We take our babies to their well checks, ensure they’re up-to-date on shots, and secure furniture to walls. All parents want to keep their new babies safe and healthy. Making sure that they’re in a safe sleep environment is part of that! Unlike complicated safety processes, remembering the safety steps for baby sleep are as simple as ABC(D).
Alone
Your baby should always be alone on their sleep surface. While this does mean by themselves, it also means free of extra things. Pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals should all be outside the crib. While room sharing has shown to reduce the risk of SIDs and other issues prior to 6 months of age, bedsharing has been shown to increase that same risk.
Back
Babies sleeping on their tummies is a sweet picture but not the safest position for them when sleeping independently. From the potential of overheating to rebreathing air, tiny babies should always be placed on their backs to sleep. If they are able to roll from their stomachs to back and back again they are safe to stay there but always start in the crib on their back.
A Note About Swaddles
Once your baby is rolling it’s important to remove swaddles. They can then be transitioned into a sleep sack with their arms free.
Crib
Baby should sleep in their own sleep space. This could be a crib, a bassinet, or another firm, flat surface. Adult beds are not firm enough for a baby and they can sink into them. Finnish babies are even gifted a cardboard box that can act as their bassinet!
Don’t Smoke
A newer addition to the reminder is “don’t smoke”. Third hand smoke increases the risk of SIDS even if the smoking parent changes their clothes. Particles from cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other types of smoking stick to clothing, hair, and skin. The best course of action is not to smoke and the second best is to smoke outside, change clothes, and shower before holding baby.
Remembering these simple guidelines can make putting baby to bed safely stress-free and simple!
Struggling with overnight care for your baby? Missing sleep? Would you love a professional to come help you? Tap here to talk to us about what Overnight Doula Care might look like for your family.
