Parenting can be a difficult job. With a whirlwind of opinions from family, friends and random people in the grocery store, it can be hard to know who to listen to about each aspect of raising a child. The good news is that there are recent studies that can help you navigate the safest ways for your baby to sleep. Some frequent questions of new parents are listed below, followed by recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
When Can Babies Sleep With a Blanket
Blankets, non-fitted sheets, toys and other soft items should be kept out of an infants sleeping area for at least 12 months. These items can increase the possibility of accidental suffocation. Specific baby clothes have been created for infants to wear, such as wearable blankets and sleep sacks. Rather than covering a baby with a blanket at night you can use a sleep sack that can help keep the infant warm and reduce the risk of their heads being covered. Our Little Couture Line includes adorable Wearable Minky Couture Blankets that are great for keeping babies cozy and safe while they sleep. Babies should not have more than one layer of clothing more than needed to keep an adult comfortable in the same environment. This can help reduce overheating.
How to Safely use Blankets in a Crib
While it loose bedding in cribs is not advised, swaddling a newborn can be okay. However if an infant is swaddled, they should always be laid down on their back. Once a baby is attempting to roll, usually around 2 months old, they should no longer be swaddled. This is because it can be hard for the baby to get itself out of an unsafe sleeping position if they are tightly wrapped. Also note that using bumper pads in cribs is not suggested.
Safe Sleeping for Newborns
As stated above, one of the best ways to ensure a baby is safe while sleeping is to keep loose bedding and soft objects away from the babies sleeping area. It is advised that infants are put to bed on their backs until they reach one year old. Regardless of what they are wearing to bed, back sleeping is the safest position for the child. Though once the baby can roll over from back to front and front to back they are okay to sleep in whatever position they get themselves into. The American Academy of Pediatrics also suggests that parents share a room with their infant for the first 6-12 moths of his or her life. A separate sleeping surface, designed for infants, near the parents bed is the safest area for a baby to sleep.
Use your judgement and consult with your doctor for further advice and feedback on how to keep your baby as safe and sound as possible as they sleep. Don’t beat yourself up over the small stuff and know that one of the most important things you can do as a parent is love your child unconditionally. Happy sleeping!
Sewn with love,
