Breastfeeding And Safe Sleep
Breast milk is the best food you can offer your baby. The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life.
Breastfeeding can help protect your baby from SIDS. Breastfeeding for at least 2 months will lower the risk of SIDS by about half. The longer you can breastfeed, the more protection your baby will have.
Young babies feed oftenincluding during the night. If you bring your baby into your bed to breastfeed, know which situations put babies at greatest risk when bed sharing so that you can avoid them . Put your baby back in their crib, cradle or bassinet after each feeding.
Do Not Let Anyone Smoke Near Your Baby
Babies exposed to cigarette smoke before and after birth are at an increased risk of SIDS. Do not let anyone smoke in the house, including visitors.
Ask anyone who needs to smoke to go outside. Do not take your baby into smoky places.
If you smoke, sharing a bed with your baby increases the risk of cot death.
Things A Newborn Should Sleep In
There are basically four to six things you should put your newborn in for sleep. Top to bottom, they generally include a set of soft pajamas, a tightly-wrapped swaddler or sleep sack, and possibly a light blanket. Very young newborns might also benefit from a sleep hat to conserve body heat and mittens to prevent scratches during sleep. For safety and sleep training purposes, newborns should also do most of their sleeping in a baby crib or bassinet.
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Why Is Sleeping On Back Considered Best For Babies
The sleeping position of the baby plays a significant role in determining whether they will have a safe and sound sleep.
SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome is just a part of unexpected infant deaths called sudden unexpected death in infancy or SUDI and is linked to the sleeping position of the baby. Therefore, it is essential to know about safe sleeping positions for babies, along with a few tips to reduce the risk of SIDS . One of the effective ways to avoid the risk is to make a healthy baby, less than a year old, sleep on its back, i.e., in the supine position.
In this post, MomJunction tells you about all the ideal positions in which a baby can sleep and gives tips for ensuring that infants and babies can sleep safely.
How Should Babies Sleep
During the first weeks of a baby’s life, some parents choose to room-share. Room-sharing is when you place your baby’s crib, portable crib, play yard, or bassinet in your own bedroom instead of in a separate nursery. This keeps baby nearby and helps with feeding, comforting, and monitoring at night. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing.
While room-sharing is safe, putting your infant to sleep in bed with you is not.Bed-sharing increases the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related deaths.
Follow these recommendations for a safe sleep environment for your little one:
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Back Sleeping And Parental Concerns
Have you been struggling to find the right newborn sleeping position? Perhaps its difficult to put your little one to sleep on their back due to fussiness. Other parents are concerned about the dangers of placing a sick baby in this position in the event of vomiting.
Another common objection to back sleeping is its tendency to create flat head syndrome, also known as positional plagiocephaly. Fortunately, this condition is treatable, and even preventable, with extra tummy time and sleep repositioning.
Ultimately, the advantages of back sleeping far outweigh the disadvantages, and theres a broad consensus that its the safest newborn sleeping position.
Coping With Disturbed Nights
Newborn babies invariably wake up repeatedly in the night for the first few months, and disturbed nights can be very hard to cope with.
If you have a partner, ask them to help. If you’re formula feeding, encourage your partner to share the feeds. If you’re breastfeeding, ask your partner to take over the early morning changing and dressing so you can go back to sleep.
Once you’re into a good breastfeeding routine, your partner could occasionally give a bottle of expressed breast milk during the night. If you’re on your own, you could ask a friend or relative to stay for a few days so you can get some sleep.
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Why Side Sleeping Isnt The Best Newborn Sleeping Position
Although side sleeping is slightly safer than tummy sleeping, it still carries many of the same risks. Furthermore, your infant could potentially roll from their side onto their belly at any time. Overall, the best position to sleep in is on their back.
When it comes to newborn sleeping positions, there are numerous ways to keep your child both safe and well rested. Next, Flo reviews the experts top dos and donts.
Are There Other Ways To Help Reduce Your Babys Risk Of Sleep Dangers Including Sids
Yes. Heres what you can do:
- Make sure your baby gets all her vaccinations. These shots help protect her from serious childhood diseases and may help prevent SIDS. All children should be vaccinated for their own health and so they dont spread infections to others.
- Dont smoke and keep your baby away from other smokers and secondhand smoke . Babies who live with smokers are at increased risk of SIDS. Keep your home and your car smoke-free.
- Dont smoke, drink alcohol or use harmful drugs during pregnancy. Babies of mothers who do these things are at increased risk of SIDS.
- Go to all your prenatal care checkups during pregnancy. Babies of mothers who dont get regular prenatal care are at increased risk of SIDS.
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What Should A Newborn Sleep In
January 18, 2013 by getbabytosleep
Newborns sleep eighteen to twenty hours a day. If youre lucky, thats 4-5 hours at a time. What should your newborn sleep in to help him sleep longer? The goal should be to keep your baby warm, comfortable, and snug, in the safest way possible. Here are the basics.
Myth : We Should Teach Babies To Sleep In Their Own Rooms
Having our babies grow up to be independent takes a long time. Theres 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 parents 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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When Can The Baby Be On Its Stomach
The baby may be put on the stomach, but under supervision, when awake. Giving tummy time for babies is a good way to strengthen their stomach, back, and neck muscles.
