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Everyday Newborn Care: Sleep & Safe Sleep Positioning Guide
The same booklet we give new parents at the clinic, in your inbox.
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Always place your baby on their back to sleep, on a firm, flat surface, with nothing loose in the cot — no pillows, blankets, bumpers, or toys. This single habit is the most protective thing you can do against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Is it normal for my newborn to have irregular sleep?
Expect fragmented sleep and day/night confusion in the early weeks — newborns don't yet have a circadian rhythm. This is normal, not something to fix.
Is back-sleeping really safer than stomach sleeping for babies?
Back-sleeping is always the safer choice. Stomach sleeping significantly increases SIDS risk, even if it seems to settle baby faster.
What are the best safe sleep practices for a newborn?
- Back-to-sleep: for every sleep, every time — naps included.
- Firm, flat mattress: no soft surfaces, couches, or car seats for routine sleep.
- Bare cot: no loose blankets, pillows, bumpers, or soft toys.
- Room temperature: comfortable for a lightly-clothed adult; avoid overheating and over bundling.
- Swaddling: only while baby is on their back and not yet rolling.
Does back-sleeping cause flat head syndrome?
Consistent back-sleeping is protective for your baby's safety, but it's also one of the reasons flat spots on the back of the head (deformational plagiocephaly) have become more common.
How can City Osteopathy Integrated Health help if I'm worried about my baby's head shape?
Back-sleeping is non-negotiable for safety, so if you're noticing a flat area developing, a head-turning preference, or your baby always resting on one side, that's worth having looked at rather than worked around. Our Paediatric Osteopaths assess head shape and neck movement together as part of our Happy Melons Programme, and can tell you early on whether it's something to monitor or something to treat.
When should I see someone about my newborn's sleep or head shape?
If you've been wondering for a while now whether a flat spot or a favourite sleeping side is more than something to keep an eye on, an assessment is the direct way to find out.
Book an appointment below or request a callback, and we'll take it from there.
