Safe sleep for infants is important as they can’t do anything themselves. Thousands of babies suffer sudden death during sleep as their environments aren’t that safe. Some safe sleep guidelines are a must to follow while putting your baby to sleep. Babies get choked or lose breath due to various reasons while asleep. The blanket may come up to the nose restricting breathing, the baby moves upside down in sleep resulting in choking or sudden baby death syndrome (SIDS). This is an unknown reason for the baby’s death.
Safe sleep guidelines are a must for parents to follow. The parents can’t be around the baby at all times. Times will come when they aren’t around them. In such times, some safe sleep guidelines are needed to be followed. To avoid accidents, from preventing the baby to fall or suffer from breathlessness here are some guidelines:
Here Are 10 Things Parents Need to Know About Safe Sleep Guidelines:
1. Provide a separate crib:
One of the important safe sleep guidelines is to not sleep with your baby. Give your baby a separate crib to sleep in. Do not make the baby sleep on your bed. The reasons are: the baby may fall off even if you place obstructions like pillows, and the baby may pull the blankets on the face resulting in suffocation and choking. So, it’s better to place the baby in an individual crib where he can sleep independently.
2. Don’t keep them extra warm:
Second but one more vital of the list of safe sleep guidelines. Wrapping up the baby too much will cause him to be warm. Keeping the baby warm is a good thing to do. Adding unnecessary extra layers of cloth will make him sweaty and increase the heat. May get dehydrated and cause fever. The baby only needs an extra layer of clothing than you’re wearing.
3. Make breastfeeding a priority:
In safe sleep guidelines, this is another important aspect. Breastfeeding enhances the touch between the baby and the mother. At times, the baby falls asleep when it’s fed breastmilk. When noticed the baby is feeling asleep, feeding must be stopped immediately and get the baby to burp. Making him burp releases the air which is taken in while sucking the milk. If not done, the baby may suffer from gases and pain in the stomach. Will keep crying and the mother won’t be able to make out what’s wrong.
4. No substance use:
While putting the baby to sleep, alcohol is a big no. In the safe sleep guidelines, this is a less-rated aspect. Even though you aren’t that high and you try to put the baby to sleep, accidents may happen. The baby may get irritable due to the smell of alcohol too and keep crying.
5. Keep space for the baby inside the crib:
Things like soft toys, loose bedding objects, pillow-like toys, and comforters must be kept out of the crib. The crib is only for the baby to sleep. Things that restrict movement or can act as a hazard should be avoided. It is on the list of vital safety sleep guidelines to follow.
6. Only room sharing allowed:
Parents are allowed to only share the room with the baby. The crib should be near your bed to reach you immediately if need be. Parents should not step inside the crib to sleep. Room sharing allows parents to comfort, reach, feed, and watch their baby quickly. Same-room sharing avoids the risk of SIDS by a whopping 50%.
7. Provide a good surface to sleep:
Give your baby a flat and strong surface to sleep on. The surface should not incline more than 10 degrees. The baby’s organs are still developing and are fragile. Be careful when holding or turning the baby from one side to another. A soft, smooth, and soothing surface is a must for the baby. Check for anything lying beneath the surface as it may itch to the baby’s body and may cry. It’ll result in disturbed sleep.
8. On the back when sleeping:
Keep the baby on the back at all times when sleeping. If the baby rolls on the side position in sleep, again put him on the back gently. While on the side, it is highly estimated that the baby will flip onto his stomach to sleep which will result in breathing obstructions. The baby may suffocate and choke all of a sudden and cause death too. On the back, parents are worried about the gag reflex, but the baby’s respiratory and air system is in such anatomy that it can’t be the case.
9. Make the room’s temperature comfortable:
Keep a watch on the baby’s body temperature. Observe the room’s air ventilation and overall temperature. Adjust the room’s temperature accordingly. If it’s summer season, make the room cool at a bearable temperature. Check if the baby isn’t sweating. If he is, lessen a layer of clothing from his body. Make sure the baby isn’t getting dehydrated due to sweat.
10. No electrical wires in the vicinity of the sleeping baby:
Don’t keep any electronic items near the baby’s sleeping place. Electronic items near the baby are not allowed. It may cause harm as they of course run on electricity and are made of glass. As the baby keeps on moving, due to the push the electronic might fall near the baby somewhere or on the baby. It’ll cause fatal injuries or an electric shock to the baby. Be careful of the items present near the baby wherever he’s kept.
Conclusion:
Keeping the babies safe during sleep can be a daunting task to handle. A slight ignorance for a second can prove fatal. But there are such guidelines which help us to keep it safe. Some simple things like giving a flat and smooth surface and ensuring the room’s temperature are basics that are important to consider. A safe and sound sleep keeps the baby healthy. It doesn’t always keep crying, leaving the parents confused about what’s wrong. Go through these guidelines again to keep the babies safe during sleep.
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