Module 1The ABC of safe sleep — and why it saves lives
~6 min
Every baby placed for sleep at JLK is positioned following the Lullaby Trust's evidence-based “ABC” guidance. This isn't a preference — it's the single most important thing a baby-room practitioner does.
✅ Checked against the 2026 framework. A new EYFS statutory framework came into force on 1 September 2026 and tightened the wording on sleeping arrangements. Nothing in this course changed as a result — our practice already met all of it, clause for clause: babies 12 months and under in a cot only, on their back in their own separate sleep space, feet-to-foot with blankets tucked in, nothing else in the cot, room 16–20°C, heads uncovered, an adult in the room for every sleep for babies under six months, and every child within sight and hearing. In places we go further than required — we check every ten minutes, and we keep an adult in the room for new children over six months too. Carry on exactly as you were.
A — ALONE. Baby sleeps on their own, in their own cot, no adults or older children in the sleep space, no sibling co-sleeping.
B — on their BACK. Every sleep, every time. Face up, not on their front or side. Even for children with reflux — unless a paediatrician has issued a written medical instruction on file.
C — in a CLEAR cot. No pillows. No cot bumpers. No loose blankets covering the face. No soft toys, no muslin cloths within reach of the face. Sleeping bag or one securely-tucked light blanket only.
Additional JLK non-negotiables:
- No hats indoors during sleep. Babies release heat through their heads. Overheating is a known SIDS risk factor.
- Feet-to-foot position. If using a blanket, place baby with feet touching the foot of the cot so they can't wriggle down under it.
- No head-covering, ever. Not by clothing, not by blankets, not by hood.
- Firm mattress, snug-fitting sheet. No gaps between mattress and cot side.
- Nothing pinned to the cot. No hanging toys, mobiles or symbols within reach.
What if a baby rolls onto their front in their sleep?
If they're under 6 months and CANNOT yet roll back independently, gently reposition to back. Log it.
If they're over 6 months and CAN roll both ways independently, leave them — but ensure the cot remains clear and the sleep-check cadence continues.
Never wedge or prop a baby to prevent rolling. Wedges are themselves a SIDS risk.
Family requests that conflict with ABC: some families ask us to place a baby on their front, or with a comforter, or with a special blanket. Warmly explain that JLK follows Lullaby Trust guidance for every baby, without exceptions unless a paediatrician has written a medical instruction. Offer to escalate to the manager. Never quietly do what the family asked in a way that breaks ABC.
Module 2The JLK sleep-check cadence
~6 min
Every sleeping child at JLK is physically checked every 10 minutes. Not glanced at from the door — checked at cot-side. The check is logged.
What a check actually looks like — the JLK 4-point check:
- Breathing. Look for rise-and-fall of the chest. Not sure? Put your hand near the baby's back to feel warmth and movement. Don't wake them.
- Position. Still on their back? Face uncovered? Clear cot around them?
- Colour. Normal skin tone. Not blue-tinged around lips or fingernails.
- Temperature. Hand on the back of the neck — warm not sweating, not clammy or cold.
Documentation: the sleep-check form in every baby room. Grid of times × cots. Initials in each box. Any concern — asterisk and a note. Manager reviews at end of day.
Why 10 minutes, not 15 or 20: the SIDS risk window can close in minutes. Ofsted guidance is at least every 20 minutes; JLK ran the risk-benefit and set 10 as our internal standard. It also means a room leader can spot a change in a baby's colour or breathing fast enough to act.
Who does the check:
- Named checker per shift. One person in the room is the designated checker at a given time. Not "whoever's free" — that leads to missed checks.
- Rotates every hour. Fatigue erodes attention.
- Handover on a break. Formal verbal handover: “I'm going on break, [name] is the sleep-checker until I'm back.” Not a nod across the room.
Concerns during a check — the JLK 3-step response:
- Assess. Not breathing? Blue-tinged? Cold or overheated? — act immediately.
