For a variety of reasons, I am personally and professionally a stickler on safety. When it comes to sleep, I never deviate from advising infants and toddlers to sleep in environments that are totally safe. In the newborn stage, safe sleep habits are often ignored in an effort to produce longer sleep periods. Instead of going into a long discussion here, I recommend reading my newborn blog posts. And also the newborn chapter in my book. Suffice it to say, maintaining a safe sleep environment for your newborn is extremely important. Many cases of SUID are often not unexplained. And are instead attributed to unsafe sleep environments. Read on to learn what you may not know about sleep safety.

what you may not know about sleep safety

Photo Credit: Kate Krivanec

Keep the Crib Empty

For infants older than 4 months and below 12 months, babies should only ever sleep alone in a crib with no other objects inside of it besides a pacifier. There are literally no exceptions to this rule of an empty crib. You should never put any of the following objects in your infant’s crib:

1) mesh bumpers or padded bumpers

2) Doc a Tots or any other types of sleep positioners or wedges

3) blankets, pillows, loveys, etc.

Really, No Blankets

Blankets, in particular, are often used in cribs despite recommendations that they not be placed in cribs until baby is 12 months of age or older. Babies can place blankets, even loveys (which the AAP no longer allows or recommends), over their faces and breathe recirculated air. They may also become entangled in the fabric, and quickly lose their ability to extricate themselves from different positions. As it is, many infants are just learning how to maneuver and control their bodies. Blankets only further impede their movement. This can cause them to become stuck in a dangerous position.

If you are concerned your baby is cold, use a sleep sack. You can use one that is styled like a vest where arms are free, or you can use one that covers the arms and hands. Either way, make sure your baby is able to move around freely, even if their hands are covered.

No Mobiles

Avoid hanging mobiles over a crib. Babies can sometimes detach the mobile, and become tangled in the strings. Or they may be able to reach the small components that make up the mobile itself that can be choking hazards. As noted in the SUID article above, it is vital for the health and safety of babies that all safe sleeping guidelines be followed closely. All of the time.

Talk to Your Pediatrician

There are two guidelines that can often make it challenging to sleep train successfully.

1) Room sharing with parents through at least month 6 (and preferably through month 12). The potential issue? Babies often are woken up by hearing or seeing mom and dad.

2) Using the pacifier through month 12. The issue? Repeated night waking due to needing a pacifier re-inserted.

Please discuss with your pediatrician whether it is acceptable to make modifications for your family.

Do not ever deviate from the AAP safe sleep guidelines without discussing them with your pediatrician first.

Place Baby Monitor Out of Reach

Beyond an empty crib, remember to place your child’s video monitor camera on the wall or a piece of furniture. This way it is totally out of your child’s reach. Even for newborns and young infants. Finally, keep in mind once again, many cases of infants dying in their sleep are due to unsafe sleep practices, and not SIDS. I personally am aware of two families who had infants die due to unsafe sleeping practices. And I have made it a personal goal to advocate for safe sleeping at all times.

Toddler Tips

For toddlers in beds, make sure their rooms are fully childproofed. This means:

1) strapping or bolting all pieces of furniture to the wall that a child may climb on,

2) strapping the drawers of dressers so that children can’t pull them out and use them as “stairs,”

3) winding all blind cords completely out of your child’s reach,

4) covering all outlets,

5) and generally exploring your child’s room to make certain there is not a single object in their room they could hurt themselves with.

Are you are concerned your child may leave their room in the middle of the night, and be unsafe walking around your home? Consider using a baby gate in their doorway so they are unable to leave their room, but can still call you if they need you.

I also advocate for the use of video monitors for all children through preschool age. This way you are able to monitor them and hear them throughout the night, and for naps.

I know that many of these recommendations seem excessive. Through my work as a sleep coach, and being so close to thousands of families over the years, I can assure you that it only takes an instant for a child to injure themselves, or worse, in an unsafe sleep environment. Children, especially those who are sleep trained, spend more than half their lives from birth through age 5, in their bedrooms. It’s vital to make sure they are safe there so that they are able to get the rest they need without any risk to their wellbeing.

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