Safe Sleep
At 32 weeks pregnant, I’m like many of my clients in mentally preparing for the sleepless nights, constant second-guessing, and of course all of the immense joy that comes with bringing a new baby home. As I approach the finish line of my pregnancy, I’m returning to the basics to refresh myself with how to create the safest sleep environment for my littlest love.
Here are the ABC’s of safe sleep:
1) Place baby ALONE in sleep surface - “But what if they’re cold?” “What if they bump their head?” “They’ll only sleep ON me!” Boy does that last one resonate with me! When we brought our oldest home, my husband and I took turns staying awake and holding her throughout the night. The concept of her sleeping with us became a constant consideration, but because we were familiar with the safest sleep guidelines, we ultimately decided against it. Limit crib additions to a sleep sack or swaddle depending on their age and ability to roll, and remove any unnecessary items crib bumpers, pillows, padding, blankets, and stuffed animals - all of which can pose risk for suffocation. Once your baby is over a year, or your pediatrician gives you the green light, you can begin to introduce additional items into the crib, like a stuffed animal, but be patient on this one!
2) Place baby on their BACK - With my oldest’s reflux issues, she expressed her discomfort with being placed down on her back at night. In the past, parents would often put their babies down on their stomachs as they assumed if they spit up while they were sleeping, they would avoid choking. This made total sense to me, and I wondered why I shouldn’t just place my baby on her stomach for more comfort. More recent research however has shown that babies actually are able to clear their airways more effectively when they are on their backs. Placing babies, even when they struggle with reflux, on their backs on a flat surface (meaning no incline) is the safest option.
So what can you do if your baby is experiencing reflux? Avoid feeding to sleep, regardless of whether your baby is nursed or bottle fed, and give them 15-20 minutes of upright time before attempting to place them down on their backs again. If they fall asleep while you’re holding them, that’s okay. In the early days, our priority above independent sleep is safe sleep. Ideally, we’d like to practice putting our babies down awake so they can learn to independently fall asleep, but if your child experiences reflux, it may take some time before you’re able to do this. Give their tiny tummies work through reflux - I promise it gets better with time as they adjust to being in the outside world! Speak to your pediatrician, but typically by 3-4 months, babies have naturally worked through their digestion difficulties.
Pro tip: Have a streaming show lined up to keep you awake during those middle-of-the-night feeds!
3) Place baby in their CRIB - A crib is any safe sleeping surface that has a firm, flat, and non-inclined. This includes a crib, mini-crib, or pack-n-play. While (extremely) convenient for short durations of supervised lounging, it is not safe for your baby to sleep for extended periods of time in a swing, a bouncer, or loungers such as a doc-a-tot or boppy. When traveling, it’s important to transition your baby from their carseat to a safe sleep surface, even if it’s tempting to not want to disrupt their sleep (I get it!). Sleeping on cushy surfaces such as a memory foam bed, especially while unsupervised (including when you are present but sleeping) is not recommended for safe sleep. This one is particularly tough and one that I personally mentally struggled with. It’s especially in the wee hours of the morning when all you need is some sleep. While contact naps are fine when you are awake (thanks, coffee!), if your baby is only used to contact naps during the day, they’re likely only going to want and be comfortable with contact sleep during the middle of the night. It takes practice! Practice some naps, even if it’s just a few minutes, in the crib during the day - when you’re awake (and caffeinated) - not at 3am.
The early days of newborn life (especially when you’re a first-time parent) are a roller coaster of emotions, and if you’re like me, you’re second-guessing every little decision you make. And guess what? You’re normal! But if you’re feeling overwhelmed with how to be working towards more independent sleep for all while also practicing safe sleep, you may want some support. While I don’t recommend formal sleep coaching until you’ve been given the green light by your pediatrician (typically by the four-month mark), a sleep coach can help you begin to embed some strategies that will help set the foundation for independent sleep while also guiding you as you create a safe sleep environment.
If this sounds like you (or you’re not sure!), feel free to set up a free call with me today.
