A Safe-Sleep Handover Checklist for Every Baby Caregiver

1. Name the adult taking over

Start with a clear transfer of responsibility. Say who is caring for the baby now, when the next handover is expected and how to reach another adult. Avoid arrangements where everyone assumes someone else is listening.

Walk through the routine together the first time, even with an experienced relative. Ask the incoming caregiver to explain it back in their own words. Use a language everyone understands, and keep one current written version so an older message does not become the day's instructions.

2. Check the actual sleep space

The Indian Academy of Pediatrics recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing for the first 6–12 months, using a separate cot with a firm surface and a snug fitted sheet. NHS guidance recommends the baby's own cot or Moses basket in the caregiver's room for every sleep during at least the first six months. Keep the mattress flat and the sleep space clear of pillows, soft toys, loose blankets, bumpers, pods and positioners.

Show the caregiver which sleep space to use. Check it together rather than saying only that the room is ready. Point out where spare fitted sheets are kept, and agree that nobody will add cushions or other bedding to make the surface feel softer.

3. Be specific about position and rolling

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting every sleep on the baby's back. A side position is not a safer alternative. When a baby can roll independently in both directions, they can stay in the position they reach, but should still be placed down on their back.

Include new rolling attempts in the handover. The AAP advises stopping swaddling as soon as a baby shows signs of trying to roll; do not wait for a birthday or a complete roll. Update every caregiver when this changes.

4. Agree on clothing before the nap

Set out the clothing the baby will wear, taking account of the room conditions. AAP guidance warns against overheating and weighted sleep products. A hot chest, sweating or flushed skin can suggest overheating.

If your family uses a sleep bag, show the caregiver how to use the correctly fitted product according to its instructions. Explain whether it is a freely moving sleep bag or a swaddling product. Avoid adding unfamiliar wraps or trying a new sleep product during someone else's shift.

5. Make tiredness easy to speak about

Agree that a caregiver can ask for relief before becoming too sleepy to hold the baby safely. Never sleep with a baby on a sofa or armchair. After feeding or comforting, return the baby to their own sleep space before the adult sleeps. If a baby falls asleep in a swing or sitting device, AAP advice is to move them to a suitable firm, flat sleep surface as soon as possible.

Identify the backup adult in advance. A workable relief plan needs a name and a way to contact them.

6. Record what the next person needs

A useful note distinguishes what happened from what is expected. Record the last feed, nappy change, sleep period and anything different from the baby's usual pattern. Avoid predictions such as a guaranteed wake-up time. Keep clinician-provided instructions accessible when applicable, without asking an everyday caregiver to interpret or change them.

• Date, handover time and incoming caregiver's name
• Last feed, last nappy change and recent sleep
• New rolling attempts or other changes to the agreed routine
• Parent, backup adult and emergency contact details

7. Use a short handover example

An example might be: 'Her last feed finished at 1:10 pm, and I changed her nappy at 1:25. This is her cot. The fitted sheet is clean and the sleep space is clear. Put her down on her back each time. She has started trying to roll, so we have stopped swaddling. I am available by phone; if I do not answer, call the backup contact on this sheet.'

These times are examples of recorded events, not a feeding or sleep schedule. Finish by asking the caregiver to confirm the plan and raise any uncertainty.

8. Know when the checklist is not enough

If a baby stops breathing, struggles to breathe, cannot be woken or becomes unresponsive, seek emergency help immediately rather than waiting for a parent to reply. Keep the correct local emergency number and the home's address visible. The NHS identifies these as emergency warning signs.

Review the checklist when the baby's abilities, sleep space or caregivers change. Safer-sleep measures reduce risk; they cannot guarantee that nothing will go wrong. A calm, specific handover makes it easier for every adult to follow the same plan.