A Bare Crib Should Be Used For Babies
Seventy-three percent of mums in our poll admit to putting something in their baby’s crib at least once. The majority of children and adults found comfort in a blanket, while 23% found comfort in bumpers, 23% found comfort in stuffed animals, and 23% found comfort in pillows . The American Academy of Pediatrics states that regardless of how babies sleep, all of these pose suffocation risks to infants aged 1 year and younger and can increase the risk of SIDS by up to five times .
Oftentimes, mothers receive contradictory information. “When women go into a baby store or look through a baby catalogue or magazine, blankets, they see bumpers, and stuffed animals, and they feel that they need to buy these in order to be good parents.
A simple, unadorned crib is excellent for your baby. Only a fitted sheet, nothing else, should be placed in the baby’s crib. There should be nothing in the crib with the baby that could cause asphyxia, including but not limited to pillows, plush animals, sleep positioners/wedges , and bumpers for the crib.
Where Should Our Newborn Sleep
Your newborn can sleep in a bassinet or a crib. This can be located in a parents room, a siblings room or in the newborns own room. Its important that you have your baby sleep in a safe place. Your baby should not sleep in your bed with you. This is dangerous because of the risk of suffocation, strangulation and sudden infant death syndrome .
You can bring the baby into your bed for feedings, but should return the baby to a crib as soon as you are done. Many experts recommend feeding your child while in a chair to avoid any injury that can happen while sleeping in a bed with the baby. Room-sharing with your baby is recommended, but not bed-sharing.
What Is Tummy Time
Tummy time is when you put your baby on her stomach while shes awake. It can help make your babys neck, shoulder and arm muscles stronger. It also helps prevent flat spots on the back of your babys head that she may get from sleeping on her back. Always watch your baby during tummy time or make sure an adult who is awake is watching your baby.
Last reviewed: February, 2019
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Safe Infant Sleep With Dr James Mckenna
James J. McKenna is a professor of biological anthropology and the director of the Mother-Baby Sleep Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame. He is famous for his advocacy of safe co-sleeping in the United States . Through anthropological studies, Dr. McKenna found that parent and baby heart rates, brain waves, sleep states, oxygen levels, temperature, and breathing influence each other when they sleep near one another.
In his book Safe Infant Sleep, Dr. McKenna suggests safe co-sleeping with a newborn or baby setup with parents who do not smoke, are sober, have chosen to bedshare, and are breastfeeding their baby. The bed frame has been completely removed and the mattress has been placed at the center of the room away from walls and furniture. Light blankets and firm, square pillows are being used. No older children, pets, or stuffed animals are in the bed.
British co-sleeping expert Helen Ball, BSc, MA, PhD, suggests that a nursing mother sleeps on her side with her arm out above her babys head . This position allows the baby to nurse easily and safely at night.
I find that my co-sleeping parents fall into three main groups: Committed Co-Sleepers, Short-Term Co-Sleepers , and Accidental Co-Sleepers.
Keep Touching Your Baby
I wouldnt blame you for wanting to put your baby down and relax after a long day of parenting, but you may be able to avoid a panicked baby by making the transition to the crib a multi-step process.
You can gently place your child in the crib, trying not to set off the Moro reflex. Dont immediately pull your hands out of the crib. Instead, gently put a hand on your babys chest or stroke his cheek.
Your movements should be gentle and unobtrusive, but the reassurance of your presence for even a couple of minutes may help your baby start to drift off before he panics about not being held.
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Is It Safe For Your Baby To Sleep On Your Chest
There are many reasons why your baby loves sleeping on your chest, but it is important to note that this position is not recommended by health specialists. Moreover, the AAP strongly discourages bedsharing because it can increase the risk of SIDS .
The main concern with letting your baby sleep on your chest is that there is the potential for your baby to roll off and get stuck in a compromising position. This can obviously be very dangerous as it can pose a suffocating risk.
Your baby can sleep on your chest. Just make sure to stay awake and to always keep airways free
So if you are going to do chest sleeping with your baby, make sure you follow all of the AAPs guidelines for safe sleep and only let your baby sleep on your chest for short amounts of time while making sure you are wide awake! If you dont trust yourself to not fall asleep while holding your baby, it may be best to place your baby in a crib or another safe sleeping arrangement.
The few times I let my daughter sleep on my chest during the early weeks, I was aware of the horror stories of babies accidentally rolling off their parents chest. So I would make sure each time to make coffee and keep my mind engaged, and I only did it while I was wide awake and chipper .
