Myth : Putting Babies To Sleep On The Back Has Solved Sids
The National Institute of Health-led Back to Sleep campaign quickly reduced sleep deaths from 5,500 in 1994 to 3,500 in 1999. However, for the past 17 years, progress has completely stalled. The tragic truth is that 3,500 infants die during their sleep each and ever year. Although more babies are sleeping on the back, the rate of accidental suffocation and strangulation infant deaths has quadrupled since the mid-1990s. Whatâs behind this alarming trend? Unsafe sleeping practices. Seventy percent of all sudden unexplained infant death victims are found in adult beds, sofas and other risky locations.
A recent study revealed that while most parents fully plan to follow the ABCs of safe sleep , less than half actually do it. And by the end of the night, about 60% of babies have migrated from their bassinet to their parentsâ bed, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Lactation.
The terrible, unintended consequence of the Back to Sleep campaign is that it has worsened infant sleep. Babies just donât sleep well on their backs in still, quiet cribs. And as discussed in myth 5, when babies donât sleep well, parents resort to bed-sharing, which leads to many more infant suffocation deaths.
When To Contact A Doctor
When in doubt, contact a doctor. Only a doctor can accurately determine the reason that a newborn is sleeping too much. In many cases, a pediatrician may be able to assess the problem over the phone.
Excess sleep in a newborn is not typically an emergency unless they also show signs of respiratory problems. or go to the emergency room if the following apply:
- The baby is gasping for air or wheezing.
- The babys breathing is very loud.
- The babys nostrils flare when they breathe.
- The skin around the babys ribs sinks in when they breathe.
- The baby has a fever.
- The baby may have inhaled, touched, or eaten something toxic.
How Can We Room
To keep your little one close, but not in your bed, put a bassinet, play yard, or crib next to your bed. This lets you keep that desired closeness, which can be especially important if you’re breastfeeding. Having an infant sleep in a separate space in the same room as the mother reduces the risk of SIDS. You also might consider a bedside sleeper, which attaches to your bed, letting you and your baby be next to each other but on separate surfaces.
Make sure that all sleep surfaces and products you use to help your baby sleep have been approved by the CPSC and meet federal safety standards.
Experts recommend that infants sleep in their parents’ room without bed-sharing until their first birthday. If parents prefer to move the baby to another bedroom, it’s best to wait until the child is at least 6 months old.
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Work With A Professional
If youre at your wits end, consider seeking help. Your pediatrician can help you make a sleep plan for your toddler.
Sleep consultants or coaches can be immensely helpful, too. They have seen it all, heard it all, and have incredible specialized insight about routines, patterns, and disruptions.
Sometimes you need an outside opinion and a gentle push to get to the sleep situation youve been dreaming about.
Can You Sleep Train While Room
When your baby is a newborn, shell need to feed frequently through the night, and shell continue to wake up overnight in need of a bottle or a nursing session for at least a few months.
But once your baby reaches the 4- to 6-month mark, she may be waking out of habit, not because she needs to. This ritual isnt a healthy long-term strategy for your baby , and at some point shes going to have to learn to get back to sleep on her own.
The AAPs recommendation that infants stay in the same room with their parents for at least six months may further dampen your hopes of ever getting any sleep. Thats where sleep training comes in.
Sleep training, also known as sleep teaching or soothing training, means teaching your baby to fall back to sleep on her own when she wakes up at night. The goal is for you and your little one to get more sleep, even though at first, you may have to deal with some tears.
Your baby should be at least 4- to 6 months old before beginning sleep training, because by that age she probably no longer needs nighttime feedings , she’s developmentally ready and she understands that crying usually leads to being held. Sleep training isnt healthy or appropriate for younger babies or newborns.
Remember that sleep training is a personal decision that may or may not be right for your family. If you’re not comfortable sleep training your baby, or decide against it for any other reason, that’s fine.
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I Am Worried I Might Fall Asleep While I Breastfeed My Baby At Night Is This Ok
Breastfeeding reduces the chance of SIDS, so we would always try and help you work out a way to continue breastfeeding in the safest way possible. If you feel you might fall asleep we would recommend you prepare the bed as described above so it is safer for baby if this happens. Make sure you know the advice on when never to bed share so you know when to take particular care. It is really important that you do not accidentally fall asleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair. If you think you might fall asleep on a sofa or armchair, put the baby down in a safe place to sleep.
Why Would You Co
While lack of separate bedrooms may be one obvious cause for co-sleeping, there are several other reasons families may choose to share a bed.
Some families have a desire for closeness, while others are driven by pure convenience. Many parents find themselves struggling with bedtime challenges, and resort to co-sleeping to save their sanity.
