The final stages of pregnancy can be thrilling. Finally, you’re through the morning sickness, counting down the weeks or days before your baby arrives, and planning a lovely nursery for your little one. Of course, choosing functional and safe products, including the crib, is critical. When it’s time to go to sleep, make sure everything is pleasant and safe for your child to get a good night’s sleep. In this article, we will discuss baby sleep tips.
This includes :
the crib or bassinet,
the mattress,
room temperature,
sleeping position,
sleeping location
and good sleep hygiene to help the baby fall asleep faster
Should a baby sleep with bedding?
How can an infant sleep more securely? According to research, putting a newborn to bed with blankets and sheets puts them at risk since they cannot maintain correct temperature regulation. In addition, blankets might cause asphyxia.
Instead, place your infant in a single light layer or firmly wrapped in swaddling cloths. Baby will stay toasty while also allowing for breathability, ensuring that they are comfortable and not overheated. Overheating is one of the risk factors for SIDS.
What causes SIDS?
Even after studies and autopsies, there is no known cause of SIDS. The best thing any parent can do is make sure they understand what is safe for their baby to sleep on and what may raise the risk of SIDS.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggested that babies sleep on their backs in 1992, and this is still the official recommendation. SIDS has decreased in prevalence since then, yet it still exists. Suffocation from bedding and blankets is also a possibility.
It doesn’t help that cribs in baby publications are piled high with blankets and soft toys. Babies do not require these items; instead, they require a safe and uncluttered sleeping environment.
Many new parents have questions about how to sleep their infant and what to place in the crib or bassinet. It can be an overwhelming moment for new parents.
As a doctor and a mother, I’d like to make the following suggestions to you:
Where should a baby sleep?
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Pediatric Society both suggest that infants sleep in a cot or a bassinet. For at least six months, the baby should sleep in the parents’ room. The baby must always be laid on its back.
Sleeping in your own room reduces the risk of SIDS and makes nighttime feeding easier. With a new baby, you’re probably already getting less sleep, so any chance to catch up is beneficial!
Babies Should Never Sleep Face Down When They Fall Asleep
I know I’ve said it before, but it’s crucial that your baby sleeps on their back. But no blankets or sleep positioners on top of or around a baby. These are true suffocation hazards, as well as an elevated chance of SIDS.
A fitted sheet over the mattress is sufficient. However, if babies are dressed in appropriate infant sleeping gear, they will stay warm without a blanket and sleep soundly.
What Type of Bed Surface is Best
Throw away your couches, air mattresses, waterbeds, and pillows. Those are not suitable for a newborn. Furthermore, a newborn can roll around on an extremely soft surface and become unable to breathe.
Nothing, including blankets, bumpers, cushions, and soft toys, should be placed in the crib. These items are not only unnecessary for a baby, but they can also raise the risk of SIDS.
Safe baby sleep
The Safest Room Temperature for Baby
To minimize overheating, the room should not be too warm, and your youngster should not wear too many garments. To be comfortable, newborns should typically wear one more layer than they would in the same situation. This will ensure a comfortable night’s sleep and prevent them from becoming overly heated, which would cause difficulty sleeping. When your child falls asleep, a sleep sack and a long-sleeved onesie are great. A cooler temperature promotes better sleep.
Make Sure the Crib is Safe
The crib is the most important baby item since it is where your newborn will sleep. Make sure you select a secure one to keep them safe. The side rails should not be lowered. Before utilizing old models, make sure they are up to date with safety regulations.
No Smoking
When newborns and toddlers are exposed to cigarette smoke, the risk of SIDS increases. Smoking while pregnant or around your child can be dangerous, so please get support from your healthcare practitioner if you smoke and want to quit.
Is Bed-Sharing (Co-Sleeping) safe?
When it’s time to sleep, you might want to bed-share with your baby to make nightly feedings easier. The problem is that beds aren’t constructed with babies in mind, and co-sleeping can increase SIDS risk.
The baby can be at risk if an adult rolls on top of them, is trapped between the wall and mattress, or falls out of the bed.
Going to sleep with the baby in a chair or on the couch has similar risks, in that the infant can fall or become lodged in the cushions. The risk is worse if the parent or caregiver has used alcohol or drugs (including some common medications).
Sleeping with your infant in a chair, on the sofa, or in your bed may sound appealing to an exhausted parent or caregiver, but it is just not worth the danger.
It’s not easy to raise a child, and the first few months are especially difficult. Using the ideas above, however, can help guarantee that your baby is secure, happy, and comfortable when it’s time to sleep.
Please keep your baby on their back in an empty crib or bassinet, as well as in your bedroom, for at least the first six months.
What should you do if your baby has trouble falling asleep?
You should stick to or create a bedtime routine if you want to sleep through the night without your baby waking up. This might include giving them a warm bath before putting them in their PJs and reading books or singing songs to them before they go to bed. You may try infant massage, which is known to soothe many newborns. You must also ensure that they are receiving enough sleep during the day so that they do not overtire themselves at nap and bedtime, which is especially difficult for overtired newborns! Sleep hygiene is essential for improved sleep.
This will enhance both the baby’s and the parents’ sleep quality.
Healthy Sleep
Many people struggle to get a decent night’s sleep. However, there are several strategies for both adults and children to have a better night’s sleep and reap the advantages of rest.
For example, if you’re having difficulty getting your infant or toddler to sleep at night without them continuing to fight you, don’t give in by giving them sleep medication that offers an easy way out! Sleep medications may worsen sleep quality but will not solve the problem. Avoid strong lighting in the baby’s room and maintain a consistent sleep routine. This will ensure that everyone has a decent night’s sleep.
Instead, focus on developing good habits such as creating a normal sleep pattern with frequent naps throughout the day, which will help everyone sleep better and feel more rested sooner rather than later.
Read more on safe sleeping in kids
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