Herbie Murray
Ensuring that your newborn sleeps safely is crucial. The leading cause of injury death in infancy is Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), which includes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). While SIDS is rare, it is still the leading cause of postnatal mortality, and Black and Native American/Alaska Native infants are at a significantly higher risk of SIDS than white babies. To reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related deaths, newborns should sleep in a cot, crib, bassinet, or play yard in the same room as their caregiver(s) for the first six months.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Safe sleep surface | Firm, flat, and level |
| Safe sleep area | Crib, bassinet, or play yard |
| Safe sleep position | On their back |
| Safe sleep environment | Clear of bumpers, toys, pillows, blankets, and other items |
| Safe sleep temperature | 16-20 degrees Celsius |
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What You'll Learn
Cribs, bassinets, and play yards
When it comes to safe sleep environments for newborns, it's important to prioritize a flat, firm surface free of hazards that could cause choking, suffocation, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Cribs, bassinets, and play yards can provide safe sleep areas for newborns, but it's crucial to follow certain guidelines to ensure your baby's safety.
Cribs
Cribs are a popular choice for newborn sleep and can offer a safe and comfortable space. When using a crib, it's important to follow these guidelines:
- Ensure the crib meets the latest safety standards and has a firm, tight-fitting mattress.
- Use a fitted sheet that stretches tightly over the mattress with no bunching or loose fabric. Avoid using loose bedding, pillows, quilts, or blankets, as these can pose a suffocation risk.
- Keep the crib clear of soft or squishy items, such as stuffed toys, crib bumpers, comforters, or loose bedding.
- Place your baby on their back in the crib, as this sleeping position reduces the risk of SIDS and accidental suffocation.
- Avoid using a crib with an inclined surface, as this can cause positional asphyxia. Opt for a flat, level surface instead.
- Some cribs can be converted into beds as your child grows, offering longevity and flexibility.
Bassinets
Bassinets are smaller than cribs and are often used for the first few weeks or months after birth. They provide a compact and convenient sleep space for newborns. Here are some guidelines for using bassinets:
- Similar to cribs, use a firm, flat mattress with a tightly fitted sheet. Avoid soft or elevated mattresses.
- Keep the bassinet clear of any items that could pose a suffocation risk, such as pillows, blankets, or toys.
- Place the bassinet next to your bed for easy access and monitoring, especially during nighttime feedings and comfortings.
- Move your baby to a crib when they outgrow the bassinet, usually after a few weeks or a month.
Play Yards
Play yards, also known as playpens or portable play yards, offer a safe and enclosed space for newborns to sleep and play. They are typically larger than cribs and bassinets and can be easily moved around the house or even taken on trips. Here are some tips for using play yards:
- Choose a play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet. Avoid soft, elevated, or inclined surfaces.
- Ensure the play yard meets current safety standards and is free of hazards, such as large gaps or loose parts.
- Keep the play yard clear of any objects that could pose a choking or suffocation hazard, including soft toys, pillows, or loose bedding.
- Place the play yard in a safe and supervised area, away from any potential hazards.
- Some play yards come with a bassinet attachment, providing a smaller, elevated sleeping space for newborns. Just be sure to remove the bassinet once your baby becomes more active.
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Firm, flat, and tight-fitting mattresses
When it comes to safe sleep for newborns, it's important to follow guidelines and recommendations to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and other dangers such as choking, suffocation, and accidental injuries. One of the key recommendations is to provide a firm, flat, and tight-fitting mattress for newborns to sleep on. Here are some detailed instructions and reasons for this:
Firm and Flat Mattress:
The mattress you choose for your newborn should be firm and flat. Soft mattresses or surfaces, such as memory foam, waterbeds, pillows, couches, or sofas, can increase the risk of SIDS and accidental suffocation. A firm and flat mattress provides a safe and stable surface for your baby to sleep on. It should quickly return to its original shape if pressed on and should not conform to the shape of your baby's head. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Canadian Pediatric Society recommend a firm and flat mattress to prevent your baby from sinking into the mattress and suffocating.
Tight-fitting Mattress:
In addition to being firm and flat, the mattress should be tight-fitting to the crib. There should be no gaps between the mattress and the crib frame. The CPSC recommends using the "finger test" to ensure a safe fit: if the gap between the mattress and the crib is wider than two fingers, it's unsafe. Extra space on any side poses a danger, as your baby could get trapped or suffocate. A tight-fitting mattress also means no bunching or loose sheets, reducing the risk of suffocation and strangulation.
Testing Firmness:
To test the firmness of a mattress, press on the centre and the edges. If it is firm enough, it will snap back right away and won't conform to the shape of your hand or fingers. You can also use the "5-pound test" by placing a 5-pound item in the centre of the mattress to check for sagging and ensure a proper fit.
Recall List and Safety Standards:
Before using a new crib mattress, always check the recall list to ensure it hasn't been recalled due to safety issues. Additionally, ensure that the crib and mattress meet the latest safety standards set by regulatory bodies.
