There’s nothing better than climbing into your bed after a long day, crawling under the warm and cosy blankets, and snuggling your face in the soft pillows. And it’s perfectly reasonable to assume that your baby needs and will enjoy a similar soft and cosy bed.

When can my baby sleep with a blanket?

Experts actually advise that any baby under the age of 12 sleep without blankets, pillows, and soft toys. And even after they’ve passed the 12-month mark, it’s still important to assess where they are in terms of major milestones and ask a paediatrician if they’re ready to sleep with blankets, pillows, etc.

Why can’t babies sleep with a blanket before they’re a year old?

When a baby sleeps with a blanket, duvet, pillow, or even a cuddly toy, they’re exposed to certain risks, the most common of which are:

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) SIDS is a frightening and awful thing, most frightening because there is no known cause, but there are certain steps we can take to reduce the risk. And one such thing is to remove any blankets, duvets, and pillows from your infant’s bed to avoid suffocation. SIDS is covered in more detail on Unii’s Newborn Journey.

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) SUID is the sudden and unexpected death of an infant, caused by natural or unnatural causes. Therefore, SIDS is also a cause of SUID. In a bed full of heavy blankets and pillows, there are certain scenarios that could lead to SUID, including strangulation and suffocation. However, because there has been a distinct correlation between infant death and the sleep environment, we can prevent many causes of SUID. And again, one way to do so is to hold off on introducing blankets, duvets, cuddly toys, and pillows until your baby is older than 12 months.

Overheating. Many of us get too hot when we’re sleeping, but when that happens, we simply slide out from under the duvet or kick off an extra blanket. When a baby overheats in bed, they won’t have the strength or know-how to remove any layers, which means they can easily overheat. Overheating has also been linked to SIDS, so it’s important to keep your baby cool and comfortable.

So, if my baby can’t sleep with a blanket and a pillow, what does a safe, comfy bed for them look like?

When it comes to a bed, your baby is safest in a cot or Moses basket, preferably set up in your own bedroom, until they are at least 6 months old. They can sleep with a thin sheet tucked under the mattress, though make sure it comes no higher than their nipple line, or you can dress them in a wearable blanket. Baby sleeping bags are also a good option, but some babies don’t enjoy the resulting lack of movement. Bear your bedroom’s temperature in mind, doing your best to keep it between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius, and remember to keep their bed away from any radiators. To check if your baby is too hot, place a hand on their chest and remove a layer if they feel hot.

When can my baby sleep with a blanket?

For Unii’s Baby Sleep Journey, we look at when your child can sleep with a blanket.