the cot, and place your baby with their feet at the foot of the cot so they can't wriggle under the blanket. A small comfort toy (soft toy or small blanket square) is generally safe after 7 months during awake settling, but Red Nose recommends removing it once your baby is asleep until 12 months.
Choosing the right swaddle and knowing when to transition is key to SIDS prevention. See our top-rated picks for Australian babies.
See Best Baby Swaddles →Red Nose Australia's six safe sleep recommendations are: (1) Sleep baby on their back, not tummy or side. (2) Keep baby's head and face uncovered. (3) Keep baby smoke-free before and after birth. (4) Provide a safe sleep environment — firm mattress, no soft bedding, in a safe cot. (5) Sleep baby in their own safe cot in the same room as an adult caregiver for the first 6–12 months. (6) Breastfeed baby, if possible.
Yes. Red Nose Australia recommends room sharing (baby sleeps in the same room as a parent or caregiver, in their own cot) for at least the first 6 months, ideally 12 months. Room sharing is protective against SIDS and also makes night feeding and settling easier.
The risk of SIDS drops significantly after 6 months and is very rare after 12 months. However, Red Nose Australia recommends continuing safe sleep practices through the first year of life. While SIDS is most common between 2–4 months, the safe sleep habits you build in the early months benefit your baby well beyond the first year.
No. Red Nose Australia recommends babies sleep on their back, not on their side or tummy. Side-sleeping is unstable — babies can easily roll onto their tummy, which increases SIDS risk. Once your baby can roll independently (usually around 4–6 months), you don't need to reposition them if they roll during sleep, but always place them on their back to start.
Red Nose Australia notes that dummy use is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS, though the mechanism is not fully understood. If your baby uses a dummy for sleep, offer it at every sleep time. If the dummy falls out during sleep, there's no need to replace it. Do not attach a dummy to your baby's clothing or around their neck — this is a strangulation risk.
← Swaddle TOG & Temperature Guide
