Sleep Safety for Newly Born

Did you know that wrong sleeping safety habits among newly borns can actually lead to infant deaths? Babies who are used to sleeping on their back but are suddenly made to sleep on their tummy are posed to a greater risk of death and this phenomenon is called unaccustomed tummy sleeping.

Unaccustomed tummy sleeping can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS and thus the right sleep safety habits must be taken care by parents of infants. The following are some of the guidelines for sleep safety of newly borns.

sleep safety for newly born

  • The best place for your baby to sleep is to sleep in the room where you sleep. Yes, your bed may not be the right place for the baby to sleep but the same room is advisable. The baby can be placed in the crib or bassinet near the bed. This may make it easier for you to bond with the baby and breastfeed him.
  • The crib or the bassinet of the baby must be free from soft bedding, blankets, toys and pillows.
  • It is recommended that you must always place your babies on their backs during the night-times and during naps. Babies must not be placed on their sides because there is a risk of rolling over onto the stomach and that is a dangerous position for the baby.
  • You must avoid letting the baby get too hot. You can check for this by seeing if the baby is flushed, sweating or too red. If there is rapid breathing or a heat rash, then this too is a signal that the baby is feeling very hot. The baby must be dressed lightly for sleep and the room temperature must be set at a comfortable temperature.
  • A pacifier can be considered for the nap time and bed time. But the pacifier should not have any cords or clips as they may pose a risk of strangulation.
  • Babies must not be placed to sleep on chairs, sofas, adult beds, waterbeds, cushions or pillows.
  • The crib must be placed in an area which is completely smoke free.
  • Loose bedding must be avoided as these can impair the ability of the infant to breathe if the bedding is too close to the face.
  • Use a mesh to cover the baby during sleep to avoid mosquito attacks in the nighttime.

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