Safe Sleep for Your Baby

Learn more about how to ensure a safe environment for your baby during sleep.

To reduce the risk of accidental suffocation during sleep, the following measures are advised:

1. Prepare an appropriate sleeping area for your newborn baby

• Ensure that the crib, bassinet or playpen meets recommended safety standards and has a tight-fitting, firm mattress and fitted sheet designed for that particular product.
• Nothing else should be in the crib except for baby. Do not place pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, crib bumpers or other bedding in the crib as rolling into any of these items may unintentionally block baby’s air flow.
• If you are worried that baby may feel cold, dress him in long-sleeved, well-fitted pyjamas. Or, you can use infant sleep clothing such as a sleep sack or wearable blanket. For our climate in Singapore, one layer in addition to baby’s clothes is enough.
• You can swaddle your baby, but make sure that baby is always on his back when swaddled. The swaddle should not be too tight. When your baby looks like he is trying to roll over, you should stop swaddling.

2. Keep baby’s crib in the same room where you sleep for the first 6 months or, ideally, for the first year.

• The risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has been shown to decrease by as much as 50% with room sharing.
• However, sharing the same bed with you is not recommended. Studies have shown that the risk of SIDS is especially higher when bed-sharing if:
  • Baby is younger than 4 months old.
  • Baby was born prematurely or with low birth weight.
  • You or your spouse is a smoker (even if you do not smoke in bed).
  • You smoked during pregnancy.
  • You have taken any medicines that might make it harder for you to wake up.
  • The surface is soft, such as a waterbed, old mattress, sofa, couch, or armchair.
  • There is soft bedding like pillows or blankets on the bed.

Prophet (PBUH) encouraged not to sleep alone or leave the baby to sleep alone –“Prophet forbade (us) from seclusion; that a man sleeps alone or travels alone.”

(Musnad Ahmad)

3. Always place your baby to sleep on his back

Babies who sleep on their tummies or in the side position can roll over more easily, increasing the risk of suffocation.

What about other infant sleep products?

• Be cautious about buying products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS.
• Wedges, head positioners, special mattresses and specialised sleep surfaces have not been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.
• Do not rely on home heart or breathing monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS. If you have questions about using these monitors for other health conditions, speak with your doctor or paediatrician.

Prophet (PBUH) “When any one of you goes to bed, he should take hold of the hem of his lower garment and then should clean (his bed) with the help of that and then should recite the name of Allah (i.e. Bismillah)…”

Reported by Abu Hurairah (Imam Muslim)

Recite ayatul kursi for your baby. The Prophet (PBUH) said “Whoever recites ayatul kursi Allah will send an angel to protect him until morning.”

[Al-Bukhari]

Recite the last 3 Qul (Al-Ikhlas,Al-Falaq & Annas) – “The Prophet (PBUH) will read 3 Qul and blow into his palm and wipe them over his body starting from his head, face and his front body.”

[Al-Bukhari]

Reference: American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP), KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Office of the Mufti (MUIS)