I see so many moms asking wonderful questions in many Facebook groups that I am a part of and many of their questions revolve around safe sleep. Sadly, I have noticed that many parents are not practicing safe sleep with their newborns and infants. Before we begin with safe sleep
practices we must answer why sleep safe is so important and why educating both new parents and seasoned parents about safe sleep is so important.
Safe sleep practices help ensure that your newborn or infant is sleeping safely and you have limited as many factors that can cause SIDS as possible. SIDS is defined as sudden infant death syndrome, the unexplained sudden death of an infant. There is no definitive cause of SIDS, however there are many factors that can place your infant at a higher risk for SIDS. Practicing safe sleep helps lower that risk significantly and helps give parents some peace of mind while their baby is sleeping. Safe sleep practices are often changing and evolving. It is important as a parents to always be educating yourself about the latest safe sleep practices.
The three most important attributes of safe sleep are referred to as the ABCs of sleep. Let's start with the first letter A. This stands for ALONE. It is important to have your baby sleeping alone and to avoid co-sleeping with your baby. Snuggling and cuddling with your baby is so tender and sweet and helps you bond with your baby as you kiss her sleepy head. You can safely cuddle with your baby and even have your baby doze off while resting on you as long as you stay awake and do not fall asleep too. Co-sleeping poses a big risk for suffocation due to any bedding that your baby can become entangled in as well as the possibility of you rolling onto your baby. There is also the chance your baby can roll out of bed. If you do decide to snuggle with your baby while in bed, be sure to stay awake and supervise your little one. ALONE also refers to having nothing in your child's bassinet or crib with the exception of a pacifier. Blankets, pillows, loose bedding, crib bumpers (both mesh/breathable, and standard), and stuffed toys are a suffocation hazard to your infant. Instead of using a blanket to keep your baby warm at night, use a sleep sack! There are so many on the market and they are wonderful. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends your baby sleep alone until at least the age of 12 months.
The next letter is B and this stands for BACK. When I was growing up I was always placed to sleep on my tummy (90's child here!) and that was the standard practice in the early 90's. Since then. over the last 30 years we have learned so much about safe sleep and have learned that it is safer for babies to sleep on their backs. If your baby can roll independently from their back to their tummy, it is safe to let them sleep on their tummy. However, it is still important to continue to place your infant on her back in the crib and allow to roll over herself. If your baby is rolling or even just starting to roll, it is time to stop swaddling and have your baby sleep in a sleep sack. Since babies have been sleeping on their backs, the rate of SIDS has gone down.
The last letter we have is C which stands for CRIB. Your baby needs her own crib or bassinet to sleep in that is not attached to your bed. Swings, bouncers and car seats are not designed for sleep and your baby's neck can slump causing her to asphyxiate. If your baby is lounging in a swing or bouncer, always remember to supervise and ensure your baby is properly buckled in. Infant car seats are meant for cars and your baby should not be in a car seat for a period exceeding 70-90 minutes max. If you are taking a trip with your baby, it is important to give your baby breaks from the car seat. While many babies prefer the incline of a car seat, they are not safe for sleeping in, especially overnight.
There are several after market products that claim to prevent plagiocephaly, flat head, yet they are not recommended for safe sleep. All your baby needs is a firm mattress, and a tight fitted sheet in her crib. These hammocks and specially designed pillows can pose a suffocation risk. Tummy time is a great way to prevent plagiocephaly and honestly baby helmets are pretty cute!
Let's always remember the ABSs of sleep and keep our babies sleeping safely and soundly.
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