Is your baby sleeping safely?
Safe sleep means putting your baby to sleep in ways that can help protect them from dangers, like choking and suffocation (not being able to breathe) or sudden infant death syndrome (also called SIDS). SIDS usually happens when a baby is sleeping. It’s sometimes called crib death. Safe sleep can help protect your baby from such unexpected dangers.
Monitoring your sleeping baby
Monitor your sleeping baby with this award-winning baby monitor from Sense-U. There are different grades of the monitors, based on your requirements:
Sense-U Video Camera: The Sense-U HD Video camera features 1080p HD Video, Night Vision, Private Mode, which allow you to see and interact with your child clearly, anytime, anywhere.
Sense-U® Smart Baby Monitor 3: The all-new Sense-U Baby Monitor 3 is worn on your child's diaper / sleepwear and tracks your child's body movement, ambient (feeling) temperature, rollover and sleeping position. It also notifies you when your child may need you, with light and sound notifications from the Base Station and mobile notifications from your smartphone, anytime, anywhere.
Sense-U® Bundle (Video+Baby 3): The Sense-U Video + Movement Smart Baby Monitor 3 allows you to track your child's body movement, ambient (feeling) temperature, and sleep position as sleep quality indicators, while streaming HD video, anytime, anywhere. It provides you peace of mind and better sleep.
The best part? It’s HSA/FSA approved!
A more pocket-friendly option with a great quality and flexibility as well, you can try the Chillax Baby Smart Baby monitors.
These comes in various cute shapes and has an unique “privacy protection” switch, which gives you the full control over who can access the camera and who cannot. The app linked to the camera is extremely user-friendly.
Whatever it may be, being a working woman, I can attest to the fact that being able to monitor your baby remotely while you are at work or away from your baby, is bound to give you a lot more peace of mind.
How much sleep does your baby need?
Newborns sleep about 16 hours a day, usually in 3- to 4-hour periods. They need to be fed frequently, because of which they can’t stay aleep for long hours. Your baby may get cranky and fussy if she is sleep-deprived. Infants usually don’t have a sleep pattern. You might be surprised to find them awake only for a couple of hours at a stretch. Over time, the babies start learning a pattern or sleep cycle, and they start sleeping for longer stretches. If you’re worried about your baby’s sleep, talk to her health care provider.
Are you sleep-deprived? Is your baby not letting you sleep? Are you tired of trying to sleep-train your baby with no success? Try this trick by the child-psychologist to put your baby to sleep easily with the Baby Sleep Miracle!
Where should your baby sleep?
The safest place for your baby to sleep is by herself in a bassinet or crib. If you have multiples (twins, triplets or more), put each baby in their own bassinet or crib. Baby crib is something which you won’t want to compromise for the sake of your baby’s safety. Lots of fatal accidents may occur due to a faulty/broken or old crib. I would recommend you to check out these crib bundles from Bloom. My personal favorite is the alma-papa Crib bundle or alma-max Crib bundle by Bloom. it covers everything from when your baby is a newborn to until four or five years respectively. It includes US standard full size crib, standard bedding, two mattress heights, newborn bassinet, crib, toddler bed folds flat with lockable wheels. However, if you are looking to change your baby’s nursery furniture after a couple of years, you can try alma-grow Crib bundle. Made of solid wood, these cribs include the crib end panels and side panels, mattress base board, end and side stays and 4 lockable wheels. It comes with organic 2 packs of fitted sheets, breathable dual sided pocket spring mattress and a waterproof mattress protector. The best part is they come with various plans for monthly installments, so that the price doesn’t put a pressure on your pocket.
Some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind while putting your bundle of joy to sleep:
Do’s
Do put your baby to sleep on his back on a flat, firm surface, like a crib mattress covered with a tightly fitted sheet. Use only the mattress made for your baby’s crib. The mattress should fit snugly in the crib so there are no spaces between the mattress and the crib frame. The mattress shape should stay firm even when covered with a tightly fitted sheet or mattress cover. I personally prefer those from Bloom: alma-papa/ alma-max or alma-grow crib bundles. It’s not safe for a baby to sleep on his side or tummy. If your baby can roll from his back to his side or tummy and back again, it’s OK if he changes positions while sleeping.
Do put your baby to bed in his own crib or bassinet. Don’t share bed with your baby. Bed-sharing is the most common cause of death in babies younger than 3 months old. The best practice is to sleep in the same room with your baby, but not in the same bed, if not for the first year of your baby’s life but at least for the first six months. Keep your baby’s crib close to your bed so your baby’s nearby during the night, in case of any emergency.
Do make sure your baby’s bassinet, crib or play yard meets current safety standards. Please make sure that your baby’s crib meets these safety standards.
Do remove hanging window cords or electrical wires near where your baby sleeps. Babies can get tangled in them and choke.