- Call for help. Loud, clear voice to another adult: “I need help NOW.” No hesitation, no whispering.
- Manager & 999. Manager comes at once. If not breathing, someone dials 999 while first-aider begins infant CPR. Don't wait for the manager to arrive to call 999.
Module 3Room environment — temperature, ventilation, lighting
~6 min
The sleep-room environment matters as much as the cot itself. Overheating is a leading SIDS risk factor. The JLK baby-sleep-room standard:
Temperature: 16–20°C. Thermometer in every sleep room, checked and logged at the start of every shift and hourly. Above 20°C — open a window (not by the cot), adjust clothing, ask the manager if the heating needs adjustment. Below 16°C — heating up, no extra blanket first.
Ventilation. Fresh air must be circulating. Never a sleep-room with all windows and doors sealed for over an hour. Airflow reduces overheating AND infection risk. Never place a cot directly in a draft — but the room needs to breathe.
Lighting. Dimmed but not black-out. You need enough light to see chest movement and skin colour from cot-side. Blackout blinds must be paired with a low-level plug-in light. Total darkness = you can't check properly.
Noise. Low background sound (white noise or soft music) is fine and helps some babies. Sudden loud noises should be minimised. Baby-room is not a corridor.
Clothing standards:
- 16–18°C: vest + all-in-one + 2.5 tog sleeping bag OR light blanket.
- 18–20°C: vest + all-in-one + 1.0 tog sleeping bag OR light blanket.
- 20°C+: vest only + 0.5 tog sleeping bag or no sleeping bag.
- Never: hat during indoor sleep. Duvet. Anything covering the face.
Cot separation: cots at least 30cm apart. Never touching. No shared bedding, ever.
Room layout for the checker:
- Sleep-check form on the wall by the door with a pen attached.
- All cots visible from the seated checker position.
- Timer or clock clearly visible from that same seat.
- Emergency contact list on the wall.
💡 JLK principle: a baby sleep-room is one of the most controlled environments in a nursery. If a variable can be measured (temp, TOG, checker rotation) — measure it. Nothing about safe sleep is left to feel.
ScenarioThe wrong-place naps
~3 min
Three common baby-room moments where safe-sleep rules get accidentally broken. What do you do?
Scenario A — Zainab (7 months) fell asleep in the pram at pickup collection time
The issue: pram is not a safe sleep space beyond a very short period. Chin can tuck to chest and restrict airway.
What you do: transfer her to a cot for the remainder of her sleep. If she wakes on transfer, that's fine — she was up shortly anyway. If she stays asleep, resume 10-min checks in the cot.
Scenario B — Kai (4 months) fell asleep in an adult's arms during a settling moment
The issue: lovely for connection, but Kai now needs to go into a cot for the sleep itself. Adult-arm sleeping is not safe once it's sustained sleep — and the adult can't check the other babies.
What you do: transfer to cot on his back, on a firm mattress, in the sleep room. Warmly and gently. If he wakes on transfer, he was ready to be awake. Never sit with a baby on your chest at JLK for their nap.
Scenario C — Malik's mum asks you to put him down on his front “because that's how he sleeps at home”
Warmly and clearly: “I hear you — and I know sometimes home routines are different. At JLK we follow Lullaby Trust guidance for every baby, so I have to place Malik on his back for his sleep. If a paediatrician has issued a written medical instruction for front sleeping, please share it and we'll speak to the manager. Otherwise it's back for us, every time. I know that might be different from home — happy to explain the reasoning.”
What you don't do: quietly go along with the family request — it's the single thing where "trying to please the family" can cost a baby's life.
Knowledge checkEnd-of-course quiz · 5 questions
Pass 80%
You need 4 out of 5 to pass.
The Lullaby Trust ABC of safe sleep is:
The JLK sleep-check cadence is:
The JLK 4-point check covers:
A family asks you to place their baby on their front because “that's how she sleeps at home”. Correct response:
The JLK baby sleep-room target temperature range is: