Yes, babies do come with a lot of responsibilities. While you are expecting, all you want is to make the world outside as safe as possible for your baby. Your little one will spend a lot of hours sleeping for the first few months of his or her life. Getting a baby to sleep is definitely hard. But baby safety is more important than sound sleep for a baby. You will not be able to plan their sleep schedule but you can make sure that they have safe sleep.
Even though it is rare in India, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS – a condition where a baby dies in sleep for no known reason) and other sleep-related hazards do exist. This will raise a lot of questions in your mind. Which is the safest place for your baby to sleep? What is the right position? Is it okay if the baby sleeps in bed with me? What kind of crib should I buy? Does a baby need a pillow? How do I ensure baby safety? And whatnot!
“A lot has changed with the past generation when it comes to sleep environment for babies. The ones-standard drop-side crab is now banned. The idea of what should or should not be in the crib is still in flux”
Nothing is more adorable and calming than watching a sleeping baby! But like the baby, you will need your share of sleep too. And this makes knowing baby bed safety and crib safety guidelines an utmost priority. Don’t worry, we got you covered. Here is all that you need to know about baby bed and crib safety.
In This Article
- Baby Sleep Pattern and Why is it Important?
- How Safe is Co-Sleeping or Sleeping with Your Baby?
- Baby Safety: Precautions While Co-Sleeping with Your Baby
- Baby Safety: Things To Remember While Selecting a Crib
- Safety Precautions if Your Baby is Sleeping in a Crib
Baby Sleep Pattern and Why is it Important?
Most babies tend to sleep through the day and be awake through the night. This is because, during pregnancy, when the mum is carrying the baby in her womb, it acts as a cradle. When the mum is walking through the day, the gentle movement of the womb and the fluid within gives a rocking feeling making the fetus sleep well. However, when the mum sleeps at night everything stops and so the baby in the womb wakes up. When babies are born they follow the same routine: they are awake at night and sleep through the day. It takes 2-3 months to reverse this, which is a hard time for parents.
Also, it needs to be pointed out, that for the first three months, newborn babies cannot see very clearly. The only way they sense their mother is through touch, smell, and taste. And therefore, babies sleep much better with their mum on the side.
Deep sleep is very important for small babies. Most of the growth hormone secretion happens during sleep. So sleep forms a very important part of their physical and mental development.
How Safe is Co-Sleeping or Sleeping with Your Baby?
Co-sleeping with your baby means letting your baby sleep with you in your bed. If you are a parent in India, you would think why is the safety of co-sleeping even a question! The experience of centuries of parenting in India and some research work concludes that sleeping with the mother is the best thing for a baby.
Co-sleeping is safe, beneficial, and is encouraged unless the mother is a drinker, smoker, drug user, obese, or incapable otherwise. Co-sleeping reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It has also been noted that the way a mother breathes also affects the infant’s breathing pattern.
Also, if you think from a baby’s perspective – would a baby like to sleep alone in a dark room or with their favorite person on Earth? Still planning to let your baby sleep alone?
[Read : When Can I Let My Baby Sleep Alone?]
Baby Safety: Precautions While Co-Sleeping with Your Baby
As mentioned above, the mother is the only person the baby is most familiar with. But there are few things that you should keep in mind when it comes to sleeping with your baby:
- Sleeping on their back is best for the babies. Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep to reduce the chances of SIDS.
- Never share a blanket with your baby. Give them a separate, small blanket.
- The blanket they use should not be heavy. If it is too heavy it can suffocate the baby.
- Do not leave soft toys, pillows, heavy blankets, or any loose things in the baby’s sleep area. It can increase the risk of suffocation.
- To avoid the risk of entanglement, don’t leave loose bed sheets or blankets near the baby.
- When it comes to babies, mothers have the best instinct. So, it is better to not let anyone else sleep near them including the father and siblings.
- Most important – Never sleep with the baby under the influence of alcohol or medication that can cause deep sleep.
[Read : Precautions To Take While Co-Sleeping With Your Newborn]
Baby Safety: Things To Remember While Selecting a Crib
The crib is one of the biggest and important purchases you will make for your baby. So, you must select the right one. New or old, here are the things you should look for to ensure the crib is the right one:
1. Size of Crib
Ensure that the crib bars are not wider than 2 3/8 inches or 6mm (not wider than the width of a can of soft drink). This will help ensure that the infant does not get stuck between the bars. The distance between the top of the mattress and the top of the crib rail should be 26 inches. No crib bars or slats should be missing. Buy the crib with all the sides fixed. Many accidents have been reported because of slide-down sides in the crib.
2. Secure the Hardware
All the hardware – bolts, screws, etc used in the crib should not be loose. Secure all the hardware and its sharp edges. The wood used should not have any cracks or splits.
3. Use Non-Toxic Paint
The paint used to color the crib should be lead-free. If you are using the old crib, remove the old paint and repaint it. Peeled and cracked paint can become harmful to the baby.
4. Use the Right Mattress
Make sure to use the firm mattress. A soft mattress can overheat or suffocate the baby. The mattress should be a good fit to prevent the baby from getting trapped. If a mom can fit her two fingers between the mattress and crib, it is not a good fit.
5. Use Corner Posts and Cut-Out Areas
Avoid using a crib with corner post decoration or decorative cut-outs either on the headboard or footboard. Baby’s cloth or limbs can get stuck in them leading to big injuries.
Safety Precautions if Your Baby is Sleeping in a Crib
Along with choosing the right, it is also important to take care of the baby’s sleeping position, clothing, and temperature while they sleep in a crib. Read along to know them all.
- Bed or crib, your baby should always sleep on the back.
- Make sure to not put pillows or any soft toys in the crib. It might look cute but can suffocate your baby.
- Rather than using the blankets and comforters, dress your baby in onesie or wearable blankets to keep him/her warm. Also, the dressing should be right and not overheat the baby.
- If possible, place the crib in the room that you sleep in. Do not place the crib near the window, curtain, or shelf.
- Declutter the crib by removing everything before putting the baby in.
- Even basic toys should be removed so that the baby does not get suffocated. When the baby starts to walk and climb, the risk of standing on the toy and falling down from the crib increases.
- The bedding needs to be tight and should be an exact fit for the crib.
- Make sure that the temperature is neither too hot nor too cold. Both overheating and sweat can cause problems.
A well-slept baby is a happy baby. Proper sleep is very essential for a baby’s growth. All the above-mentioned bed and crib safety standards will help your baby to have a comfortable and safe sleep.
Read Also: How To Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe
