Safe Sleep Week with Ickle Bubba and TheModern Midwife
Supporting Safer Sleep, Every Night…
Safe Sleep Week (9th - 15th March) is a powerful reminder that simple, evidence-based steps can make a life-saving difference to babies. I’m Marie, The Modern Midwife, and a proud ambassador for The Lullaby Trust. I'm passionate about sharing clear, practical guidance that helps families feel confident at bedtime.
It’s great to partner with Ickle Bubba, where thoughtful design meets real-life parenting - and that includes creating beautiful, functional sleep spaces that support safer sleep from day one.
Let’s explore how to create a safe, supportive sleep environment for your baby, in line with The Lullaby Trust’s safer sleep guidelines.
The Lullaby Trust Safer Sleep Guidelines
The safest place for your baby to sleep is:
On their back for every sleep
On a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition
In the same room as you for at least the first six months
In a clear sleep space - free from pillows, duvets, cot bumpers or soft toys
In a smoke-free environment
These simple steps significantly reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Creating a Safe Sleep Space at Every Stage
Bedside Sleeping (0-6 Months)
Room-sharing without bed-sharing is recommended for the first six months. A bedside crib allows you to keep your baby close for feeds and comfort, while maintaining a separate, safe sleep surface.
The Bubba&Me Bedside Crib and Bubba&Me Luxe Bedside Crib from Ickle Bubba are designed to:
- Keep baby close for responsive night-time care
- Provide a firm, flat mattress
- Support safe room-sharing
- Offer breathable mesh sides for visibility and airflow
For families establishing a newborn sleep routine, room-sharing makes night feeds easier and supports responsive parenting - without compromising on safety. A Moses basket can be a wonderful, cosy first sleep space - as long as it follows safer sleep guidance. The Nova Moses Basket & Stand provides:
- A firm, flat mattress
- A stable stand
- A lightweight design
Remember to always place the basket on its stand (never on a raised surface) and keep the sleep space clear. For parents wondering “how much should a newborn sleep?” - newborns typically sleep 14-17 hours across 24 hours, waking frequently for feeds. A safe, consistent sleep space supports this natural rhythm. That said, all babies are different, some with higher and some with lower sleep needs.
A Note on Safer Co-sleeping
As mentioned, The Lullaby Trust advises that the safest place for your baby to sleep is in their own clear sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket, in the same room as you for at least the first six months. However, many parents feed or cuddle their baby in bed and may find themselves drifting off, including myself! Whilst we had a safe sleep space set up, I often chose to co-sleep whilst breastfeeding. Rather than feeling fearful about this, it’s helpful to plan ahead. If you think you might fall asleep while feeding or comforting your baby, preparing your bed space to follow safer co-sleeping guidance can reduce risk. This includes placing your baby on their back on a firm, flat mattress, keeping pillows, duvets and loose bedding well away from them and ensuring there is no chance of your baby becoming trapped or falling from the bed. Co-sleeping should not happen if anyone in the bed has smoked, consumed alcohol, taken drugs or medications that cause drowsiness, or if your baby was born prematurely or with a low birth weight. Planning for safe sleep helps families rest more confidently while keeping babies as safe as possible.
Cot Beds (From 6 Months+)
As your baby grows and transitions to their own room, and when you feel ready to do this, a safe cot or cot bed becomes the centre of their sleep environment. The Snowdon Cot Bed from Ickle Bubba is a beautiful, practical option that grows with your child. With adjustable mattress heights and a sturdy design, it supports safe sleep from baby through to toddlerhood.
When setting up any cot:
- Use a firm, well-fitting mattress
- Keep it completely clear
- Place baby “feet to foot” (feet at the bottom of the cot)
- Avoid sleep positioners or nests as sleep aids
Whether you’re following a baby's sleep schedule by age or navigating changing naps (such as when do babies drop to one nap?), the fundamentals of safe sleep always stay the same.
Safe Sleep & Baby Sleep Routines
Parents often ask me:
- How do you get a newborn to sleep at night?
- When do babies sleep through the night?
- How long do newborns sleep?
The truth is - newborn sleep is biologically normal, fragmented, and driven by feeding needs. Rather than focusing on early sleep training methods, I encourage families to prioritise:
- Responsive feeding
- Age-appropriate awake windows
- Calm, predictable wind-down routines
- Day/night light exposure
- Safe sleep foundations
A newborn feeding and sleeping schedule isn’t rigid - it’s responsive. Over time, babies naturally develop longer stretches of sleep. If you’re working towards creating a baby sleep routine, start with:
1. Consistent bedtime cues (feed, story, cuddle)
2. A dark, calm sleep space
3. White noise used safely and at low volume
4. Placing the baby down on their back, until they can confidently roll
What About Sleep Aids?
The Lullaby Trust advises:
- Avoid sleep positioners, pods or weighted products
- Avoid cot bumpers
- Keep blankets tucked in below shoulder height (or use a correctly sized sleep bag and tog)
If using white noise for babies, keep it:
- Below 50 decibels
- Positioned away from the cot
- Turned off once baby is asleep - if possible - if not, then lower the volume
Safe Sleep Is Empowering
Safe sleep guidance isn’t about fear - it’s about empowerment.
By combining:
- Evidence-based advice from The Lullaby Trust
- Thoughtfully designed sleep products from Ickle Bubba
- Realistic, compassionate support from The Modern Midwife
…families can feel calm and confident every night.
Final Thoughts…
As both a midwife and a mum, with my third baby on the way - I know how overwhelming sleep advice can feel. During Safe Sleep Week, my message is simple:
- Keep your baby close.
- Keep your baby on their back.
- Keep the sleep space clear.
And remember - you are not alone in navigating newborn sleep, sleep cycles, feeding patterns, and those early night wakings. Babies are biologically programmed to wake frequently and want to be near/on you. There’s a good old saying, 9 months in, 9 months on, 9 months near!
