Your 4 month's sleep space: a safe-sleep guide
Quick answers for this age
Can a 4 month old sleep in their own room?
Not yet. The NHS advises keeping your baby in a cot or Moses basket in your room for every sleep for at least the first 6 months.
Can a 4 month old have a pillow?
No. Pillows, duvets and quilts are not recommended for babies under 12 months.
Can a 4 month old sleep with a duvet?
No. Pillows, duvets and quilts are not recommended for babies under 12 months.
Can a 4 month old have a cot bumper?
No. The Lullaby Trust advises removing cot bumpers: babies can get tangled in the ties and fabric, or climb on them and fall.
Can a 4 month old sleep with a soft toy?
Not in the cot. Keep soft toys and comforters out of the sleep space until 12 months.
Can a 4 month old sleep in a sleeping bag?
Yes. Choose the size for your child's weight and height, and a tog for your room temperature.
Can a 4 month old sleep in a cot?
Yes. A cot with a firm, flat mattress is suitable from birth, in your room for at least the first 6 months.
Can a 4 month old sleep in a cot bed?
Yes. A cot bed with a firm, flat mattress is suitable from birth, in your room for at least the first 6 months.
Can a 4 month old still sleep in a bedside crib?
Possibly, but check the weight and development limits. Many say to stop once your baby can roll, sit or pull up. Many families move to a cot or cot bed around now.
Can a 4 month old still sleep in a Moses basket?
Possibly, but check the weight and development limits. Many say to stop once your baby can roll, sit or pull up. Many families move to a cot or cot bed around now.
Can a 4 month old sleep in a toddler bed?
No. A baby needs a cot, crib or Moses basket that follows safer-sleep advice. Toddler beds are for after the cot years.
Can a 4 month old use a highchair?
Not for meals yet. The NHS says weaning starts at around 6 months. Some highchairs have a newborn recline mode, but check the instructions.
Can a 4 month old sleep on their tummy?
No. Always put your baby down on their back. If they roll, move them back, until they can roll both ways by themselves.
Can a 4 month old sleep in a car seat?
Short naps while you are travelling are fine, but the NHS says take your baby out of the car seat once you arrive.
Can a 4 month old sleep in a travel cot?
Yes, if it is set up like a cot: rigid frame and base, its own firm mattress, no extra padding, and within the weight limit.
Can a 4 month old sleep with a blanket?
Yes, if it is lightweight, firmly tucked no higher than the shoulders, with your baby feet to foot. One doubled blanket counts as two.
Can I swaddle a 4 month old?
You can, if you follow the Lullaby Trust's swaddling steps. Stop swaddling with arms in as soon as your baby shows signs of rolling, and never swaddle when bed-sharing.
Can a 4 month old sleep on their side?
No. Sleeping on the front or side greatly increases the risk of SIDS. Put your baby down on their back for every sleep.
Can a 4 month old sleep on a raised or tilted mattress for reflux?
No. Keep the sleep surface flat. The Lullaby Trust says not to incline, tilt or prop the mattress or cot, as it does not help reflux. Speak to your doctor instead.
What the guidance says
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep, in the feet-to-foot position (feet at the bottom of the cot, Moses basket or pram).
- Follow safer-sleep advice for every sleep until your baby is 12 months old (12 months from the due date for premature babies).
- The NHS advises placing your baby in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for every sleep, day and night, for at least the first 6 months.
Shop at Baby Kingdom
- Maya Mini Cot Bed - Slate
- Nika Cot Bed - Oak
- Kuba Cot Bed
- Kidsaw Kudi Combi 4 in 1 Cot Bed with Changing Unit White
Check each product page for its exact dimensions, mattress size, age and weight limits and safety standards.
More advice
Sources
- NHS: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (accessed 2026-10-21)
- The Lullaby Trust: Safer sleep advice (accessed 2026-10-21)
General information only, not medical advice. Always follow your product's instructions. If you are worried about your baby, contact your GP, health visitor or 111. In an emergency, call 999.