Keep Your Baby Safe At Bedtime

Where to sleep?

Where bub sleeps may depend on what space you have and what you are doing at the time he needs a sleep. He could be in a cot in his own room, an alcove off your bedroom, a cot next to your bed, or in a bassinette in the family room. If you’re out and about he may need to sleep in the stroller, carry sling, port-a-cot, or car seat. Co-sleeping is also a good option but not if it’s on a soft spongy surface or with anyone who is overweight or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Bub should sleep on the outer edge of the bed rather than between two adults to avoid overheating and smothering and use covers made of breathable natural fibres.  A mesh bedrail will help reduce the risk of injury from him falling out of bed or a ‘bedside attachment’ or ‘snuggle bed’ are good options for safe sleeping within the parental bed. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and fatal accidents have been linked to co-sleeping when safe sleeping practises have not been adhered to.

Not too hot or cold

Overheating is not restricted to summer as it can happen in winter when heating a room with artificial heat. If you do need to increase the heat in bub’s bedroom, a thermostatically controlled heater or power-socket attachment are best to use. Always keep a window slightly open in the bedroom for fresh oxygenated air. Your littlie regulates his temperature through the head and face so keep these uncovered and check his temperature by feeling the chest rather than fingers and toes. Use your own discretion to work out what the temperature of bubs room should be. Whatever is comfortable for you should be comfortable for your baby when he is dressed and covered in breathable and not synthetic fabrics as these trap heat and can cause your bub to overheat.  Leave large cuddly toys or pillows outside the cot and don’t sleep bub on an electric blanket.

Position perfect

When laying bub down to sleep, place him on his back and position his feet at the end of the cot.  After four to five months of age bubbas are more active during sleep so minimise overheating and strangling accidents by using a sleeping bag with a fitted neck, armholes and no hood or double pyjamas instead of loose sheets and blankets. Remove any ribbon or cord from his dummy, bib or bonnet before sleep to avoid the cords getting entangled around his neck or fingers. Remove any buttons as these could loosen and become a choking hazard.

Make sure nursery furniture is safe. In Australia, cots have an acceptable Australian Standard to ensure their safety. Look for the logo that shows items are approved with no sharp protrusions, no hinge traps for little fingers, and cot sides are an acceptable height from the mattress (250cm from mattress top to the lowest end of cot side when the access is open) and vertical bars at least 50cm apart. It is important for the cot mattress to fit snuggly (minimum 20 - 40mm gap) so bub doesn’t get caught and suffocate between the mattress and the cot side. If you use a second-hand cot check these same safety requirements and make sure there’s no peeling paint.

Position the cot away from direct sunlight, looped or dangling blind cords, peeling paint, and overhead mirrors[i] If you use a monitor or bed lamp keep electrical cords well out of reach from inquisitive little hands especially when bub starts to stand and reach.

Keep it smoke free

Ensure a smoke free environment before and after birth as nicotine from smoking can reduce oxygen levels in his circulating blood. The lack of oxygen can cause him stress and could prevent him arousing to breathe. Many parents use a baby monitor to alert them to bub’s noises, movements, and breathing patterns but there is no research that claims monitors keep babies safe. However, if using a monitor gives you ‘peace of mind’ and you and bub are sleeping well then there is no harm in using one.

Your littlies growth is rapid during his first year, which makes it essential to stay alert to his developmental changes and protect him from potential safety hazards.