What Is Safer Sleep Week?
Safer Sleep Week is a national awareness campaign that runs from the 14th to 20th March 2022, initiated by the Lullaby Trust that targets anyone looking after a young baby. The intention of safer sleep week is to raise awareness around sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS. SIDS is also known as cot death, and we can reduce the risk of it occurring to our little ones by following some safer sleep advice.
What Is SIDS?
SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, is the term used to describe the unexplained death (usually during sleep) of an otherwise seemingly healthy baby under one year old. SIDS can also be referred to as crib death, because the babies often die in their cribs.
Research has found that certain factors may put babies at additional risk, and identified that there are a number of measures we can take to help protect our little ones from SIDS.
How To Reduce The Risk Of SIDs
Unfortunately there is no guaranteed way to prevent SIDS, but we can help our little ones to sleep more safely by taking some precautions.
Place your baby on their back
Always make sure to place your baby on their back to sleep, and never on their stomach or side. When the baby is awake or over 1 year old (and able to roll over both ways without help) this is no longer necessary. Never assume that others will know this and place your baby in the correct sleep position, always ensure whoever is caring for your baby is aware of this and insist that they place the baby on their back to sleep.
Keep the crib bare
It's best to keep the crib as bare as possible, and place the baby on a firm mattress. Try to avoid thick or fluffy padding such as fur or thick quilts. Don’t leave pillows, sleep positioners, toys or stuffed animals in the crib with your baby as they can prevent them from breathing clearly if their face presses against them in their sleep.
Temperature
Remember that you should never cover your baby’s head when you put them down to sleep. To keep them warm, you can try a sleeping bag or other sleep specific clothing that doesn’t require additional covers. Make sure that the room is kept at a comfortable temperature and do not overheat your baby. The ideal room temperature for baby is between 16 - 20 degrees celsius.
All of our Shnuggle bedding is specifically tested and designed to offer your little one the comfiest and safest night sleep possible.
Sleep in the same room
It’s a good idea to have the baby sleep in your room. Ideally the baby should be in your room with you, but in their own baby safe crib or moses basket for at least the first six months to a year.
Have the correct bed
Babies should sleep in their own separate sleep space but we know that some parents prefer to co-sleep and therefore its important to make your bed as safe as possible. Keep pillows and loose bedding away from baby, ensure they can’t fall from the bed and avoid pets or other children being in the bed as well.
Check out our Dreami moses basket or air bedside crib for safe baby sleeping options.
Dummy
Scientists have stated that providing a dummy without a strap or string during sleep can reduce the risk of SIDS. Just remember that if you’re breast-feeding, do not offer your baby the dummy until the baby is 3-4 weeks old and settled into a good nursing routine, so as not to affect this.
If your baby is not a fan of the dummy, don’t force it. Don’t place the dummy back into the baby’s mouth if it falls out while they are sleeping.
How To Safely Use A Bedside Crib
Safely using a bedside crib
- Side up when sleeping / side down to access and for supervised sleeping
- No gaps between bed and crib
- Use the straps provided
- Clear crib – no toys / loose bedding
Sleep Tips & Facts
- Ideal room temperature for baby is 16 -20°C
- Always place baby to sleep on their back
- Keep baby’s bed clear of loose bedding and other items
- When using a bedside crib, keep the sides up for sleeping
- Newborns can sleep for up to 18 hours per day
- Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles that are part of the body’s internal clock. Undeveloped in newborns for the first 1 – 3 months and why they can’t tell the difference between day and night.
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