6 safe baby sleeping tips
This are a few this on how you can also take simple and effective safe sleeping steps to minimize the risk of any adverse outcomes during baby sleeping.
1) Put the babies on their backs
Your baby should always be placed to sleep on her back to help prevent sudden infant death diseases (SIDS). Because most babies can’t fully lift their heads, this ensures their air passages aren’t blocked.
Once your baby can roll over (at around 4-6 months), keep putting him to sleep on his back, but let him find his own sleeping position.
2) Make sure babies’ heads or faces can’t get covered while they’re sleeping
Put your baby low down in the cot, so her feet are near the bottom end. Tuck in the bed sheets securely so they can’t cover your baby’s head.
You could use a safe infant sleeping bag instead of blankets. Sleeping bags with a fitted neck and armholes and no hood are the safest.
3) Use a cot that meets the standards (a good firm mattress and a fitted sheet)
Only well-maintained cots built to strict safety standards are good enough for your baby. Cots that meet the standard will have a clear label – AS/NZS 2172:2003 for cots and AS/NZS 2195:1999 for portable cots. If you’re given a cot or buy a second-hand one, check that it meets current safety standards.
The safest place for your baby to sleep is on a firm mattress and should not sleep on soft surfaces to avoid any risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or other sleep-related causes of infant death.
The only thing in your baby’s crib should be a fitted sheet. Never put blankets, pillows, toys or crib bumpers in your baby’s sleep space.
4) Share a room and keep her out of your bed
Make sure for the first 6 to 12 months you and your baby share a room so you can check in periodically to ensure your baby is sleeping safely.
While it’s tempting to cuddle with your little one, it is dangerous to do so for many reasons. For example, if you too fall asleep, you could roll onto your baby or the blankets could go over her face. In any case, provide her with her own sleep space.
5) Dress her in one piece of clothing
Your little baby should wear a one-piece sleeper and may be wrapped in a swaddle for extra warmth and comfort.
When using a warm covering, make sure it is well below the neckline so it won’t cover the baby’s face.
6) Keep checking the room temperature
An overheated baby will not sleep well. Even though you may think she is tiny and needs it a little warmer, she doesn’t.
Keep the thermostat at a temperature you find comfortable for the room.
