Safer sleep guidance in early years is changing - and if you care for babies or children under 2 in your setting, you need to know exactly what's new. In March 2026, early education minister Olivia Bailey confirmed that the government is writing explicit safer sleep requirements directly into the EYFS statutory framework. From September 2026, these requirements become formally inspectable by Ofsted. Here's what that means in practice, and what you should be doing right now.
Why the Safer Sleep Rules Are Being Updated
The changes follow the death of nine-month-old Genevieve Meehan at a nursery in 2022 - a devastating tragedy that prompted the Campaign for Gigi, a sustained push by her family and campaigners to strengthen safe sleep standards across all early years settings in England.
Until now, the EYFS required providers to place babies down to sleep in line with government safety guidance, linking to NHS advice. That wording left room for inconsistency. Minister Bailey's letter to early years leaders confirmed that this approach was not clear enough, and that the updated requirements - developed with the Lullaby Trust, medical experts, and Ofsted - will give providers specific, enforceable standards to follow.
What the New Safer Sleep Requirements Say
The updated wording applies to all children under 2 years old. Providers must ensure:
- Children are placed on their backs in their own separate sleep space
- The sleep space must be on a firm, flat surface - a cot, bed, or mattress on the floor
- Babies aged 1 year and under must only sleep in a cot
- Sleep spaces should contain only a firm, flat, waterproof mattress and lightweight bedding tucked in firmly below the child's shoulders
- A well-fitted baby sleep bag may be used as an alternative to blankets
- Where blankets are used, the child is placed feet-to-foot at the bottom of the cot, with blankets tucked in
- Sleeping children must be regularly supervised - sight and sound checks throughout nap times
The Lullaby Trust has also clarified the position on specific items. Sleep pods are not acceptable. Car seats are only suitable while the child is in the vehicle, not as a sleep space in your setting. Sofas are not permitted - they do not meet the requirement for a firm, flat surface.
When Do These Requirements Come Into Force?
The DfE has confirmed that compliant safer sleep practice is expected now, not just from September. Current EYFS wording already requires you to follow NHS safer sleep guidance - and that guidance has always reflected the requirements above. The September 2026 date marks when the explicit wording lands formally in the EYFS statutory framework, and when Ofsted will be inspecting against the new, detailed criteria.
In practice, that means Ofsted inspectors are already expecting to see safe sleep environments in your setting. If babies in your care are sleeping in sleep pods, on soft surfaces, or in car seats during the day, you are already non-compliant.
What About Children Over 12 Months in Buggies or Prams?
One area where questions have come in from providers relates to naps during outings. The current guidance draws a distinction by age:
- Children under 12 months who fall asleep in a buggy during an outing must be transferred to their designated sleep space when they return to the setting, even if it wakes them up
- Children over 12 months should where possible be transferred, but the requirement is less absolute
- A lie-flat pram or buggy should not be used as the child's main separate sleep space
If children fall asleep on outings - during the school run, on walks, or at forest school - that is acceptable. The key principle is whether your setting has appropriate sleep spaces and whether you are actively using them.
How Safer Sleep Guidance in Early Years Will Be Inspected by Ofsted
Ofsted inspects early years providers against the full EYFS framework, including safeguarding and welfare requirements. From September 2026, inspectors will have explicit criteria to check sleep environments against - not just a general expectation that you follow NHS guidance.
In practice, you should expect an inspector to look at:
- Your sleep spaces - are they cots with firm, flat, waterproof mattresses?
- Your bedding - is it lightweight and tucked in below the shoulders, or is heavy bedding being used?
- Your supervision procedures - are sleeping children being checked regularly and recorded?
- Your equipment - are sleep pods, car seats, or soft nest-style products present in your sleep room?
- Your policies - does your safer sleep policy reflect the updated EYFS requirements?
- Your staff knowledge - do your practitioners understand the rationale behind each requirement, not just the rule itself?
Ofsted has already noted non-compliance in inspection reports where safer sleep procedures were not robust enough. Don't wait for an inspection to review your practice.
Questions Still Being Worked Through
There are some areas where providers have raised questions and where guidance is still being developed. These include:
- Forest school and outdoor sleeping - how do the requirements apply when children nap outside during outdoor sessions?
- Dummies - the position on their use has not been explicitly addressed in the new EYFS wording, though the Lullaby Trust does address this in their guidance
- Monitor systems - whether sight and sound supervision can be met via a baby monitor, or requires a practitioner to be present in the room
- Moses baskets and coracle beds - whether these meet the definition of a cot for children aged 1 and under
Sector bodies including the NDNA and the Early Years Alliance are pressing the DfE for clear answers on these points. Check their websites and your local authority for updates as clarifications are issued.
What to Do in Your Setting Right Now
You don't need to wait for September 2026 to act. Steps you can take today:
- Audit your sleep room - remove any sleep pods, nest-style products, or items that do not meet the firm, flat surface requirement
- Check your mattresses - they should be waterproof and firm, meeting British Standards (BSEN standards codes are included in the new guidance)
- Review your safer sleep policy - update it to reflect the specific requirements for children under 2, including the cot-only rule for children aged 1 and under
- Brief your team - make sure every practitioner understands the requirements and the reason behind them
- Check your supervision logs - are sleeping children being checked frequently, and is this being recorded?
- Read the Lullaby Trust guidance for early years settings - use their search function to check specific items and equipment
Supporting Your Team's Knowledge and Confidence
Safer sleep is a safeguarding issue, and your practitioners need to understand it as one. Staff training on current safer sleep guidance in early years settings is one of the most direct ways you can reduce risk and demonstrate compliance to Ofsted.
Parenta Training offers childcare apprenticeships and CPD pathways that cover safeguarding, EYFS compliance, and child welfare. If you're looking to build staff knowledge systematically - or to recruit practitioners who come trained in current frameworks - our team can help you explore your options.
Stay compliant and inspection-ready ahead of September 2026. With safer sleep entering the EYFS statutory framework, your whole team needs to understand what Ofsted will inspect. Parenta's accredited courses keep practitioners current on health, safety and EYFS compliance. Explore our childcare courses or speak to us on 0800 002 9242.
A question for our readers: With the new safer sleep requirements becoming inspectable from September 2026, how confident do you feel about your setting's current sleep practices? Tell us what questions you still have in the comments below, or what you are putting in place to get ready.
Further Reading
For the full detail on safer sleep requirements, visit the Lullaby Trust guidance for early years settings and the NHS advice on reducing the risk of SIDS.
The Early Years Alliance has also published a summary of the ministerial announcement - you can read it at eyalliance.org.uk.
