Babies can’t regulate their body temperature, so you need to do it for them by making sure they’re neither too hot or too cold when they’re sleeping.

• Young babies should sleep in a cotton sleepsuit, or cotton babygro vest in hot weather, on cotton flannel sheets, covered with another sheet and a cotton cellular blanket – layer or remove depending on how hot or cold it is: the ideal room temperature for your baby is between 16C and 20C.
• Don’t use pillows, quilts or duvets until they’re at least a year old, and leave their head uncovered.
• Put your baby in their cot ‘feet to foot’ so their feet are at the foot of the cot, and tuck the sheet and blanket under their arms so they can’t wriggle down under the covers.

Mattress matters

There are dozens of baby mattresses to choose from, but even if it’s a cheap foam one, the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (SIDS) says as long as it is firm not soft, and doesn’t sag, it should be safe for your baby.

• Make sure it has a completely waterproof cover (eg PVC) and fits the cot well with no gaps between the mattress and the side of the cot.
• Only use a hand-me-down mattress if you know its history.
• Ventilated mattresses (with holes) aren’t recommended, as it isn’t possible to keep the inside clean.

Sleeping bags

Baby sleeping bags can solve the problem of baby kicking off his covers overnight. Choose a good make which offers a wide choice of sizes and tog ratings.

• The bag must not have a hood. Buying the right size and fit is also very important, as your baby mustn’t be able to slide down into the bag.
• The tog rating will depend on the temperature of your baby’s room and the season, but should be no higher than 2.5. (The higher the tog, the warmer the sleeping bag.)
• He’ll need little or no bedding, maybe only a sheet, so make sure he doesn’t get too hot.