How to position a baby for sleep

Advice on the best and safest way to position your baby when you put them down for a sleep or nap.

Always place your baby flat on his or her back when laying them down for a sleep - placing babies in this position has been found to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome or cot death) by up top 70%.
Your baby's cot should be fitted with a firm mattress and be free from any pillows, stuffed toys or mobiles that have the potential to cause suffocation.
Lay your baby so that his or her feet touch the bottom of their cot and use a combination of blankets and sheets instead of a duvet.
Tuck the covers firmly under the mattress in such a way that the blankets and sheets only reach your baby's shoulders - this will keep their body warm while preventing them from wriggling underneath.
When your baby starts to roll over and move around he or she will begin to adopt the sleep position they find most comfortable and although you should still place them on their backs when you put them down for a nap you should not move them if they roll over during the night.
Although the current recommendation is to lay babies to sleep on their back, if you have been advised otherwise by your healthcare professional due to a condition your baby, has you should always follow their advice.

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my 3 month old baby hated sleeping on his back so i started rolled him on his left or right side and he sleep great.
by yaquelin	15th Sep 2010, 9:23am

Mine hated sleeping on their back so i rolled up a blanket and placed it under their legs so their stomaches were not stretched out, it done the trick.
by cassie5	20th Nov 2009, 9:27am

my 2months old hates sleeping on his back. i tryied to put him to bed like that., as he sleeps with me i decided to put him on his side and well he sleeps great, but as i heard that may cause SIDS i just kept wake myself up to check if he is okay:( am jjust doing this for his good nite sleep and so mine.
by MichelleAshleysMummy	12th Oct 2009, 10:06am

every time i put my 2 week old soon down he cries for england i work nights so its not so bad at the mo but when i go back to work my wife is going to suffer he will sleep on me but as soon as i move him to his moses basket he starts crying this is going on til 4 or 5 am any tips please?
by royroy	20th Apr 2009, 9:33am