Safe Sleep Tips for Your Newborn Baby

Safe Sleep Tips for Your Newborn Baby

Welcoming a new baby into your house is an exciting and emotional time, but it comes with so many questions, especially when it comes to safe sleep. Ensuring that your baby sleeps safely isn’t just about helping them to get the rest that they need, but about protecting their health and well-being during those early months. One of the simplest and yet most important steps is choosing the right sleeping environment.

Always using a firm flat surface for your baby to sleep on is important and making sure that the crib or bassinet is fitted with snug, well secured bassinet sheets that won’t come loose or bunch up is equally important. Always avoiding using loose blankets, pillows or stuffed toys is going to protect both you and your child. These can increase the risk of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome.It’s for this reason that cot bumpers are an absolute no no, no matter how pretty they may look. Let’s take a look at some safe sleep tips for your nibble baby.

1. Babies should always be placed on their back. The safest position for your baby to sleep is on their back to reduce the risk of SIDS significantly. It’s become recommended by paediatricians and health organisations worldwide for that reason. Whether it’s nap time or bedtime, always put your baby on their back first, not their side or their stomach, until they can roll over independently.
2. Stick to a safe sleep surface. The car seat is fine for them to nap in if you’re in the car and moving, but they shouldn’t be napping in a car seat for longer than 30 minutes. A bassinet, crib, or play yard that meets current safety standards is more ideal for newborn sleep. For longer periods, the mattress should be firm, fit snugly within the frame with no gaps along the edges. Soft or plush surfaces compose a suffocation risk, so resist the urge to add an extra padding layer for comfort.
3. Keep it empty. It’s so tempting to decorate your baby’s crib with cute pillows or plush toys, but these items should be kept out of the sleep space. A safe sleep environment is a bare one. Stick to fitted bassinet or crib sheets and dress your baby in a wearable blanket or sleep sack if extra warmth is needed. Loose covers could obstruct your baby’s breathing and they are not capable of removing them at night.
4. Share a room. Experts recommend that parents share a room with their baby for at least the first six months because this helps your baby to regulate their breathing alongside yours. Having your baby sleep in a bassinet or crib next to your bed allows you to keep them close for nighttime feeds and comfort when maintaining separate, safe surfaces.
5. Keep the temperature comfortable. Babies can easily become overheated, which is another risk factor for SIDS. Keep the room at a comfortable temperature and go with the rule that for however many layers you’re wearing, add one more to your baby.

It’s a simple list of steps to keep your baby safe, but this way you can keep everybody comfortable through the night.