By Irina Ursachi
What could be more peaceful than a baby sound asleep? Watching your little one drift off can be both soothing and a relief, knowing they’re getting the much-needed sleep for brain development. However, as a parent or caregiver, it’s essential to ensure those precious sleep hours are also safe. In this blog, we’ll explore how you can support safe sleeping for infants and why it matters.
Why Sleep is So Important for Babies
Sleep plays a vital role in a baby’s brain development. During those quiet hours, the foundation for key brain connections is being laid. These connections help babies process everything they experience during the day – what they see, hear, touch, smell, and taste throughout the day. Not only is sleep beneficial for the brain, but it also increases blood flow to the muscles, restores energy, and aids tissue growth and repair. Quality sleep influences important abilities like language development, attention, and impulse control.
What Does a Healthy Sleep Pattern Look Like?
You might wonder what a healthy sleep pattern is for your baby. According to Stanford Medicine, sleep needs vary by age. For newborns, sleep comes in short bursts—usually eight to nine hours during the day and about eight hours at night. However, due to their small digestive systems, they need to be fed every few hours, so waking them every two to four hours for nourishment is essential. By around 3 months old, many babies begin sleeping through the night for a total of six to eight hours. Don’t worry if your little one takes a bit longer to reach this milestone—every baby is unique.
Ensuring a Safe Sleep Environment
While sleep is critical, ensuring a safe sleep environment is just as important. A safe sleep area can help reduce a baby’s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths, such as accidental suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers the following recommendations for creating one:
Room-sharing, not bed-sharing: This means keeping your baby's sleep area in the same room (but not in the same bed) where you sleep for at least the first 6 months. Place your baby's crib, bassinet, portable crib or play yard in your bedroom, close to your bed.
The AAP recommends room sharing because it can decrease the risk of SIDS by as much as 50% and it's much safer than bed sharing. Room sharing will also make it easier for you to feed, comfort, and watch your baby.
Consider using a bassinet or infant bed that attaches to your bed (“co-sleeper”) without cushioned sides. If you think you might fall asleep on a sofa or armchair, put the baby down in a safe place to sleep.
While some cultures consider family beds the norm, many medical organizations in the U.S. discourage bed sharing, especially for younger babies.
Safe Sleep Seven
For parents who choose to bed share, the “Safe Sleep Seven” is a series of guidelines designed to make bed-sharing safe for a baby and their parents. The general concept is to normalize the idea of bed-sharing, making this practice safer. These guidelines are designed to help parents reduce the risks associated with it.
Here's a fun way to remember the “Safe Sleep Seven”, sung to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat":
"No smoke, sober mom, baby at your breast Healthy baby on his back, keep him lightly dressed Not too soft a bed, watch the cords and gaps Keep the covers off his head, for your nights and naps."
Let’s break down each one of the “Safe Sleep Seven” for better understanding:
No smoke, sober mom: Smoking, vaping, or using nicotine around your baby increases the risk of illness and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Avoid any substances, including alcohol and medications, that could impair your ability to care for your baby.
Baby at your breast: If breastfeeding, try the “cuddle curl” position, which helps prevent rolling onto your baby. Avoid using pillows or propping your baby up during nursing.
Healthy baby on his back: Always place your baby on their back for sleep, whether they are in your bed or a crib. This is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of SIDS.
Keep him lightly dressed: Avoid overdressing your baby for sleep or using heavy blankets. Babies should wear no more than one additional layer of clothing compared to what you’re wearing.
Not too soft a bed: Babies should sleep on a firm mattress with a fitted sheet. Avoid soft surfaces like couches or memory foam. The goal is that the surface should be firm and provide enough support to ensure that your baby’s airway is clear.
Watch the cords and gaps: Ensure there are no cords, gaps, or spaces that can pose a choking hazard if you have an active sleeper. A bed that’s too close to a wall or furniture can pose a danger if your baby rolls or shifts during the night or a nap.
Keep the covers off his head: Just like in a crib, avoid placing blankets or pillows near your baby’s face to prevent suffocation.
When these practices are respected and applied, they can be music to your ears as it
creates a safe environment for you and your baby as well.
Additional Safe Sleep Practices:
Breastfeeding your baby: Breastfeeding offers so many benefits for both moms and babies. Among the benefits for moms are reduced risk for certain conditions, such as diabetes and some cancers later in life. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends feeding only breast milk with no added formula, or other foods, or liquids. Benefits for babies include protection from some infections and illnesses as well as reduced risk of SIDS.
Safe sleep positions: Some babies will roll onto their stomachs. You should always place your baby to sleep on their back, but if they're comfortable rolling both ways (back to tummy, tummy to back), then you don't need to keep turning your baby to their back again. Just be sure that there are no blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, or bumper pads in your baby's bed. Your baby could roll into any of these items, blocking their airflow.
Avoid using sitting devices for routine sleep: Devices like swings and bouncers are not recommended for safe sleep because sleeping in a sitting position can block the baby’s airway. Place your baby in a crib, bassinet, portable crib, or play yard that meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards.
Don’t give your baby sleep aids: Do not give your baby melatonin or other sleep aids without consulting a healthcare provider. Unfortunately, there is not enough research regarding both the benefits and risks of using melatonin as a sleep aid among infants.
By following these safe sleep practices, you’ll be creating a secure and peaceful environment for both you and your baby. For more resources on safe sleep or to learn more about infant health, feel free to reach out to Burke County Public Health at (828) 764-9150 or visit us at 700 East Parker Road, Morganton, NC 28655.
Sources:
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3. Stanford Children’s Health. Stanfordchildrens.org. Published 2019. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=infant-sleep-90-P02237 4. Infant Sleep. www.nationwidechildrens.org. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/health-library/infant-sleep
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www.childrens hospital.org. Published 2012. https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome-sids
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7. Safe Sleep Environment | Safe to Sleep®. https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/. https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/reduce-risk/safe-sleep-environment
8. Sleep Aids for Kids: An Overview. Sleep Foundation. Published March 31, 2023. Accessed September 16, 2024. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-aids/sleep-aids-for-kids#:~:text=The%20FDA%20has%20not%20 approved
9. Understanding Safe Sleep 7 Guidelines About Co-Sleeping with Your Baby. Healthline. Published May 28, 2021. https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/safe-sleep-7#sing-the-song
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