• Room share - keep baby's sleep space separate but in the same room where you sleep for the first 6 months or ideally for the first year
  • Only bring your baby into your bed to feed or comfort
  • Bed sharing is not recommended for so many reasons, including SIDS and fatal sleep accidents
  • Ensure that the baby is positioned on the back with the feet at the bottom of the bassinet/cot
  • Ensure that baby is wrapped from below the neck to avoid covering the face
  • Sleep baby with face uncovered (no doonas, pillow, cot bumpers, lamb's wool or soft toys in the sleeping environment)
  • Use only lightweight wraps and clothing such as cotton, muslin, merino and bamboo (bunny rugs and blankets are not safe alternatives as they may cause overheating)
  • The wrap should be firm, to prevent loose wrapping from becoming loose bedding. However, the wrap should not be too tight and must allow for hip and chest wall movement
  • Make sure that the baby is not overdressed under the wrap. Use only a nappy and singlet in warmer weather and add a lightweight growth suit in cooler weather
  • Also available are fitted swaddles that are brilliant for newborns - Miracle Blanket / Halo Velcro - with arms down
  • Provide a safe sleeping environment (safe cot, safe mattress, safe bedding)
  • Babies must not be wrapped if sharing a sleep surface (including bed-sharing) with an adult. Sharing a sleep surface with a baby can be hazardous in certain circumstances
  • Don't leave baby sleeping on a chair or sofa unattended
  • Modify the wrap to meet the baby's developmental changes, e.g. arms free once "startle" reflex begins to disappear, which is usually around 3 months
  • As soon as a baby shows signs of beginning to roll, wrapping should be discontinued for sleep periods
  • The wrap may prevent an older baby who has turned onto their tummy during sleep from returning to the back sleeping position
  • Use a Sleep Sack or Zipadee Zip for older babies who are rolling
  • Picture of baby is from Snuggle Hunny (Dusty Olive / Organic Muslin Wrap) snugglehunnykids.com.au