How to Provide Safe Sleeping Quarters for a Baby

Before your baby is born is the best time to prepare a safe sleeping environment for the first few months of her life. When you bring your newborn home from the hospital, having a secure place for her to sleep will protect her and help you relax. Read on to learn how to provide safe sleeping quarters for a baby.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Provide a soft but firm surface for your newborn to sleep. A new crib mattress is good but a used one that still provides support is fine. Surfaces that are too soft can restrict an infant’s breathing if they turn over onto their stomachs. Avoid waterbeds and air mattresses.

2. Place your new baby on her back to sleep. Pediatricians suggest this position as the safest for infants to ensure a clear air passage. However, when your baby is big enough to turn onto her stomach by herself, it’s probably OK to allow her to sleep that way.

3. Remove all pillows, stuffed animals and overstuffed quilts from your baby’s crib or bassinet during sleep time. Even a small infant can wave their arms and legs around and pull soft items over their face, restricting their breathing.

4. Maintain a steady temperature in your baby’s room. She should be warm enough that excess blankets are not needed but not so warm that she perspires. It is better to put her in a warm footed sleeper as opposed to adding blankets to her crib.

5. Give up smoking, at least around your infant. Being exposed to second-hand smoke increases your baby’s chances of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

6. Check your infant’s crib to ensure she can’t wiggle between the mattress and the bars. The mattress should fit snugly against the sides of the crib. In addition, the bars on the crib should be close enough to each other that your infant’s body cannot slip through the space.

7. Breastfeed your baby for the first six months if possible, if you can’t, avoid putting her in her crib with a bottle propped in her mouth to keep her safe from choking.

[oneloved]

on 8/15/2008 Very good guidelines! If you choose to co-sleep, see my article "How to Co-Sleep Safely With Your Baby" for safetey tips.

[amylaine]

on 6/24/2008 Also know that when smoking your clothes will carry the smoke to your child. When going to be by a newborn or very small baby it is best to wear a smoking jacket if you must smoke. (leave jacket out side)