Co-sleeping is a hinderance to some and a rewarding option for others. You have to find what works for you whether that means sleeping in a giant bed all together, having one parent co-sleep with a toddler, or sticking to separate beds and respective rooms.
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Reducing The Risk Of Sudi Including Sids And Fatal Sleeping Accidents
There are some things you can do to reduce the risk of SUDI including SIDS and fatal sleeping accidents if you choose to co-sleep with your baby:
- Put your baby on their back to sleep .
- If you have long hair, tie it back. Also remove anything else that could be a strangling risk, including all jewellery and teething necklaces.
- Put your baby to your side. Never put your baby between 2 adults or next to other children or pets. Your baby might get rolled on or overheat.
- Move the bed away from the wall, so baby cant get trapped between the bed and wall.
- Make sure your babys face and head remain uncovered. Keep pillows and adult bedding like sheets, blankets and doonas away from your babys sleep space. Consider using a safe infant sleeping bag so your baby doesnt share adult bedding.
- Make sure the mattress is firm and flat. Dont use a waterbed or anything soft underneath for example, a lambs wool underlay, folded blankets or pillows.
- Never wrap or swaddle your baby if youre co-sleeping.
- Make sure your baby cant fall out of bed. The safest spot is on the side of a big bed, away from the edge. Consider sleeping on your mattress on the floor if its possible your baby might roll off the bed.
Dont Rely On Smart Baby Monitors
Cardiorespiratory monitors, which alert you to changes in your babys breathing at night, havent been proven to protect against SIDS. Nor are they regulated by the Food and Drug Administration because they’re not considered medical devices, so they’re often not safe to have around your baby at all.
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How Can I Tell If A Newborn Is Sleeping Too Much
A baby occasionally sleeping for longer than usual is not a cause for concern unless there are other symptoms.
In general, it is uncommon for a newborn to consistently sleep through feedings or to sleep for longer than 19 hours per day unless they are ill or are having feeding difficulties.
Some of the most common reasons that healthy babies sleep for longer than usual include the following:
- They may experience a growth spurt or developmental leap.
- They may have a minor illness, such as a cold.
- They may have a serious infection. This is rare, but it can happen. A newborn might not have a fever or other symptoms of illness like an older baby might.
- In very rare instances, a baby may have another medical condition that causes them to sleep too much. Breathing and heart disorders may affect sleep, and premature babies often have different sleep patterns from full-term infants.
- Some babies sleep too much because they have jaundice. A newborn who has jaundice will have a yellow color to their skin and a yellow cast to the whites of their eyes. Other symptoms of more severe jaundice include being lethargic, having difficulty eating, and being fussy or irritable.
- Sometimes, babies may sleep too much because they are not getting enough to eat. They may get dehydrated, lose too much weight, and even experience a failure to thrive.
However, in the early stages especially for first-time parents the signs of a potential problem may be easy to miss.
Sharing A Bedroom With Baby
Another form of co-sleeping with newborns is room-sharing. The AAP does recommend that babies sleep in the same room as their parents for the first six months and ideally for one year. How do you safely co-sleep in the same room as your baby? Put the baby to sleep in a certified crib, bassinet or play yard in your bedroom. Use a fitted sheet on the mattress, but don’t add blankets, pillows, crib bumpers or stuffed animals. When safe co-sleeping guidelines are followed, this co-sleeping practice of room-sharing can decrease the risk of SIDS by as much as 50% and prevent suffocation, strangulation or the type of entrapment that could occur when the infant is sleeping in the adult bed.
We want babies close to us so we can hear if they get into trouble or accidentally roll over or get on their side and get in trouble, Carolynne Harvey, a baby sleep consultant for 4moms and founder of Dream Baby Sleep, told TODAY Parents. If youre in the same room, its easier to monitor and comfort your little one.
Room-sharing is also a convenient option for breastfeeding moms. Not only is it a short distance to get to the baby, it can help them continue breastfeeding, which can be further beneficial, since studies suggest that breastfeeding may reduce the risk of SIDS by 50%.
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Understanding Baby Sleep Cycles
Adults have four sleep stages that they cycle through during the night. Newborn babies, between the ages of 0 to 3 months, only experience two of the four stages of sleep: stage 3 and stage 4.
- Stage 3: This stage is deep, regenerative sleep. Your body repairs and rejuvenates the immune system, muscle tissue, and sparks growth.
- Stage 4: Stage four is REM rapid eye movement sleep. Your brain kicks in to consolidate information and memories throughout the day. REM is when you dream.
Once asleep, your newborn can be put down without waking most of the time after you rock him because he jumps right into a deep sleep stage. Around four months old, babies transition through all four stages rather than just two sleep stages.
