To be sure your baby is safe and healthy, always follow this medical advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Safety Council before trying a particular method for getting your baby to sleep.
The first thing to do is discuss your baby’s sleep problems with your pediatrician, so you can rule out any medical or physical reasons for poor sleep.
Always put your baby on his back to sleep, to help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Studies have shown that having babies sleep on their backs cuts their risk of SIDS in half.
Don’t overheat your baby in an effort to keep her warm. Maintain the temperature of the room between 65° and 72° F. Avoid putting your baby by the window, to keep her from bursts of cold air or direct sunlight.
Don’t overdo it with blankets, comforters, and sheets, or your baby might get tangled up or overheated during the night. Dress him in a flame-resistant, loose-fitting sleeper if it’s chilly.
Babies don’t need pillows, and they can dangerously restrict their breathing. If you think your baby will sleep better if her head is inclined, you can buy a wedge that will gently lift your baby’s head without endangering her breathing.
Make sure your baby’s mattress isn’t too soft or too hard. Try it out yourself by laying it on the floor and stretching out on it; if you are uncomfortable, your baby may be, too. A mattress that’s too hard has no give, and a mattress that’s too soft offers little support.
Let your baby sleep with a special “lovey,” such as a soft blanket, stuffed animal, or treasured toy—but make sure the blanket isn’t too thick and the stuffed animal isn’t too big, so they won’t inhibit his breathing if he gets too close to them.
Offer your baby a pacifier to help her sleep (and help prevent SIDS), but never tie it or anything else to your baby’s clothing, because it could get tangled around her neck and cause strangulation. Just sprinkle several pacifiers in the crib, so she has easy access to another if one is lost.
Never leave your baby sleeping unattended in the stroller, swing, or car seat.
Don’t allow Spot or Fluffy access to your sleeping baby. In fact, don’t ever leave your baby—even when awake—unattended with a pet.
Here are some tips for crib safety from the National Safety Council.
CRIB DESIGN
• If your crib was built before 1974, make sure the slats are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart—otherwise, your infant may get his head stuck between them.
• Corner posts should be the same height as, or less than 1/16 inch higher than, the end panels, to prevent your baby from catching a part of her clothing on one and strangling.
• There shouldn’t be any sharp edges or carvings on the headboard or footboard.
• In their raised position, the top rails of the crib sides should be at least 26 inches above the top of the mattress support at its lowest position, so Baby cannot climb out and fall.
MATTRESS
• The mattress should fit snugly in the crib without any gaps, so your baby can’t become trapped.
• Don’t use any plastic materials, such as plastic sheets, in or near the crib.
• Put your baby to sleep on his back in a crib with a firm, flat mattress and no soft bedding underneath, to prevent SIDS and suffocation.
• It should require two distinct actions, or a minimum force of 10 pounds with one action, to release the latch or the locks on the drop side(s) of the crib, so your child cannot accidentally release it.
• Make sure none of the hardware is disengaged, broken, bent, or loose. Also check that the mattress support hangers and brackets are secure and cannot drop.
The hardware and the crib should be smooth and free of sharp edges, points, and rough surfaces.
CRIB ACCESSORIES
• Be cautious with bumper pads. They should cover the entire inside perimeter of the crib and tie or snap securely in place. And they should have at least six straps or ties (cut off any excess).
• Check the teething rails. If they are damaged, fix, replace, or remove them immediately.
• To prevent possible entanglement, mobiles and crib gyms, which are meant to be hung over or across the crib, should be removed when your child is five months old, or first able to stand or climb.
• Keep the crib clear of plastic sheets, pillows, and large stuffed animals or toys, which can be suffocation hazards and can also enable your child to climb out of the crib.
CRIB ENVIRONMENT
• Do not place the crib by the window. Drapes and blind cords are dangerous—children can get caught in them. Also, there’s the risk of falling out the window as your baby becomes able to climb up and stand.
• Install a smoke detector in your baby’s room, following the manufacturer’s directions for placement.
Make sure your crib meets safety requirements: The mattress should fit snugly with no gaps, and the sheets should be snug and secure.
Use a baby monitor to listen for your baby while he is sleeping. Or install a video camera, if you want to keep an eye on your sleeping baby.
Seventy percent of parents co-sleep with Baby at one time or another. But make sure that your bed is a safe sleeping environment for your baby and that she can’t roll off, and that there’s plenty of room for all. If you’re a deep sleeper, drink alcohol, or take drugs, you risk rolling over on your baby, so co-sleeping is not recommended. And if you snore, you may keep your baby awake!
Here are some simple dos and don’ts to keep in mind when it’s time for bed.
- Don’t put your baby on her tummy to sleep.
+ Do put her on her back to sleep.
- Don’t give your baby any alcohol or adult medications to get her to sleep.
+ Do check with your doctor to see if a baby medication, such as Infants’ Tylenol, might help.
- Don’t let your baby go to sleep with a bottle of juice or milk, which may lead to tooth decay.
+ Do let your baby have a pacifier or a bottle of water if she wants it.
- Don’t give your baby herbal teas, except those approved by your pediatrician.
+ Do give her watered down juice if she doesn’t like plain water.
- Don’t ever shake, vigorously tickle, or roughhouse with your baby.
+ Do play with her gently—games such as peekaboo or patty-cake.