We'd like you and your baby sleeping as restfully as possible. It makes you more alert in the daytime and more able to perform your normal functions more adequately. It helps you to sleep easier if you know your baby sleeping is safe and secure. The issue of cot death is one which none of us really want to consider, but one which needs to be addressed. However slim the possibility of it happening is, the fact is that -- tragically -- it still happens. We want to try to avoid alarm as much as possible; cot death is rare and you shouldn't lose any sleep worrying about it.
This guide provides information based on government guidelines, common sense and parenting experience, about keeping your baby comfortable throughout the night and reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome, or SIDS
We all know what SIDS is, that it's unpredictable, and that there's no absolutely definitive cause. So let's not dwell on the statistics and the speculation. Let's go straight on to talking about how to help your baby get a safe, restful night's sleep, so that you can get a restful night's sleep.
Sleep Position
Side-sleeping -- whereby the blankets are raised or rolled up on one side to encourage your baby to lie on their side -- is not as safe is sleeping lying flat. It's safer for a baby to lie flat on their back. This is comfortable, and it leaves the airways open for easy breathing throughout the night. Don't worry, they're NOT more likely to choke if they're lying on their back.
Since babies' bone tissue is often still very soft and malleable, you'll probably find that the back of their head begins to flatten slightly when your baby is lying on their back at night. Don't let this tempt you start your baby sleeping on their side; their head will become round again as they grow.
If your baby has had a tiring day and is obviously falling asleep wherever they're sat, just encourage them to roll onto their back. Bear in mind though that infants at age five or six months quite often roll over in their sleep. This is completely normal and you shouldn't prevent them from doing so. At this age, they're susceptibility to cot death begins to decrease quickly. When you're putting your baby to sleep, put them on their back, but don't risk waking them if you notice they've rolled over, and certainly don't feel like you should be checking all night.
Where to Sleep
The safest place for your baby sleeping is in a cot in the room with you; but not in the same bed. There's a risk that you could roll over and smother your baby under your body, or your baby could slip and become trapped between the mattress and the wall, or fall to the floor and be injured. Furthermore, your bed is a really big place for a baby to be; the duvets will be too hot and the blankets are easy to become tangled in.
For similar reasons you should be careful of falling asleep with your baby in an armchair or on a sofa. It's very easy for you to move into a position in your sleep which could restrict your baby's access to air. It's safest to put your baby in his or her cot when you're feeling sleepy, despite how pleasant and reassuring it feels to catch forty winks with your baby in your arms.
To prevent your baby from wriggling down the length of the cot and becoming lost under the sheets, which is potentially dangerous, move your baby down to the end of the cot so that their feet are in contact with the foot of the cot. This way, it's very difficult for them to travel far from the position in which you left them when you tucked them in.
What to Sleep on
Your baby will benefit from a firm, flat mattress which fits the cot snugly, leaving no gaps around the edges in which tiny limbs can become trapped. It goes without saying that the mattress (and the entire cot) should be kept clean and hygienic, and a PVC top-sheet on the mattress will help to ensure this. Then, for comfort, cover the top-sheet with a single cotton sheet.
It's important that you keep your baby cool, not hot, so a single sheet will be a sufficient cover in the warm summer months. A duvet or quilt will be too much for them, even in winter, so double the sheets up in
colder weather. For the sake of your baby's safety and comfort, make sure that the covers reach no higher than their shoulders; in fact it's best to leave their arms exposed and tuck them in under their arms. Don't cover their heads, and make sure that they're tucked in tightly and securely so that the covers can't easily slip over their face.
If You Smoke, Quit
Smoking before, during and after pregnancy increases the risk of cot death. The government has been explicitly clear on this, as reflected by their THE LESS YOU SMOKE, THE LOWER THE RISK campaigns. Don't let anyone smoke in the house or anywhere near your baby, and don't go into smoky environments. Fortunately this is far easier than ever before thanks to the nationwide smoking ban. Cigarette smoke is highly, highly toxic, and you should avoid being in the same room as your baby if you've had a cigarette in the last 30 minutes, and you should not let your baby sleep in the same bed with you if you are a smoker.
It's worth noting that if you're a smoker and you're pregnant, then you'll have to quit cold turkey. Even nicotine patches are unhealthy for your baby. (Don't worry, quitting cold turkey isn't nearly as hard as everyone makes out. Just do it.)
Making your Baby Comfortable
Evidence suggests introducing a dummy at the beginning of sleep periods might reduce the risk of SIDS, but it's best to wait until after your baby is a month old and breastfeeding has been established before you offer
your baby a dummy.
Babies will be comfortable in around 18 degrees Celsius, and become very distressed if they feel like they're overheating. Make sure their cot is not next to any radiators, and that hats are removed from babies as soon as they enter warm houses or vehicles, even if you have to wake your baby.
To Recap
So to summarize all this information in bullet point form:
* Place your sleeping baby on his or her back
* After six months, don't interfere if you notice they've rolled over
* Consider putting your baby's cot in your bedroom
* Don't let your baby sleep in your bed, or fall asleep with your baby in your arms
* Use a firm mattress which fits the cot perfectly
* Don't allow your baby to overheat at night
* Don't expose your baby to smoke from any source
Sweet dreams!
Oliver's Babycare
http://www.olivers-baby-care.co.uk/
Olivers Babycare, complete online baby store has been in the nursery business since 1993 and only sell baby products they trust and think you'll love.
For further information please visit Olivers Babycare.
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