Safe Sleeping

Safe Sleeping Tips

1. Have your baby sleep on his back on a firm, flat mattress Look for a mattress with big ventilation holes in it, which allegedly helps prevent the build-up of carbon dioxide. There are also other products on the market that help position your baby on his back when he’s falling asleep *


2. Don’t let your baby sleep on a soft surface Quilts, duvets, sofas, waterbeds, beanbags and other soft surfaces are all unsafe *
   


3. Don’t put soft toys in his cot and ensure that bedding doesn’t creep up over his head. Position your baby so he is lying with his feet touching the end of the cot, so he doesn’t move down the bed and get trapped under the covers *


4. Some experts recommend that you avoid using a blanket and keep your baby in a warm room. But if you’re uncomfortable with this, use a thin blanket, tuck it around the mattress and cover your baby’s arms and chest *


5. Swaddling is another option, because it can help your baby sleep more comfortably on his back. A “wearable blanket” – a sleeveless garment that’s closed at the bottom like a bag – is also an option *


6. Avoid overheating your baby Signs that he might be overheating include sweating, damp hair, heat rash, rapid breathing, restlessness and fever. Keep the room temperature around 20˚C *


7. Watch humidity levels Strike a happy balance between air that isn’t too dry or humid *


8. Don’t use cot bumpers while your baby is tiny If you must use them, ensure they are thin and firm. Attach them firmly to the cot and ensure no strings are dangling inside the cot *


9. Don’t smoke during pregnancy or expose your baby to second-hand cigarette smoke*


10. Get proper prenatal care and nutrition *


11. Limit your baby’s exposure to illness and infection in other people *


12. Breastfeed Researchers believe that breastmilk may help prevent babies getting infections that increase the risk of SIDS *
    
    “Flat-head” syndrome
    
    Some parents are concerned about positional plagiocephaly, a condition in which babies develop a flat spot on the back of their heads from spending too much time lying on their backs. This condition – otherwise known as “flat-head syndrome” – has become more common worldwide since the introduction of the Back to Sleep campaign. It’s fairly easily treated, if discovered early enough, by changing your baby’s sleeping position frequently and allowing for more “tummy time” while he’s awake.
    
    Facts to be aware of
    
    

• If your baby is sleeping on his tummy, he is more likely to overheat, have pauses in his breathing and re-breathe the air he has just exhaled.
  
  
• Covering your baby’s head while he’s sleeping may cause a rise in brain temperature and your baby's respiratory control centre might be affected by this. If in doubt, talk to your doctor.


• Most babies have slightly irregular breathing in their first weeks of life and may have short pauses for a few seconds before normal breathing begins. If your baby’s colour looks normal while he’s sleeping (not pale, blue or very red) then he's probably fine.
  


• The AAP says there is no increased risk of choking for healthy infants who sleep on their backs. But for infants with chronic gastric reflux or certain upper airway malformations, sleeping on the stomach may be the better option. In this case it’s critical to consult your child’s doctor to determine the best sleeping position for your baby.
  
  As a final caution, the Dr Sears team say: "Especially in the first six months, avoid sleep trainers who advise you to let your baby cry it out… Sleep-training done before their cardiopulmonary control mechanisms are mature enough to handle prolonged deep sleep could be risky… For some infants sleeping lighter and for shorter stretches may be the safer way.