Following the letter Early Education Minister Bailey wrote to early years providers in England clarifying  the safeguarding requirements for sleeping arrangements within the EYFS statutory framework and plans to strengthen these requirements, today, the DfE published guidance developed in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust which supports these planned updates to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, expected to come into effect from September 2026.

It includes information on:

• how to provide an appropriate sleep space for babies and children
• safe use of cots, mattresses, bedding and sleep bags, including relevant British Standards
• how to supervise children while they are sleeping
• what to do when babies and children fall asleep while travelling, managing temperature, positioning and the use of comforters

By following this guidance, you can help keep children safe and meet EYFS requirements, while supporting consistent practice across early years settings.

Further information is available through NHS guidance on sudden infant death syndrome and from The Lullaby Trust.

Frequently Asked Questions

We raised questions from childminders regarding this update and sought further clarification from the Department for Education. Many of these have now been addressed in their  recently-published Safer sleep requirements – Frequently Asked Questions

Of particular concern to childminders were: children falling asleep naturally while travelling, the monitoring of children while they are asleep and children using comforters to help them sleep.

The DfE’s FAQs addresses these issues which you can find answers to below. We strongly encourage you to read the full document which covers other queries too.

Can children sleep in prams, buggies, push chairs and car seats?

Buggies, pushchairs and prams should not form the main separate sleep space for babies or children of any age.

For babies aged 12 months and under that fall asleep whilst travelling:

They must be transferred to their cot once they return to the setting. Hats and extra clothing should be removed as soon as you come indoors or enter a car, bus or train, even it means waking the baby – Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) – NHS.

For children aged over 12 months that fall asleep whilst travelling:

They should, where possible, be transitioned to their own separate sleep space on a clear, flat, firm surface such as a cot, bed or suitable mattress on the floor upon return. A lie-flat pram or lie-flat pushchair should not be their main separate sleep space. Coats, hats and blankets should be adjusted to prevent overheating.

If a baby or child of any age falls asleep whilst travelling in a car seat, they must be transferred to their separate sleep space as soon as they return to the setting.

What happens if a baby or child falls asleep outside? Can they still wear a hat?

Provider judgement should be used if a baby or child falls asleep wearing a hat. Evidence suggests that babies (those aged 12 months and under) are at a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) if they have their heads covered. If the hat has a strap around the baby or child’s neck then this must be removed. The NHS guidance states that babies should never sleep in direct sunlight.

Can video or baby monitors be used to meet the requirement that ‘Children are always within sight and hearing of staff when sleeping’?

Babies under six months of age must always have an adult with them in the same room for every sleep. This is stated in the NHS guidance which the EYFS currently links out to.

Children over six months of age should always be within sight and hearing of staff whilst they are sleeping. A baby monitor that allows the child(ren) to be seen and heard at all times may be used but all children must still be frequently checked when they are sleeping.

Are comforters permitted?

Sleep comforters may be used for babies and children aged over 12 months only.