Sleeping On The Couch With Baby
This is the most dangerous place to fall asleep with your baby as couches are so soft and plush and it is super easy for mom or dad to roll over and suffocate baby or for baby to fall off the couch onto the floor.
But yet many parents still couch share with their infants and are often surprised that it is so risky.
If you love this time to bond with your baby which many parents do then a safer option is to do it before they go to bed and then pop them in their crib, bassinet, or bedside crib.
When you are exhausted which every parent is at some point try to avoid nursing or feeding your baby on the couch as you are far more likely to nod off once you get in a comfy spot.
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Risks For Baby If Sleeping On Your Chest
Having that skin-to-skin time with your baby is an extremely powerful and rewarding bonding experience. It is also recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics .
But the one huge difference with regard to safety is that you must ensure that you are awake while you have this skin-to-skin time with your little one. The AAP does warn that falling asleep while your baby is sleeping on you, increases the risk of SIDS.
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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When Back Is Best Is Cause For Stress
You carefully put your baby down at bedtime, keeping in mind that back is best. However, your little one squirms in their sleep until theyve managed to roll onto their side. Or maybe your baby refuses to fall asleep at all unless you put them on their side to begin with.
That bundle of joy has turned you into a bundle of worry and all the warnings about safe sleeping positions and SIDS arent helping.
Take a deep breath and look away from the baby monitor for a minute or two. Youre doing a great job even if your baby isnt a natural-born or serene back sleeper.
Its true: Back sleeping is best when it comes to babies. Side sleeping can also be safe as your baby grows and gets stronger. Youll find your baby gets more and more active during sleep as they near their first birthday which, thankfully, is also when a lot of these sleep-position worries go away. In the meantime, there are several ways to help keep your little sleeping beauty safe.
Heres a look first at some of the reasoning behind back sleeping for babies and when its safe to allow your little one to side sleep. Spoiler alert: The risks we talk about below do pass, and both you and baby will be sleeping easier before you know it.
Sleeping Whilst Baby On Chest Also Sleeping
hollydoyle · 10/01/2022 11:15
Hi there first time poster here,I’m just interested in seeing everyone’s views regarding “safe sleeping ” and how everyone feels about a parent sleeping with baby on their chest who’s also sleeping, for both long and short periods My daughter will only seem to sleep/ settle on someone’s chest, particularly at night time Sometimes I be afraid whilst doing night time feeds incase I lift her up on my chest to settle her to fall back asleep and I accidentally dose off. Any advice? Thanks in advance
Eustonhalf · 10/01/2022 11:18
I wouldn’t do this, especially if you’re very tired or under the influence of any medication or alcohol. Have you tried swaddling/sleep pod?Your baby is safest in a cot with a firm flat surface and no pillow, even if it’s not their favourite thing.
TrialofTrials · 10/01/2022 11:24
I have done it regularly. The other option is no sleep for me which I consider to be even less safe. Just make sure you are comfy and stable.
Lou98 · 10/01/2022 11:28
Lou98 · 10/01/2022 11:29
Also, something else one of my friends did – she was confident she would stay lying on her back but she didn’t want her arms to flop down and drop baby so she put him in a stretchy sling on her chest so that at least if her arms moved the baby stayed where he was
Ostryga · 10/01/2022 11:30
Sleeping with baby in a sling is horrendously dangerous so absolutely do not do that. My god. Op look into safe co-sleeping and the C-position. Are you breastfeeding?
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Dont Use A Seat Outside Of The Car Or Stroller
Once you remove the car seat from the car or stroller base, and it is not being used the way it was originally designed, the risk of respiratory issues and other problems increase, Hoffman says.
For instance, if you’re transferring your sleeping baby from a car into your home, it’s okay to briefly place the car seat on the ground. But dont put it on a high surface like a countertop or a soft surface like a bed or couch. Even an infant strapped into the harness can move slightly and tip the balance of the car seat, so that it falls to the floor or topples over onto a soft surface that blocks the baby from breathing. An unbalanced seat can also allow the babys head to fall forward and obstruct the airway.
When you get to your final destination, if the baby is still sleeping, the best thing to do is to fully remove the child from the car seat and put him or her into a safe sleep environment, such as a firm, flat crib or bassinet, Haverstick says.
