When your little bundle of joy enters the world you hope that they will sleep like the proverbial baby however it will soon become apparent that this may not be the case immediately (or within the next 2 years!) However, babies need to sleep a lot more than you'd think. Most will sleep for between 16 and 18 hours a day, this is often only for 3 or 4 hours at a time but it is important to make sure that during that time your little one is comfortable and most importantly safe. Here are a few of our top tips to help with a comfortable and safe nights sleep for your baby.
1. Always place your baby on their back to sleep - To lessen the chances of SIDS your baby should always be put to sleep on their back, not their stomach or side. This should also be with no loose bedding or stuffed animals in their cot and pillow free. You should position your baby to the bottom of cot to sleep.
2. Use a firm and flat mattress - A good mattress will support your babies growing bones and should be firm and flat. The mattress that you buy will all depend upon personal preference, looking at factors such as cost, comfort and durability. If your baby is in a cot, a good quality foam mattress will keep the baby comfortable however if you will be using a cot bed, a sprung mattress is the best option for longevity. You should really invest in your baby's mattress as you do generally get that you pay for where mattress's are concerned.
3. Keep your baby smoke free - This means avoiding smoking during and after pregnancy. Exposing your baby to smoke can increase the risk of SIDs so you baby should be kept away from smoke at all times.
4. Place your baby to sleep in a separate cot or crib - For the first 6 months the baby should be placed to sleep in a separate cot or crib but in the same room as you sleep, this will give you an opportunity to be close to you baby and at hand during the night.
5. Avoid letting your baby get too hot - We all know how uncomfortable it can be when you're too hot or too cold and of course your baby feels the same. Ideally you should keep your baby's room between 16 – 20 degrees, creating this environment can help regulate the baby's temperature as in the early stages this is not something which they can do themselves.
Do you have any tips on how to keep little ones safe and comfortable during sleep? Let us know with a comment.