Babys First Year

I recently found a great article on a government site about SIDS. There are many ways to keep your kids safe, and following you’ll find 10 ways that you and others who care for your baby can reduce the risk of SIDS.

1. Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps and at night. The back sleep position is the safest, and every sleep time counts.
2. Place your baby on a firm sleep surface, such as on a safety-approved crib mattress, covered by a fitted sheet. Never place your baby to sleep on pillows, quilts, sheepskins, or other soft surfaces.
3. Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby’s sleep area. Don’t use pillows, blankets, quilts, sheepskins, and pillow-like crib bumpers in your baby’s sleep area, and keep any other items away from your baby’s face.
4. Do not allow smoking around your baby. Don’t smoke before or after the birth of your baby, and don’t let others smoke around your baby.
5. Keep your baby’s sleep area close to, but separate from, where you and others sleep. Your baby should not sleep in a bed or on a couch or armchair with adults or other children, but he or she can sleep in the same room as you. If you bring the baby into bed with you to breastfeed, put him or her back in a separate sleep area, such as a bassinet, crib, cradle, or a bedside cosleeper (infant bed that attaches to an adult bed) when finished.
6. Think about using a clean, dry pacifier when placing the infant down to sleep,
   but don’t force the baby to take it. (If you are breastfeeding your baby, wait until your child is 1 month old or is used to breastfeeding before using a pacifier.)
7. Do not let your baby overheat during sleep. Dress your baby in light sleep clothing, and keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult.
8. Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS because most have not been tested for effectiveness or safety.
9. Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS. If you have questions about using monitors for other conditions talk to your health care provider.
10. Reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on your baby’s head: provide “Tummy Time” when your baby is awake and someone is watching; change the direction that your baby lies in the crib from one week to the next; and avoid too much time in car seats, carriers, and bouncers.

Our kids are so precious! Let’s keep them safe! If you know anyone who has a little one, please tell them what you learned about keeping your baby safe. Send them here to read about SIDS and learn how to lower their baby’s risk of SIDS.

Baby Care, Baby Sleep

One issue almost every new parent is concerned about is SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). It’s a worrying issue to think about, but it’s an unfortunate reality which has devastated many families.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to spend endless sleepless nights worrying about your baby. By following some simple rules, you can create a safe sleeping environment for your baby. Not only will you be taking measures to prevent SIDS but you’re also helping your baby get a more peaceful and restful night’s sleep, which means you may be able to get a little sleep too.

The first thing you should do is make sure your baby’s crib conforms to regulation standards. If you’re crib is second-hand then try a simple test to see if you can fit a can of soda through the slots. If you can, then the crib may not be safe.

Check that the mattress fits tightly and that there aren’t any visible gaps. The mattress should also be firm but still comfortable.

Don’t use a pillow or fluffy blankets or comforters. Use a flat tightly fitted sheet on the crib and tuck in any sheets used for covering tightly around baby to avoid her slipping under or use a baby sleeping bag for added safety. Remove items like stuffed animals or decorative pillows from the crib before placing baby in it.

Place your baby to sleep on her back to avoid SIDS. Medical experts and researchers suggest the best position to put your baby to sleep on is on her back. Placing a baby to sleep on their stomach increases the risk of SIDS by up to 50% according to research.

Also, place your baby in the crib with her feet touching the bottom of the crib to avoid her slipping under the bedding.

Be careful not to overheat your baby. Place your hand on your baby’s neck to make sure she’s not too cold or warm. Also, check for sweating or rapid breathing. You should also get a room thermometer and keep the temperature at around 65 degrees F (ask your pediatrician for their recommended temperature level).

Don’t place your crib near any dangling items like a blind cord, which your baby may wrap around her neck. Also make sure there are no lamps or other items that may be pulled down, and don’t forget small items on a crib side table which baby may choke on.

Don’t smoke or allow others to smoke around baby. If someone in your family smokes make sure they do it outside. Smoking near your baby or simply in the same house can significantly increase the chances of your baby developing SIDS, it may also cause a number of other health related issues.

Breast feed your baby. New research has shown a link between breast feeding and reduced incidents of SIDS. This may be in part because a lot of breast feeding moms will tend to co-sleep with their babies. Several studies have shown that co-sleeping reduces the risk of SIDS because it allows mothers to respond quickly to any changes in their baby’s sleeping patterns or breathing. However, new research has shown that sleeping with your baby at a very young age can actually increase the risk of SIDS.

The best thing to do is speak to your pediatrician for individual advice on what’s best for you. If you do decide to co-sleep please make sure that neither you or your partner have had too much alcohol or are taking heavy medications that would induce heavier sleep.

Baby Sleep

You’re exhausted, moody and can’t even think straight! Sound familiar?

Most parents suffer from sleep deprivation at some point. Even those who are lucky enough to have babies who are good sleepers, eventually have to deal with getting their toddlers to stay in bed.

To make matters worst there is so much conflicting information as to how and when we should get our babies to sleep through the night. It’s enough to leave a new parent wondering what’s the right thing to do?

Here are a few tips:

Listen to your instincts. Remember you know your baby best. Take all advice you get (including this one) as what it is, “advice”. Never let it replace your own personal judgment. You know your baby best and only YOU know what’s really right for him. If it feels right to rock your baby to sleep, then do it. If it feels right to bring your baby into bed with you then do it.

Stop the guilt. Don’t take it personally. A lot of us suddenly feel instant guilt when our baby cries. Are we doing the right thing? Does she need feeding? Is his diaper wet? And on and on…

Remember your baby could be crying for a number of reasons and some are out of your control. Did you know that babies are born with the crying reflex but not the laughing reflex? Well they are… it’s instinctive for babies to cry. We’re going back to primitive times. Babies cry to have their needs met. Sometimes those needs are just to simply cry it out for a bit while feeling the warmth and comfort of their most loved person … you!

Become an expert. Go online or to the library and read a few books on baby sleep and sleep patterns. Arm yourself with all the knowledge that you can so that when others come your way offering advice you can politely say you know exactly what you’re doing.

When reading advice don’t go for the latest books or fads. Go to the library and look for actual baby sleep research. Then sit down and make a list of what you’re feeling. What do you feel is right for you and your family? This could be more important than any book you may find on the subject of baby sleep. Speak to your spouse and make sure you agree on what method you’ll use.

Whatever you decide, the main thing to remember is that sleepless nights are part of having a baby. Do what feels best for you and remember that this is a normal phase of your baby’s development and will soon end.

Baby Sleep