Safe Sleep Environment:
In addition to providing a firm, flat, and tight-fitting mattress, create a safe sleep environment for your newborn. This includes room-sharing without bed-sharing, keeping soft items, loose bedding, pillows, quilts, and toys out of the crib, and following safe sleep positions (placing your baby on their back until they are one year old).
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Back sleeping
Babies who sleep on their stomach or side are at a higher risk of choking, suffocation, and SIDS. The risk of SIDS is particularly high for babies who are usually placed on their back to sleep but are sometimes placed on their front or side. This is because their brains may not be developed enough to wake them up if their airway becomes blocked.
To ensure your baby stays on their back while sleeping, place them in a crib with a firm and tight-fitting mattress that meets the latest safety standards. A firm mattress won't create small pockets of softness that your baby could accidentally turn their face into, and a tight-fitting mattress means no gaps on the sides. Cover the mattress with a tightly fitted sheet that doesn't bunch up or come loose.
It's important to make back sleeping a routine from day one, for every sleep, day and night. However, once your baby can move themselves from their back to their front and back again, they will be able to find their own sleeping position. If you notice your baby roll onto their side or stomach in their sleep, you can gently reposition them onto their back.
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Room temperature
Keeping your newborn safe while they sleep is of paramount importance. One of the most important factors in creating a safe sleep environment is maintaining a suitable room temperature.
The ideal room temperature for a baby to sleep in is between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius. This range of temperatures ensures that your baby does not get too hot or too cold while sleeping. You can check your baby’s temperature by feeling their chest, tummy, or the back of their neck; it should not feel hot to the touch. It is normal for a baby's hands and feet to feel cooler to the touch.
It is important to avoid letting your baby overheat while they sleep. Do not cover their face or head while sleeping, and do not let them wear hats indoors. Additionally, remove all pillows, soft bedding, cot bumpers, and soft toys from their cot. These precautions will help to prevent your baby from overheating and reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
A baby's sleep area should be kept clear of any items that could pose a danger. Soft or squishy objects, such as pillows, stuffed toys, and crib bumpers, should be kept away from the baby's sleep area. It is also important to avoid loose bedding, as this can pose a risk of suffocation. A firm, flat, and tight-fitting mattress with a fitted sheet is all a newborn needs to sleep safely.
By maintaining a suitable room temperature and creating a safe sleep environment, you can help reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related hazards for your newborn.
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Avoid car seats, strollers, and sitting devices
When it comes to safe sleep for newborns, there are important guidelines to follow to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and other dangers such as choking, suffocation, and accidental strangulation. While car seats, strollers, and sitting devices are designed to keep children safe when travelling in vehicles, they are not recommended as a baby's regular sleep or nap space. Here's why:
Positional Asphyxiation
The angle of car seats, strollers, and sitting devices can cause a baby's head to slump forward, blocking their airway and leading to positional asphyxiation. This occurs when a baby's body position gets in the way of their breathing. The risk of positional asphyxiation is highest before babies gain neck control, usually between 3-6 months of age.
Respiratory Issues and Obstruction
When a car seat is removed from its base and used outside of a vehicle, the risk of respiratory issues and other problems increases. For example, an unbalanced seat can cause a baby's head to fall forward and obstruct their airway. Soft surfaces, such as beds or couches, can also block a baby's breathing if the car seat topples over onto them.
Harness Entanglement
Infants can wiggle around and get entangled in the harness straps of a car seat or sitting device. Additionally, loosening the harness straps or unfastening the buckles can increase the risk of slumping or entanglement, which can lead to strangulation.
Recommended Guidelines
To ensure a safe sleep environment for your newborn, follow these guidelines:
- Place your baby on their back every time they sleep, including at naptime, bedtime, and in the middle of the night.
- Use a safety-approved crib, bassinet, or play yard that meets the latest safety standards.
- Ensure the sleep surface is firm, flat, and level, with a tight-fitting mattress and sheet to prevent gaps or loose bedding that could pose a suffocation risk.
- Keep the sleep area clear of soft or squishy items, such as pillows, stuffed toys, and crib bumpers.
- Avoid co-sleeping with your baby on an adult bed, couch, or armchair, as these surfaces increase the risk of SIDS and accidental suffocation.
Remember, creating a safe sleep environment is crucial to reducing the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths. By following these guidelines and avoiding the use of car seats, strollers, and sitting devices as regular sleep spaces, you can help keep your newborn safe and comfortable.
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Frequently asked questions
Safe things for newborns to sleep in include a crib, bassinet, or play yard. The safest place for a baby to sleep for the first 6 months is in a cot, lying on their back, in the same room as you.
Unsafe things for newborns to sleep in include car seats, strollers, sitting devices, couches, armchairs, and adult beds.
SIDS stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. To reduce the risk of SIDS, place your baby on their back to sleep, keep their head uncovered, and use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress.
Some general tips for creating a safe sleep environment for newborns include using a baby sleeping bag that fits well around the shoulders, avoiding soft surfaces and loose bedding, and room-sharing for the first 6 months.
