Babies should always sleep on their backs

Reviewed by Dr Stuart Crisp, paediatric specialist registrar

What else can you do to make your baby sleep as safely as possible?

It has been proven that the risk of cot death is increased if the parents smoke.

Smoking is one of the main factors associated with cot death. Scientists believe that the number of cases of cot death can be reduced by 66 per cent if parents stop smoking indoors around their babies.

Skull growth

Sleeping on their backs can cause babies' skulls to temporarily grow out of shape. Parents can avoid this by laying their baby's head on the opposite side every time they put the baby to sleep. The shape will gradually become normal with time.

When the baby is awake and the parents are talking to them, or playing with them, the baby should be put on its stomach to counteract any distortion of the skull. This is also a good way of training the muscles of the baby's stomach, back and neck.

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