Home Kids & Toys Steps to Creating a Safe & Healthy Sleeping Environment for Your Baby

Steps to Creating a Safe & Healthy Sleeping Environment for Your Baby

New parents have a lot on their plate – acquiring all the needed supplies and reading up all there is about welcoming a new baby in the family are just part of the parenting process which encompasses many preparational steps for the first baby. So, if you’re a new parent reading this, we know exactly what you’re going through.

Along with all the aspects to learn about raising a happy and healthy baby that could be troubling you, we’re guessing sleeping is among the top concerns considering it’s one of the biggest frustrations. As every caring parent, you want your bub to catch the needed z’s every night (so you would too) and take it as your mission to provide the best sleep environment with versatile newborn baby sleeping products.

Bbay in a Bed

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This would give you the peace of mind your little one would be safe, snug, and get the quality sleep required for healthy development. Besides counting on the help from white noise sound machines, useful both for parents and baby, the following are some steps you can take in making it happen.

Provide a Safe and Healthy Sleeping Area

There’s a lot of debate going on as to whether or not it’s okay to let babies sleep with their parents. One thing is certain, it’s advisable to keep the baby in the same bedroom for a year or more because it allows you to keep an eye on him or her, thus reducing the chances for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

Mind you though, this isn’t to say you should share the bed since this practice tends to do the opposite – increase the SIDS risks. Hence, your first task is to purchase a snug yet firm crib and keep it close to your own bed. This would also make it easier for mid-night feedings and comforting. Since there’s a vast range of cribs on the market, you’re sure to find something that suits your budget, taste, and the style of the room.

A word of caution is to be particularly mindful with the choices you make regarding the crib itself, the material and construction specifically, as well as those of the mattress. Indoor air pollution is a real thing, and is a threat to the little ones’ health, And unfortunately the causes could be many – even something seemingly safe as the crib.

For this reason, it’s crucial to avoid designs with VOCs, in the form of toxic materials and paint. Respective of this, it wouldn’t hurt to pay attention to other possible threats in the room too, such as the flooring.

Get a Snug Swaddle

Again, crib-related, the swaddle is one of the essential newborn baby sleeping products because it helps calm and soothe them thus putting them in sleep mode easier and faster. It shouldn’t come as surprise it’s ideal even for colicky babies considering the safe cocoon it is reminds them of the comforting time they spent in the uterus.

Snug Swaddle

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In case you don’t know how to swaddle, or are afraid it would pose a risk to your precious one, there are some ingeniously designed swaddle blankets and bags that simplify things for you. The best ones on the market are those that provide enough room and prevent tangling.

Swaddles are much more convenient and safer than your regular blankets which can easily suffocate infants. Think of them as the cosy and roomy wearable blankets, given that most of the designs tend to have zippers and sleeves, and some feature legs too. Depending on which season you need them for, focus on the fabrics and designs. There are those thicker and warmer, ideal for the cold months, as opposed to the lightweight perfect for summer.

For utmost comfort and safety from irritation and allergic reactions, it’s best to choose such products made from quality organic fabrics. Much like when shopping for bed sheets, organic cotton with higher thread counts comes up rated higher, and so does the ultra-soft bamboo you can step up the sleeping game with.

Ensure Healthy Sleep Environment

Yes, once again we’re faced with the SIDS risks and this time they come from room temperatures. Same as adults, babies aren’t doing well either when too hot or too cold, so you’d find the purchase of a room thermometer most helpful to always ensure the needed 16 to 20° C.

Baby Sleeping

Source: healthline.com

Additional baby sleep aid similar to this one would be an indoor air purifier to clean the air. And if your baby is older than six months, you can introduce essential oils dispersing them in the air with specialised diffusers and nebulisers. Lavender, tea tree, lemon, and patchouli are among the oils that are considered non-toxic for little ones when diffused.

Extra aids that help provide comfort are the various sleepytots, and many parents swear by them, however, handy as they may be, it’s best to keep the crib free of any obstructions, to ensure there’s no threat from suffocation. Such comforters pose lesser risk and prove to be essential once the baby reaches seven months.