Heres how to make sure that your childs sleep environment is safe, and your child is secure in his bed. 1] Your child should preferably sleep in his own crib. Bring him next to you only if he wakes up and cries or wants to be fed. Remember, dont breastfeed him when hes sleeping. 2] Dont smoke in your childs room. If you have a balcony, convert your home into a no-smoking zone and smoke only in the balcony. 3] Use a firm mattress. The mattress should be exactly the length of the crib base. There should be no space where your childs head can get stuck, or he may get smothered. 4] When placing your child in the crib, cover him with a light blanket, even in the summer, if you are sleeping with the air-conditioner on. Make sure that his head is never covered with the blanket or sheet. 5] Make sure the sheets are clean. 6] Keep a soft light on, next to his crib. 7] No matter how adorable your baby looks surrounded by soft toys and stuffed animals, its best to avoid placing them inside his crib, especially when hes sleeping. 8] Never ever put your infant to sleep by placing him on top of a pillow. 9] Similarly, avoid putting your child to sleep on a sofa. His head may slip in between the crevices, causing him to suffocate. 10] Dont put your infant to sleep on his stomach. 11] Make sure your childs room is well ventilated. 12] There are definite advantages to having your baby sleep with you in the same bed. If you put your infant to sleep on the same bed as you, it is likely that both of you will get better sleep, as you will not have to get out of your bed every time your baby wants to be breastfed. In addition, if your baby keeps waking up at night, putting him to sleep next to you may help him feel secure, and help him sleep through the night. However, considering the possibility of SIDS, you have to ask yourself that (heaven forbid!) should anything happen to your baby while he is sleeping with you, would you be able to handle the guilt, even if it wasnt your fault (which, in all probability, it wouldnt be)? So if you want to bring your baby into your bed, remember that while adult beds are not harmful per se for an infant, its best to take a few extra precautions just to be on the safe side. After all, adult beds were not designed keeping baby safety in mind.13] If you are both working parents, you may feel better at the thought of spending time with your child at night by sleeping with him. This encourages parent-child bonding. However, dont bring your child into your bed if you are intoxicated on alcohol, doped or heavily sedated for any reason. You should be in such a frame of mind, that you are able to respond to your babys slightest movement. 14] Dont put an infant (less than ten months) to sleep on an adult bed with another sibling, especially if the sibling is just a couple of years older. Young children are unaware of the dangers of suffocation. Make sure that if your infant sleeps out of his crib, he sleeps with an adult. 15] If your child is in your bed, dont cover him with your quilt. Place him in his own baby blanket.
Here's how to make sure that your child's sleep environment is safe, and your child is secure in his bed. 1] Your child should preferably sleep in his own crib. Bring him next to you only if he wakes up and cries or wants to be fed. Remember, don't breastfeed him when he's sleeping.
2] Don't smoke in your child's room. If you have a balcony, convert your home into a no-smoking zone and smoke only in the balcony.
3] Use a firm mattress. The mattress should be exactly the length of the crib base. There should be no space where your child's head can get stuck, or he may get smothered.
4] When placing your child in the crib, cover him with a light blanket, even in the summer, if you are sleeping with the air-conditioner on. Make sure that his head is never covered with the blanket or sheet.
5] Make sure the sheets are clean.
6] Keep a soft light on, next to his crib.
7] No matter how adorable your baby looks surrounded by soft toys and stuffed animals, it's best to avoid placing them inside his crib, especially when he's sleeping.
8] Never ever put your infant to sleep by placing him on top of a pillow.
9] Similarly, avoid putting your child to sleep on a sofa. His head may slip in between the crevices, causing him to suffocate.
10] Don't put your infant to sleep on his stomach.
11] Make sure your child's room is well ventilated.
12] There are definite advantages to having your baby sleep with you in the same bed. If you put your infant to sleep on the same bed as you, it is likely that both of you will get better sleep, as you will not have to get out of your bed every time your baby wants to be breastfed. In addition, if your baby keeps waking up at night, putting him to sleep next to you may help him feel secure, and help him sleep through the night.
However, considering the possibility of SIDS, you have to ask yourself that (heaven forbid!) should anything happen to your baby while he is sleeping with you, would you be able to handle the guilt, even if it wasn't your fault (which, in all probability, it wouldn't be)? So if you want to bring your baby into your bed, remember that while adult beds are not harmful per se for an infant, it's best to take a few extra precautions just to be on the safe side. After all, adult beds were not designed keeping baby safety in mind.
13] If you are both working parents, you may feel better at the thought of spending time with your child at night by sleeping with him. This encourages parent-child bonding. However, don't bring your child into your bed if you are intoxicated on alcohol, doped or heavily sedated for any reason. You should be in such a frame of mind, that you are able to respond to your baby's slightest movement.
14] Don't put an infant (less than ten months) to sleep on an adult bed with another sibling, especially if the sibling is just a couple of years older. Young children are unaware of the dangers of suffocation. Make sure that if your infant sleeps out of his crib, he sleeps with an adult.
15] If your child is in your bed, don't cover him with your quilt. Place him in his own baby blanket.
