Safer Sleep in Early Years – Updated Guidance

Monday 08 June 2026

In April 2026, updated guidance from the Department for Education, developed alongside health experts and The Lullaby Trust, reinforces the importance of consistent, evidence-based sleep practices across all childcare environments. Updated guidance strengthens safer sleep expectations in early years settings, with clearer requirements being added to the EYFS framework ahead of full implementation in September 2026.

The core message remains simple: every sleep must be safe. Babies should always be placed on their backs, in a cot, on a firm, flat mattress with no pillows, toys, or loose bedding. Sleep areas must be clear, and babies should be regularly checked while sleeping.

The guidance also highlights maintaining a safe environment—keeping room temperatures comfortable (16–20°C), avoiding overheating, and ensuring babies sleep within sight or hearing of staff. Consistency between home and setting, along with regular staff training, is also emphasised.

At Kamelia Kids we recognise that it is important to provide babies and children with a safer sleep environment to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in babies up to 12 months of age, and sudden unexpected death in childhood (SUDC) in children aged over 12 months.

We have a dedicated room for our babies (Sunflower) and the Rose room for our young children. There is always an adult with them in the same room for every sleep and all children are checked every 5 minutes when they are sleeping.

Parents’ and carers’ wishes are respected, provided that the child’s welfare is not compromised. It is especially important that babies and young children do have all the sleep they need as “During sleep there’s even more activity and more learning going on in an infant’s brain than an adult’s.” “Karmilloff – Smith (2010)”.

Overall, safer sleep is a key safeguarding responsibility. Following this guidance helps reduce risks such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and ensures babies are cared for in the safest possible way.

For more information on the updated sleep guidance, follow this link - https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/safer-sleep

Please find a link to our updated sleep policy here.