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Writer's pictureLaura Bartley
Nov 64 min read

Helping Babies Sleep Safely: Why Sleep Support for Parents Is Essential From The Beginning!

As a new parent to a beautiful 3-week-old, I experienced how powerful sleep deprivation can be. One night, in the depths of exhaustion, I unintentionally fell asleep with my baby in my arms on the sofa. It wasn’t planned, and it wasn’t safe, but in that moment, the fatigue was overwhelming. Like many new parents, I strive to follow safe sleep guidelines. However, sleep deprivation can make even the best intentions slip from our grasp. In light of this experience and having worked with so many families, I believe more resources should focus on how to get our little ones to sleep safely. By giving new parents guidance on baby sleep techniques, routines, and managing exhaustion, we can make it easier for them to follow safer sleep practices. This approach could potentially lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and support postnatal mental health.


Safe Sleep: Vital But Hard to Follow Without Adequate Support

In the UK, health services are vigilant in promoting safe sleep guidelines to reduce the risks of SIDS. These guidelines, including placing the baby on their back, ensuring a clear sleep space, and avoiding sofa-sharing, are effective and have contributed to a significant reduction in SIDS cases since the 1990s. However, sleep guidelines can feel daunting, particularly for first-time parents who often lack the practical tools to help their baby fall asleep independently and in a safe sleep space -mosses basket or cot, not in their arms. Without adequate sleep, parents may be more inclined to engage in riskier practices, like co-sleeping on sofas or beds with soft bedding, despite knowing the dangers.


While many new parents receive detailed advice and support on infant feeding, the same level of guidance is often missing regarding baby sleep. Postnatal care often focuses heavily on feeding—rightly so, as it’s vital to the baby's health—but support for sleep could be just as impactful. A healthcare professional who provides tailored sleep strategies could help parents avoid unintentional unsafe practices.


Understanding Why New Parents Need Sleep Guidance

The reality is that newborns wake frequently during the night, often every two to three hours, and sleep for very short bursts. For new parents, this lack of sleep quickly adds up, leading to extreme fatigue that can compromise safety practices. Studies show that exhaustion impacts cognitive function, awareness, and reaction time, making it harder for parents to remain vigilant about safe sleep practices. In a study conducted in the UK, families who eliminated screen time for toddlers before bed reported an improvement in sleep quality for their children, demonstrating that even small lifestyle adjustments can significantly improve sleep for young families.


Practical Sleep Support Can Help Ensure Safety

Providing new parents with support on baby sleep practices could be a valuable extension of postnatal care. Healthcare professionals, such as health visitors, could offer guidance on:

  1. Sleep Associations: Helping parents understand healthy sleep associations, such as white noise, darkness, or rocking, can make it easier for babies to settle into a safe sleep environment. White noise and the pitch black is not something I had considered when I first had my little one - in fact, I honestly believed that by 'keeping them awake during the day, they would sleep better at night.'

  2. Soothing Techniques: Learning techniques like gentle rocking, swaddling (where safe), and bedtime routines may help parents get their baby to sleep more easily.

  3. Adjusting Parental Sleep Schedules: Teaching parents how to manage their sleep around their baby’s schedule, and how to safely alternate night shifts with a partner, can reduce exhaustion.

A collaborative, educational approach could give parents the tools they need to avoid unsafe sleep practices. In a recent study from the University of Bristol, a new "baby sleep planner" tool was developed to help parents assess sleep risks and make plans for safer sleep practices, which demonstrates that resources are emerging to support this need.


A Dual Benefit: Safer Sleep and Better Parental Mental Health

Beyond reducing the risk of SIDS, supporting parents in achieving more consistent sleep could have an equally important impact on their mental health. Postnatal depression and anxiety are commonly exacerbated by sleep deprivation, something which I profoundly experienced, and have documented in a previous blog post. Ensuring that parents are empowered to practice safer sleep can help reduce stress and improve mental health, creating a more positive environment for both parents and their baby.


Let’s Prioritise Sleep Support as Part of Safe Sleep Education

We know that safer sleep practices save lives. But if we’re going to see these practices followed consistently, we must also help parents navigate the realities of sleep deprivation. New parents need practical, accessible support on how to help their babies fall asleep safely, which will ultimately empower them to maintain safe sleep environments even in challenging times. By viewing sleep support as a critical part of postnatal care, we can help new families create safer sleep routines that protect their babies and enhance their own well-being.


If you would like any support, or information about how to best support your little one's sleep, get in touch today, email laura@sleepteacher.co.uk, or WhatsApp me at 07768124120









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