Safe sleep guidelines

The Department for Education (DfE) has published updated safer sleep guidance for early years providers, developed with The Lullaby Trust, medical experts and Ofsted. These requirements are written into the EYFS statutory framework and have applied since 1 September 2026, but childminders are expected to be compliant now.

Rather than duplicate the guidance here, we'd ask you to read it directly from the source, so you're always working from the most up-to-date version:

👉DfE: Safer sleep guidance for early years providers

You should also read:

* NHS: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

* NHS: Reduce the risk of SIDS

* The Lullaby Trust: Safer sleep information

* The Lullaby Trust: Guide for childminders, foster carers, nannies and nursery settings