This article is brought to you by Slough Borough Council's Early Years team, on behalf of the Department for Education, for the attentions of all Early Years settings.
We have published guidance to help you create and maintain safer sleep environments for babies and young children in your care.
This guidance has been developed in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust and supports planned updates to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, expected to come into effect from September 2026.
It includes information on:
- how to provide an appropriate sleep space for babies and children
- safe use of cots, mattresses, bedding and sleep bags, including relevant British Standards
- how to supervise children while they are sleeping
- what to do when babies and children fall asleep while travelling,
managing temperature, positioning and the use of comforters
By following this guidance, you can help keep children safe and meet EYFS requirements, while supporting consistent practice across early years settings.
Further information is available through NHS guidance on sudden infant death syndrome and from The Lullaby Trust.