Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI)

There are 3 risk factors that increase a baby's risk of SUDI. The more of these factors a baby has, the greater their risk of SUDI. These are:

• infants sleeping on their side or front rather than on their back
• bed-sharing
• the mother smoking in pregnancy.

Of these, the combination of the mother smoking in pregnancy and bed-sharing with their baby is riskiest for babies. Learn more about how to co-sleep safely with your pēpē below.

Image credit: Canva

The best way to protect your baby is to follow the PEPE steps: 

• Place baby in their own baby bed in the same room as their parent or caregiver. 
• Eliminate smoking in pregnancy and protect baby with a smokefree whānau (family), whare (home) and waka (car).
• Position baby flat on their back to sleep – with their face clear of bedding.
• Encourage and support breastfeeding and gentle handling of baby.

Video: TAHA - Safe Sleep for Baby

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(TAHA Well Pacific Mother & Infant Service, NZ, 2014)

Here is a way you can have your baby next to your bed but not actually in your bed with you.

Image credit: Canva

If you want to share a bed or sleeping space with your baby, you must have a separate bed for your baby that can be placed in your bed.

There is a range of baby beds you can choose that allow your baby to share your bed while sleeping in their own space, such as a wahakura or pepi pod(external link). Wahakura are hand-woven sleep spaces for pēpē made out of harakeke (flax) and using the tradition of rāranga (Māori weaving practices).

Tips on how to co-sleep with your pēpi

Use a wahakura

A wahakura is a small, flax-woven bed that can be fitted with a mattress that allows parents to have their baby in their bed but contained in a safe space. This helps protect against accidental suffocation caused by a parent or caregiver rolling onto their baby, or the baby being smothered by blankets. Wahakura were piloted in Gisborne in 2006 and Hawke’s Bay in 2007 and later rolled out around other parts of the country.

Use a pepi-pod

Pepi-pods are made from polypropylene plastic that can be fitted with a mattress and bedding. Like the wahakura, they are placed on the parent’s bed but provide a buffer of protection against accidental suffocation.

Put them to sleep on their back

Put your baby to sleep on their back with their feet right at the foot of their sleeping place. This helps to keep their airways clear and stop them burrowing under the blankets. Always put your baby back to sleep in their sleeping place (eg, wahakura or pepi-pod) after feeding so you don’t fall asleep on them.

Provide a smoke-free environment

Having a smoke-free home and car keeps your baby free from second-hand cigarette smoke, which is very harmful to them. Also, ensure the person looking after your baby is free from drugs and alcohol so they can be alert to your baby’s needs.

Breastfeed your baby

If possible, breastfeed only for the first 6 months. It’s advisable to keep breastfeeding until your baby is a year old if you can because breastfeeding helps protect your baby against SUDI.

Uncover their head and face

Make sure your baby’s head and face are free from things that may suffocate them like a pillow, bumper pad or hat. Don’t put any stuffed toys or playthings in your baby’s sleeping place that they could suffocate or choke on, including teething necklaces.

Dress them for the temperature

Your baby needs to be kept at a comfortable temperature so they don’t overheat. Make sure your baby doesn’t have too many clothes or blankets on. Having your baby in one more layer of clothing than you would wear is a good guide.

Use a firm and well-fitting mattress

Having a firm, flat mattress helps keep your baby’s airways open and stops them rolling. Make sure there are no gaps between your baby’s mattress and the side of the wahakura or pepi-pod.

Sands NZ(external link) Support for parents and families who have experienced the death of a baby at any stage during pregnancy, as a baby or infant.
Bittersweet(external link) A support group of parents of a child who has died at any age for any reason. It is Australian-based but is open to bereaved New Zealand parents.