According to Dr. Karen Sokal-Gutierrez, clinical professor, community health and human development, University of California Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program, SIDS risk is lowered with babies spending more tummy time when they are awake . Moreover, the baby would develop upper body strength needed to lift the head and roll over in sleep.
My Mum Says I Was Slept On My Front And That Was The Advice Then Why Has It Changed
Many parents will have been slept on their tummies as babies, as that was the advice before 1991. However, research has since shown that the chance of SIDS is much higher when a baby is placed on their front to sleep.
We know that in the early 1990s, there were thousands of babies worldwide dying suddenly and unexpectedly every year. The reason the number of deaths is much lower now is due to the new advice being followed by parents, such as lying babies on their backs to sleep.
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What Is The Best Sleep Schedule For A 3
There is no single, specific sleep schedule 3-month-old babies should follow. Instead, like newborns, most 3-month-old infants should sleep multiple times day and night, for a total sleep time of between 16 and 17 hours per 24-hour period. There are some differences between the sleeping patterns of a 3-month-old and a newborn, however.
Three-month-olds are also more likely to wake up fewer times during the night than their younger counterparts. On average, three-month-olds wake up 2.78 times per night, which is less than one-month-olds, who wake up an average of 4.12 times per night.
Dealing With Baby Sleep Problems
All babies change their sleep patterns. Just when you think you have it sorted and you’ve all had a good night’s sleep, the next night you might be up every 2 hours.
Be prepared to change routines as your baby grows and enters different stages. And remember, growth spurts, teething and illnesses can all affect how your baby sleeps.
If your baby is having problems sleeping or you need more advice about getting into a routine, speak to your health visitor.
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Put Your Newborn In Pajamas
Your newborn should wear a long-sleeve onesie or long-sleeve pajamas. Even though its cute, dont let your baby sleep in just a diaper and blanket. Most babies like to have their hands free, rather than tucked in, and long sleeves are important to keep the arms warm. A zipper or snaps will give you access to the vital diaper area. Pajamas with footies are nice if your baby tends to kick out of blankets. Pajamas will also prevent a chill if you have to unwrap him to change a diaper.
Here are some of our favorites:
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What Do Babies And Toddlers Sleep In
by Nicole Johnson, Founder and Lead Sleep Consultantin Baby Sleep Comfort Last Updated: February 8, 2020
A client e-mailed me within the last couple of weeks with what she thought was a silly question, but it was a good question. She wanted to know what her toddler should sleep in after a sleep sack and wanted to know when a toddler can/will keep a blanket on. This article will talk about what babies and toddlers sleep in at various ages.
It is probably rare that babies are not dressed warm enough as we, new parents, are overly worried our babies will be cold. But, babies can be dressed TOO warm just the same as not warm enough. In fact, it took us several weeks to a month to realize our few-week-old son cried a lot in the car seat because he was too hot! He was born in colder weather and we simply didnt know how toasty that car seat kept him. Finally, one day, I took him out and felt how sweaty he was and we stopped dressing him as if he was going hiking to the top of Mount Everest in the dead of winter.
Here are some general guidelines in what babies sleep in at various ages, but you do have to use your best judgment based on where you live, how hot/cold you keep the temperature in your house when your baby sleeps, and your babys preference , among other factors. These are just guidelines and you know your baby best.
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Why Sleeping On The Back Is Safest For Babies
While research is still underway, studies suggest that babies get less oxygen and get rid of less carbon dioxide when they sleep on their bellies. In other words, while on their stomachs, an infant is only able to re-breath air from a small pocket of bedding pulled up around the nose.
Other findings point to the fact that many babies who die from SIDS have underdeveloped regions of their brain, perhaps areas that prevent them from waking up to remove themselves from danger . And since it’s impossible to figure out which babies won’t arouse normally, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Since 1992, when the AAP began recommending that all newborn babies be put to sleep on their backs, during naps, and at nighttime, the annual SIDS rate has declined more than 50 percent. And there’s been no increase in choking or aspirating since that time.
Why Tummy Sleeping Isnt The Best Newborn Sleeping Position
Roughly 50 percent of sudden infant deaths are attributed to SIDS. As previously mentioned, babies who sleep on their stomachs are at greater risk for developing it.
There are several reasons why this newborn sleeping position is believed to be unsafe. It could put added pressure on the jaw, potentially restricting your babys airway. Also, this head placement causes them to breathe recycled air continually. This eventually leads to a buildup of carbon dioxide and a lack of oxygen. Thankfully, back sleeping effectively addresses all of these issues.
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A Very Important Note About Newborn Sleep Positions
One of the things that drastically increases the risk of SIDS is suddenly putting an infant on his tummy when he is accustomed to sleeping on his back. Research has found that this sudden change can dramatically increase risk.
Why is this important? You need to be firm and clear with anybody else who watches your child. Tell your mom, dad, brothers, sisters, daycare workers, and babysitters that you always want your baby going to bed on his or her back every time. Do not compromise and dont feel guiltythis is well-researched and clearly documented, and will help keep your baby safe.
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.
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