Safe sleep is an issue that regularly makes the news, and something parents may experience anxiety about. If your child is sleeping in your room, their own room or co-sleeping, we want to reduce the risk of SIDS. We can do this by putting our child down to sleep in a safe environment.
Here are some safe sleep tips :
1. Always place baby on their back to sleep, with their feet close to the end of their cot, crib or moses basket (“feet to foot”).
2. The ideal room temperature is between 16-20°C.
3. Cot bumpers, bulky bedding and soft toys should be removed, as these can be a suffocation hazard.
4. Keep your baby away from smoke throughout your pregnancy and after birth.
5. Make sure baby’s mattress is flat, firm, waterproof and fits the cot, crib or moses basket with little to no gap around the edge.
6. Avoid letting your baby get too hot. Your baby should be dressed in light clothing for sleep with a lightweight blanket or well-fitting sleep bag.
7. When using a sleep bag, ensure it fits your child properly or else they could wriggle down, allowing the bag to cover their face. Ergobaby Sleep Bags have adjustable shoulder straps to allow you to adjust the fit, giving you peace of mind.
8. If you choose to swaddle your baby, it’s important to use light materials, never swaddle above the shoulders and do not swaddle too tightly. The Ergobaby Swaddler is made from 100% cotton and promotes a hip-healthy swaddle position.
All Ergobaby swaddlers and sleep bags are approved as ‘hip-healthy’ by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.
Find out why this is so important here.
9. Don’t sleep in the same bed as your baby, if :
- You smoke, drink or take drugs
- There are older children or pets on the bed
- Your baby was born prematurely or was of a low birth weight
- Baby is swaddled with their arms inside
10. Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair.
This week is Safer Sleep Week (11th – 17th March 2019) when The Lullaby Trust work with their partners to help raise awareness and promote infant sleep habits, which help to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
Read about their Safe Sleep Advice here.
References & Further Resources :
Safer Sleep for Babies | The Lullaby Trust
Safe Sleep Tips | Blog | Ergobaby US
Reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) | Your Pregnancy and Baby Guide | NHS
