Baby's Sleep Safety

While most recommendations on baby sleep safety are based on common sense, it is statistically proven that parents, especially young, do overlook these principles quite often. A set of simple but nevertheless important things can help you keep your newborn child safe while he or she is sleeping.

Basically safety advice in regards to baby's sleep comes to the following several main points:

Co-sleeping with a baby

Should mothers sleep together with their babies? This has always been a very controversial subject, consisting of many DO’s and DON’T’s. Many cultures and different approaches to parenting have their own points of view on co-sleeping with an infant, and many consider it being good and right, even a must. However, looking at the statistics one can’t really say that co-sleeping can be recommended to all parents without exception. Sadly enough there really is a number of accidents in which children suffer because of sleeping in the same bed with their parents. And even more frightening that some of these accidents have a lethal ending. That is why it is generally not recommended for a parent sharing the same bed with your little one. Please note though, that while co-sleeping is considered somewhat dangerous, it is highly recommended to place baby crib in parents’ bedroom, and make sure that it is easily accessible any time throughout night and day.

Baby crib safety

When looking at a baby crib remember that it has to have some label of safety certification. These are commonly provided by Consumer Product Safety Commission  label or a Juvenile Products Manufacturer's Association (JPMA) and ensure that a product was tested and is recommended for use with an infant. Main things to check yourself about the crib for your child are bars and mattress.  The space between the crib bars must be less than about 2.5 inches (6 cm). It must be impossible for your baby to put head between the bars. As for mattress, it has to fit firmly inside the crib, the firmer the better. Also the bed clothing has to be wrapped tightly around the mattress, it has to be hard to pull out and must not have any wrinkles.

Objects inside baby crib

A special warning here against having anything inside the crib while baby is sleeping. It is strictly prohibited to leave anything with straps, cords or ties! These things are extremely dangerous and can lead to suffocation. The same applies to any small toys which can cause choking. Besides that, avoid putting inside the crib objects that can obstruct baby’s normal breathing, that applies to all sorts of  soft additional blankets, decorative pillows and fuzzy stuffed toys. Do not use stuff that collects dust, anything made of lambskin or fuzzy wool blankets.

Sleeping pose

Remember, that the best sleeping position for your baby is on his or her back. Sometimes it is possible that a baby feels more comfortable sleeping on the side, that’s ok too – but definitely avoid sleeping on a stomach.

These are the main principles of baby’s safe sleeping. Always remember, that most unexpected accidents can be prevented by not leaving your baby without constant careful supervision. In such early age it is highly desired that even while a baby is in its sound sleep, mother must remain nearby.