Showcase Magazine Summer 2026 - Flipbook - Page 17
EARLY YEARS
Providing a Safer Sleep Space for Babies
and Children Under Two Years of Age
Providers must ensure:
Babies under 12 months should always sleep in a cot.
This includes carrycots, Moses baskets, and travel cots.
It’s helpful to check that any product meets relevant
British Safety Standards.
SAFER SLEEP IN
EARLY YEARS
Updated Guidance - April 2026
On the 20th of April 2026, the Department for
Education, in collaboration with the Lullaby Trust,
published updated safe sleep guidance. The
updated guidance applies to all early years
settings and plans to be included in the updated
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory
framework expected in September 2026.
In this article, we will explore the latest updates to
safer sleep guidance within early years settings
for April 2026. We’ll look at what has changed in
the most recent guidance, the reasons behind
these updates, and how practitioners can apply
the recommendations in everyday practice to
help ensure safe sleep environments for babies
and young children.
Providing a safe sleep environment reduces the
risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in
babies up to 12 months of age, and sudden
unexpected death in childhood (SUDC) in children
aged over 12 months. SIDS refers to the sudden
unexpected death of a baby where no exact
cause is found.
The tragic death of Genevieve Meehan has been
widely referenced in conversations around safe
sleep and child safety. Genevieve died at nine
months old after being placed face down on a
beanbag at a nursery in Cheadle Hulme. In
January 2026, her parents delivered a letter to
Downing Street calling for stronger legal
protections to help prevent similar tragedies.
Since then, they have continued to campaign for
clearer and safer sleep practices in early years
settings.
Always place babies on their back to sleep, in their own
separate sleep space, on a clear, flat, and firm surface
such as a cot, bed, or a suitable mattress on the floor.
The sleep space should only include a firm, flat,
waterproof mattress with lightweight bedding tucked in
securely, no higher than the child’s shoulders, to
prevent head covering. A properly fitted baby sleep bag
can also be used, following the manufacturer’s
guidance.
If using blankets, place the baby at the foot of the cot
(feet-to-foot position) and tuck the blankets in
securely.
Do not place any extra items in the cot, such as toys,
pillows, loose bedding, bumpers, wedges, or straps.
Make sure children are kept at a comfortable
temperature. For babies under 12 months, the
recommended room temperature is 16–20°C.
Ensure that children’s heads remain uncovered while
sleeping.
Babies under six months must always sleep in the same
room as an adult, and all sleeping children should be
checked regularly.
Children should always be within sight and hearing of
staff while they sleep.
Babies under 12 months have a higher risk of sudden
infant death if their heads are covered. Adding
unnecessary items to a sleep space, such as cot bumpers
or toys, can also increase the risk of accidents. Sleep
comforters should only be used for children over 12
months.
To check if a baby or child is too hot or cold, feel their chest
or the back of their neck (hands and feet are usually
cooler, which is normal). If their skin feels clammy or
sweaty, remove a layer of clothing or bedding. Use your
judgement during very hot or cold conditions.
Once babies can roll from their back to their front and
back again on their own, they can settle in the position
they choose. However, they should still always be placed
on their back at the start of sleep.
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Showcase Training 17
