Newborn Safe Sleep: Essential Tips for Parents

Sleep is an incredibly important part of your newborn’s life as it helps them rest and grow. You wouldn’t necessarily think this, but it’s also one of the most dangerous times for your very small child. Improper sleeping practices can put your child at risk while they’re snoozing, which could lead to fatal accidents. It’s horrible to think about, which is why you need to be careful and do everything you can to help your baby sleep safely. 

 

You’ll always feel anxious when putting your little one to sleep every night, but parenting experts and doctors have devised several essential tips that will mitigate risks and keep your baby as safe as can be. 

Always Let Your Baby Sleep On Their Back

Research shows that back sleeping is the safest sleep position for all babies. If your baby is on their back, it protects their airways and helps them breathe through the night. It also stops any fluids that form in your newborn’s mouth from falling down into the airways and becoming a choke hazard. 

You absolutely should never ever let your newborn sleep on their tummy. 

This creates a suffocation risk and can increase the chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, so please make sure you never lay them down on their stomach – even for naps in the middle of the day. It’s okay if your child starts on their back and rolls onto their stomach; if they’ve developed the ability to roll themselves over, then they’ll roll themselves back if necessary. 

Tummy time should be reserved for when they’re awake because you can supervise them. It’s an essential part of helping your baby develop its muscles and be able to lift its head up, but you shouldn’t put them to sleep on their stomach. 

Put Them In A Safe & Secure Place To Sleep

Whenever your baby goes to sleep, they should be in a safe and secure place. Don’t let them sleep on the sofa or in an armchair: make sure you have a proper crib or bassinet so they can lie down comfortably and be in a stable, secure location. This reduces the chances of them accidentally rolling over onto their stomach without doing it themselves. 

You may see a lot of debate surrounding bassinet vs crib for babies, but the truth is that both are suitable if you want your baby to sleep safely. A bassinet is slightly higher up, and you can usually place it right next to your bed so you can be as close to your baby as possible. Cribs are lower down yet have taller boundaries, so a lot of parents pick them when their child starts to be able to stand up, as it prevents them from climbing out of bed. 

For newborns, bassinets might be the best choice, though it’s completely up to you. 

Keep Their Sleeping Area Empty

The second biggest mistake parents make – apart from letting their baby sleep on their stomach – is to fill a baby’s sleeping area with clutter. You think you’re doing a nice thing by giving them a plush pillow, a lovely blanket with a soft duvet, and plenty of cuddly toys. In reality, every small thing you add to a baby’s crib or bassinet increases the possibility that they could suffocate or hurt themselves. 

As much as you want to spoil your child and make their sleeping area look nice, you should literally keep it empty. To ensure your newborn’s safe sleep their crib should only include your baby, nothing else – no, not even a blanket. If you’re worried about your baby getting cold, then consider a wearable blanket. These are sometimes called sleep sacks, and they basically give your baby that extra layer of warmth, if necessary. 

You don’t want loose blankets as they can cover your baby’s face and block their airways. You can also make them feel comfortable by adjusting the temperature in their room, which means you’re able to just have their sleeping area and the baby with nothing else around them. 

Make Sure They Sleep On A Firm, Flat Surface

Speaking of your baby’s sleeping area, don’t get fancy with their mattress. It needs to be firm and flat – that’s all. Avoid super plush mattresses that are ridiculously soft, as your baby can sink into them and be at risk of all sorts of problems. The mattress should cradle your baby and support their body, and it should always be flat. 

Keeping their mattress flat isn’t a huge problem when you have a crib or bassinet, but it’s more of an issue during nap time if they’re sleeping elsewhere. This is mainly why you don’t want them to sleep on adult beds or sofas, because the surfaces can tip them over onto their stomach. 

Don’t Share A Bed With Your Baby

Look, it is completely understandable to want to be as close to your little newborn baby as possible. You want to protect them and keep them next to you at all times – but this doesn’t mean you should share a bed with them. It’s an absolute no-go to bring your baby into your bed for fairly obvious reasons. You may have two adults in there, so it is not safe for a tiny human being. 

The same goes for lying down in their crib with them. If their crib is big enough to do this, you should still avoid it because there is always the risk that you may fall on top of your baby after dozing off. It’s such a horrible thing to think about, so give your baby its own space while they sleep. 

You’ve got a lot to deal with when it comes to your newborn’s sleeping habits, but these tips will ensure that they sleep as safely as possible. Will it guarantee that they sleep soundly whenever you want them to sleep? Absolutely not! Babies work to their own schedules, and you have to deal with them.

There will still be some sleepless nights, but every time that your baby does fall asleep, you can feel confident that they’re safe and out of harm’s way.