These cycles last 30 to 45 minutes each, on average, for your baby. So, naps can last for an hour to two hours as he cycles through the two stages.
When To Talk To Your Pediatrician
As part of routine visits to your pediatrician, ask them about the benefits and drawbacks of using a pacifier and whether they think it is appropriate for your situation. Your pediatrician can also advise you on best practices when using a pacifier and when to eliminate it, as well as alternatives if you decide you prefer not to.
While there is evidence that sleeping with a pacifier is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS, experts maintain that whether or not to use a pacifier is a parents personal decision. Healthy sleep is important for babies, and a pacifier may help with that. You can decide based on your needs and what makes you and your baby comfortable.
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Dont Put Off Sleep Training Because The Baby Is Teething
Newsflash: Your baby is always teething. Or sick with a cold. Or coming down with something. Or recovering from something. Or over-tired. Or suffering from Unexplained Fussy Baby Syndrome. If you intend to sleep train, its important to know that it may never feel like the right time. Experts say its easiest to sleep train a baby between the ages of six and 12 months, but use your judgment and listen to your gut. If youre not fully committed to sleep training before you start, you wont stick to it.
What Are The Other Potential Benefits And Risks Of Bed
Contrary to the majority of research on bed-sharing, some health care professionals claim bed-sharing with an infant actually reduces the risk of SIDS if it is done safely.
Dr. Sears is one of these, noting that in countries where bed-sharing is common practice such as Asia, Africa and parts of Europe SIDS rates are at their lowest. While there could be many other factors contributing to the lower incidence of SIDS in these cultures, all the population studies Ive seen have come to the same conclusion: safe co-sleeping lowers the SIDS risk, Dr. Sears says on his website.
Dr. Goodstein, however, believes there is not enough evidence to support this claim.
Studies have suggested that bed-sharing with an infant also increases bonding between parent and baby. Talking to Fox News last year, pediatrician Dr. Susan Markel says:
Babies have an inborn need to be touched and held. They enjoy having physical closeness day and night, and this kind of connection is essential to meet a babys needs for warmth, comfort and security.
But some health care professionals believe the risk of SIDS outweighs the potential benefits of bed-sharing. What is more, bed-sharing may present other downfalls.
Many believe that if you allow children to sleep in your bed from birth, it can be hard to persuade them to move out later, Sarah Crown, editor of the UKs biggest community network for parents, Mumsnet, told MNT.
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Risks Of Sleeping With A Pacifier
Pacifiers may help babies get the sleep they need, but in addition to potentially interfering with breastfeeding, they may contribute to dental issues, ear infections, and oral yeast infections.
Middle ear infections may be more common among babies who use pacifiers, but these are not typically a concern until the baby reaches 12 months old. Researchers have found that part of the increased risk can be attributed to a child entering a daycare environment. By limiting the use of a pacifier to bedtime, parents can reduce the number of middle ear infections.
Pacifier use can also lead to a crossbite, where the upper and lower teeth do not align correctly. However, this problem often goes away once the baby stops using a pacifier, and is unlikely to create long-term issues if the baby stops using a pacifier by the age of 3 years old.
Myth : We Should Teach Babies To Sleep In Their Own Rooms
Having our babies grow up to be independent takes a long time. Thereâs no need to rush it. In fact, having your new child sleep in another room is inconvenient and possibly dangerous. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies sleep in the parentâs room for at least six months . The simple practice has shown to significantly reduce the rate of sudden infant death syndrome.
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Is It Possible To Make Co
breastfeedingOnly ever co-sleep in bedMake sure your mattress is firm Keep bedding light and minimalsafe and comfortableright tog for the temperature of the roomSleep with your baby in a protective “C” positionDon’t let other children or pets into your bed at the same time as your baby sleep in her own bed
What Are The Cons Of Co
Every parent understands why bringing your baby into bed is tempting. Your little one is having trouble getting back to sleep and youre so tired that bringing baby into bed with you seems like the only way you’ll all get the rest you need. Not to mention those cuddles!
But bed-sharing can be dangerous, so avoid the temptation. Every year about 3,500 babies die in the United States of sleep-related causes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . And bed-sharing is one of the most common causes of death in babies, especially those younger than 3 months.
When your little one sleeps on anything other than a mattress with a tight sheet and nothing else nearby, it increases her risk of SIDS, especially in the first six months of life.
Soft or loose bedding, pillows and adult bed mattresses all pose potential suffocation hazards for babies. Its also possible for an infant to get trapped or wedged between a mattress and a wall or headboard.
And for really tired, deep-sleeping parents, the risk of rolling over onto baby is real, as is the chance that she could fall off the bed. The risk of SIDS goes up if you smoke or drink alcohol.
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