What is the safest sleeping position for a baby?
Short answer: On their back, for every sleep, day and night, unless a doctor has told you otherwise.
Here is the detail behind that answer, taken from current UK guidance from the NHS and the Lullaby Trust.
Things to check
- Check the mattress size listed for the frame. 140 x 70cm is common, but not universal.
- Keep every conversion panel, bolt and instruction sheet for the toddler-bed stage.
- Look at adjustable base heights, teething rails and any matching furniture.
What the guidance says
- Sleeping a baby on their front or side greatly increases the risk of SIDS. Back sleeping is safest unless a doctor has advised otherwise.
- 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 routine consistent. Babies who usually sleep on their backs but are sometimes put on their fronts are at higher risk.
Related questions
What is a cot bed?
A cot with removable sides and ends that converts into a toddler bed, most often taking a 140 x 70cm mattress.
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- Obaby Bantam Space Saver Cot & Cot Top Changer
- Stamford Space Saver Sleigh Cot - White
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- Astrid Mini Cot Bed - White
Check each product page for its exact dimensions, mattress size, age and weight limits and safety standards.
More advice
What mattress does a bedside crib need?What mattress does a cot need?Can a 2 month old sleep on their side?What does feet to foot mean?Reflux and sleep position: what parents should knowTwins safe sleep quizAll safe sleep and sleep spaces advice →
Sources
- The Lullaby Trust: Sleeping position (accessed 2026-10-21)
- 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.