Do keep the room at a comfortable temperature. If your baby is sweating or his chest feels hot, he may be overheated. Dress your baby in light sleep clothes. My personal favorite sleep clothes are the Zen One™ Classic by the Nested Bean. Gently weighted to mimic the feel of your embrace, this sleep-clothes adapts to changing sleep styles from birth to 6 months, easing transitions and providing continuous comfort from newborn startles through rolling. It helps to hold your baby’s arms in a position that is super comfortable to them, making these sleep-wears unique and one of it’s kind! If your little one don’t like their arms in the dress, you may choose gently weighted Zen Sack by the Nested Beans. It helps your baby sleep through every sleep phase, and is ideal for sleep training. If your baby enjoys twirling their legs, you might want to opt for the Zen Footie or a Zen bodysuit to have your baby’s legs and feet free (ideal for a hot summer night!). These PJs work like charm and the babies sleep comfortably without any fuss or stress. They are the best when it comes to designing high standard weighted sleepwear that ensures safety of the sleeping baby by strictly following the most recent guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Remove any strings or ties from his pajamas and don’t cover his head. A blanket sleeper can help keep your baby warm without covering his head or face. There are wide options on which blankets are the best for your baby. I can swear by the ones from the KloudBambu. I received the Bamboo Viscose Muslin Lemon Quilt as gift for my daughter from a dear friend. I can definitely say that it was one of my daughter’s favorite. She is a toddler now and still loves it. It’s safe to swaddle your baby for sleep until he can roll over onto his tummy. I used to swaddle my daughter with the muslin swaddles from Bundledbaby! I can’t even begin to tell you how snuggly and comfortable these fabrics are. These organic bamboo-muslin swaddle blankets comes in pairs and often with a topknot, in a set. They are bound to make your baby super happy and make them look super cute. But once he can roll over, stop swaddling. A swaddled baby who is placed on or rolls onto his tummy while sleeping may be more likely SIDS. Swaddling is when you snugly wrap a light blanket around your baby so that it covers most of his body below the neck.
6. Do give your baby a pacifier
Pacifiers may help protect against SIDS. If you’re breastfeeding, wait until your baby is 3 to 4 weeks old or until she’s used to breastfeeding before giving her a pacifier. I personally preferred the Active Flexy pacifier fron Nanobebe. Ergonomically designed to stay comfortably in place; dual side vents provide maximum air flow, preventing irritation and saliva build-up for actively teething little ones; the Flexy Pacifier collection features ultra-soft, high-quality silicone for the most soothing, mom-like experience. The Active variation comes in new and exciting multi-color 4-packs. Available in pink and white, teal and cool grey, and black and cool grey. For ages 4m+ If you are onto something more cute, these silicone pacifiers with matching pacifier holders from Honeybug (Get 20% off your first order through this link and use the code 20OFFHB) would be a more attractive option for you.
You can find super cute pacifier holder cases from Petunia Pickle Bottom too! My daughter had the Mickey Mouse Pacifier porter as she is a Mickey mouse fan from the very beginning! If your baby won’t take a pacifier, don’t force it. It’s OK if the pacifier falls out of your baby’s mouth during sleep. Don’t hang the pacifier around your baby’s neck or attach the pacifier to your baby’s clothing or a stuffed animal. Give your baby a pacifier for naps and at bedtime.
7. Do go to all your prenatal care checkups during pregnancy. Babies of mothers who ignore their prenatal care are at increased risk of SIDS.
8. Breastfeeding for at least the first 6 of your baby’s life can reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS. Although this is a reported fact, it’s absolutely okay if you can’t breastfeed for medical reasons or don’t breastfeed for personal choices. It’s okay to feed your baby in your bed. I found these breast-feeding pillows from Boppy to be extremely useful for the purpose. Before you start feeding, move any bedding and pillows from your bed in case you fall asleep. If you do fall asleep, move your baby to his crib or bassinet as soon as you wake up. Don’t feed your baby on a sofa or chair, as babies might incur severe injuries after an accidental fall.
9. Do vaccinate your baby on time. Vaccines help protect babies from serious diseases and may help prevent SIDS. All children should be vaccinated for their own health benefit as well as for others to prevent the spread of the disease.
Dont’s
Don’t let your baby sleep in a sling, stroller, carrier or car seat. Babies who sleep in these items can suffocate. If your baby falls asleep in one, put her in her crib as soon as you can.
Don’t put your baby to sleep on soft surfaces, like a waterbed, sofa, soft mattress or cushion. These also increase the risk of suffocation.
Don’t use cribs with drop-side rails. Don’t put portable bed rails on a regular bed. Babies can get stuck in rails and choke. Don’t try to fix a crib that has broken or missing parts.
Don’t keep crib bumpers, loose bedding, toys or other soft objects in your baby’s crib. They put your baby in danger of being trapped, strangled or suffocated.
5. Don’t use sleep positioners. These sometimes are called nests or anti-roll pillows. They often are mats or wedges with pillows on either side to help keep your baby in place. The Food and Drug Administration warns that sleep positioners can be a reason for SIDS.
6. Don’t smoke and keep your baby away from passive smokers. Babies who live with smokers are at increased risk of SIDS. Keep your home and your car smoke-free.
7. Don’t smoke, drink alcohol or use harmful drugs during pregnancy. Babies of mothers who do these things are at increased risk of SIDS.
“There is something magical about a babies’ peaceful aura when they’re sleeping and the cute positions they sleep in.” There is an old saying; “sleeping like a baby” and it’s not a coincidence that the best sleep you can have is compared to that of babies. If you’re a parent you probably already know that getting quality sleep, and some free time, is almost impossible unless your baby is sleeping. Just make sure they are sleeping safe and then move on to your own dreamland and enjoy as much as you can!
