Safe sleep set-up for the first night home
Short answer: Have a separate, clear, flat sleep space in your room. Lay your baby on their back, feet to foot, in a room of 16C to 20C.
Step by step
- Moses basket, crib or bedside crib ready by your bed.
- Firm, flat, waterproof mattress that fits.
- Fitted sheet and a sleeping bag or lightweight blanket.
- A room thermometer.
What the guidance says
- 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.
- 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).
- Keep the cot clear: no pillows, duvets, cot bumpers, loose blankets, soft toys, pods, nests, wedges or anything to keep your baby in place.
- Keep the room between about 16C and 20C and check it with a room thermometer.
- Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition, with no raised or cushioned edges, that fits the cot or Moses basket with no gaps.
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Check each product page for its exact dimensions, mattress size, age and weight limits and safety standards.
More advice
Are baby nests and sleep pods safe for sleep?What bedding goes in a bedside crib?Clear cot quizTwins safe sleep quizCan a 1 year old have a cot bumper?Can a 2 week old sleep with a soft toy?All safe sleep and sleep spaces advice →
Sources
- NHS: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (accessed 2026-10-21)
- The Lullaby Trust: Baby mattresses and bedding (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.