Further advice on safer sleep from the Department for Education

The guidance help for early years providers : safer sleep created in collaboration with the Lullaby Trust, provides advice to help early years providers create and maintain safer sleep environments for babies and young children in their care.

It includes information on:

• Providing an appropriate sleep space for babies and children
• Safe use of cots, mattresses, bedding and sleep bags
• Supervising children while they are sleeping
• What to do when babies and children fall asleep whilst travelling, managing their temperature, positioning and use of comforters.

The Department for Education has also published answers to frequently asked questions to help early years providers prepare for planned updates on safer sleep to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, expected to come into effect from September 2026.