In other words, car seats are safe for travel, not prolonged sleep. Parents and caregivers should feel confident that using an infant car seat is essential in a car, but a baby shouldn’t be left unattended in a car seat, and it shouldn’t be your babys primary sleeping place, Thomas says. Neither a car seat nor an inclined sleeper is an appropriate substitute for a crib or bassinet.
Rachel Rabkin Peachman
Is It Ever Safe For A Baby To Sleep In A Car Seat
The safest place for your baby to sleep is on a firm, flat surface such as her crib, bassinet, portable crib or playard. Your baby should always be put to sleep on her back without anything else in the crib or bassinet no blankets, pillows, stuffed animals or bumpers, recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics .
These practices are the best way to reduce the chances for sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.
Products that place your baby in an inclined position like swings, bouncers, seats or even strollers arent safe spaces for your baby to sleep, especially for long stretches. Sleeping while sitting upright can cause a baby to slump down, and end up in a chin-to-chest position, potentially causing suffocation.
If your baby falls asleep in the car on the way home from the grocery store or park, theres no need to panic. As long as the trip is short and you or another rider has an eye on your little dreamer, you can head on to your destination without waking her.
That said, you should move her to her crib or bassinet as soon as you can, recommends the AAP. While shes dozing on the drive, keep a close eye to make sure she doesnt slump into a chin-to-chest position and that her nose or mouth dont become covered.
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Tips For Improving Sleep Safety
The following sleep safety tips can help keep a baby safe, even if they roll onto their side or stomach:
- Sleep in the same room as the baby: A bassinet or crib next to the bed allows people to check on the baby easily. Ensure that pillows or other objects from the bed cannot fall into the babyâs sleep space.
- Do not smoke: People who smoke should never smoke in the house or around the baby.
- Do not use weighted blankets: Avoid using these or similar devices.
- Prevent the baby from overheating: Do not use space heaters or keep the room too warm. Dress the baby in light clothing, rather than heavy fabrics or layers.
- Use a swaddle: Make sure that it is tight at the chest but loose at the hips and knees. However, only use a swaddle before the baby starts rolling onto their side.
- Stop swaddlingonce the baby can roll over: It is important to stop using a swaddle as soon as the baby starts moving on to their side.
- Keep the crib empty: Do not put toys, blankets, pillows, or a bumper in the babyâs sleeping area.
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Should I Wake Up With My Baby Every Time They Wake Up At Night
During the first 12 months, babies develop quickly, and their sleep patterns change rapidly. Its important to understand that all babies briefly awaken several times a night. Some babies are able to soothe themselves back to sleep after they wake up. Other babies learn to signal their parents for help to settle them back to sleep if they wake up in the middle of the night. However, it is best to let the newborn comfort himself or herself back to sleep rather than develop a need or association with a parent or guardian.
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Can A Bedtime Routine Help Your Baby Sleep
Yes. Your babys sleep schedule changes over time, but sticking to a routine can make bedtime easier for the both of you. Start setting a bedtime routine when your babys around 4 to 6 months old.
Heres how to get your baby ready for bedtime:
- Wind down any playtime fun.
- Turn off the phone, television, etc.
- Give your baby a warm bath.
- Softly stroke your babys back.
- Give your baby a pacifier.
- Sing to your baby or play soft music.
- Read your baby a bedtime story.
Stick to your babys sleep routine as much as you can. Plan ahead if your babys routine may need a temporary change, like if youre going out of town travel or attending family parties. Change his bed time the best you can but try to get back to his schedule and routine as soon as possible.
Our Response To The Recent Articles Advising Mums To Sleep With Their Babies On Their Chest At Night
A worrying article has appeared in a number of news outlets citing inaccurate advice that could pose a risk to babies. Here we give our response.
There has been a worrying article doing the rounds over the last few days claiming that babies should be slept on their mothers chest in bed at night. This article originally appeared in 2011 and was re-circulated on Thursday. The research quoted was a tiny study of around 16 babies carried out 6 years ago and the articles oversimplify the paper on this research to the point that it misrepresents what was actually written. While having a baby sleep on mothers chest whilst parents are awake has not been shown to be a risk, and such close contact is in fact beneficial, sleeping a baby on their front when unsupervised gives rise to a greatly increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome also known as cot death. There is no evidence to suggest that this risk is less if the baby sleeps prone on the chest of a sleeping adult.
A recent article published in Archives of Disease in Childhood sets out the reasons very clearly why sleeping babies on their front is a risk factor for SIDS. The article also highlights the dangers of devices that hold baby in a prone position in which they may fall asleep.
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