Practical Baby Sleep Safety Tips

Ensuring baby sleep safety is perhaps one of the most important things you as new parent can do. Becoming a parent for the first time can be overwhelming, not matter how well prepared you may feel.

Once your baby arrives, everything changes. You go through so many emotions and changes, but the most important thing is making sure your baby is healthy and safe. By now your home should be baby-proofed, but what about baby's crib? And the rest?

Practical Safety Tips

SIDS (Sudden Infant Death syndrome) has become an every increasing worry for parents of newborns. SIDS is something that strikes without warning in an otherwise seemingly healthy infant. SIDS is usually the diagnoses for infant deaths when all other possibilities have been ruled out after a thorough investigation. However, SIDS is not a simple case of a baby suffocating.

There is no definite answer as to what actually causes SIDS, as there is new research done each year. The occurrence of SIDS has reduced by 50% since 1983. There are a few things you can do to help reduce the risk of SIDS even more.

Things To Do For Baby Sleep Safety

Sleeping position
One of the most common words of advice is "Put your baby to sleep on her back". Newborns should always sleep on their back on a firm mattress and tight fitting sheets. Experts advise that sleeping on their stomachs can cause problems such your baby inbreathing too much carbon dioxide. Sleeping on their stomachs also increases the probability of sleep apnea.

Right bedding
Parents buy all the cute bedding, have matching comforters, bumper pads and other things. Unfortunately, these things may contribute to SIDS. The bumper pads can reduce the flow of fresh oxygen into the crib. Stuffed animals are also a danger in the crib. If comforters get near the infant's face, it can cause the same rebreathing of carbon dioxide as if sleeping on the stomach.

Correct clothing
Another thing to keep in mind is the proper amount of clothing during cold weather. Your baby needs to be warm, but not overly warm, as this can also cause problems. Since you should preferably not use a comforter, there are other options.

A warm sleeper that has feet and mittens attached are usually enough. Another option is a sleep sack. It is kind of like a sleeping bag with head and armholes. It keeps the baby warm and safe. They aren't able to squirm out of it, like they could a blanket. Swaddling newborns is also a good alternative when done correctly.

While some infants are more susceptible to SIDS, such as those with low birth weight or exposure to second-hand smoke, it is important to take all the precautions you can to help prevent the heartache of losing a child to SIDS.