Parents who know about SIDS may think of it as their worst nightmare. Sudden infant death syndrome is known as SIDS or crib death. It’s when a baby 12 months or younger dies during sleep with no warning signs or a clear reason. Although there is no 100% way to prevent SIDS, there is a lot you can do lower your baby’s risk. Since the American Academy of Pediatrics issued its safe sleep recommendations in 1992 and launched its "Back to Sleep" campaign in 1994, the SIDS rate has dropped more than 60%. In fact, between 1990 and 2013, SIDS rates declined from about 130 deaths per 100,000 infants to about 40 deaths per 100,000. Your baby’s risk of SIDS is much higher any time he sleeps on his side or stomach. (A baby placed on his side can roll over on his stomach.) These positions put your baby’s face in the mattress or sleeping area, which can smother him. So, every time you put your baby in his bed to sleep -- for naps, at night, or any time -- lay him down on his back.
Tell anyone who takes care of your baby how essential it is to lay your sleeping baby on his back each time. That includes grandparents, babysitters and childcare providers, older siblings, and others. They may think one time won’t matter, but it can. When a baby who usually sleeps on his back is suddenly laid on his stomach to sleep, the risk of SIDS is much higher. If you’re worried your baby might choke while sleeping on his back, don't be. Choking is very rare, and healthy babies tend to swallow or cough up fluids automatically. If you’re concerned, ask your pediatrician about elevating the head of your baby's bed. Once your baby can roll over both ways, which usually happens around 6 months, he may not stay on his back. It’s fine to let him choose his own sleep position once he knows how to roll over.en españolNewborns don't yet have a sense of day and night. They sleep around the clock, and because their tiny stomachs don't hold hold enough breast milk or formula to keep them satisfied for long, they wake often to eat — no matter what time of day or night it is.
How Long Will My Newborn Sleep? Newborns should get 14 to 17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, says the National Sleep Foundation. Some newborns may sleep up to 18 to 19 hours a day. Newborns wake every couple of hours to eat. Breastfed babies feed often, about 8 to 12 times a day. Bottle-fed babies tend to feed less often, about every 3 to 4 hours. Newborns who sleep for longer stretches should be awakened to feed. Wake your baby every 3 to 4 hours to eat until he or she shows good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks. After that, it's OK to let your baby sleep for longer periods of time at night. The first months of a baby's life can be the hardest for parents, who might get up many times at night to tend to the baby. Each baby has a different sleep pattern. Some start to sleep "through the night" (for 5-6 hours at a time) by 2 to 3 months of age, but some don't. How Should Babies Sleep? During the first weeks of a baby's life, some parents choose to room-share.
Room-sharing is when you place your baby's crib, portable crib, play yard, or bassinet in your own bedroom instead of in a separate nursery. This keeps baby nearby and helps with feeding, comforting, and monitoring at night. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing. While room-sharing is safe, putting your infant to sleep in bed with you is not. Bed-sharing increases the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and other sleep-related deaths. Follow these recommendations for a safe sleep environment for your little one: Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, not on the stomach or side. The rate of SIDS has gone way down since the AAP introduced this recommendation in 1992. Use a firm sleep surface. Cover the mattress with a sheet that fits snugly. Make sure your crib, bassinet, or play yard meets current safety standards. Do not put anything else in the crib or bassinet. Keep plush toys, pillows, blankets, unfitted sheets, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, and bumper pads out of your baby's sleep area.
Dress your infant for the room temperature, and don't overbundle. Watch for signs of overheating, such as sweating or feeling hot to the touch. Keep your baby away from smokers. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of SIDS. Put your baby to sleep with a pacifier. But if your baby rejects the pacifier, don't force it. If the pacifier falls out during sleep, you don't have to replace it. If you're breastfeeding, wait until breastfeeding is firmly established. Helping Your Newborn Sleep Newborns follow their own schedule. Over the next couple of weeks to months, you and your baby will begin to settle into a routine. It may take a few weeks for your baby's brain to know the difference between night and day. Unfortunately, there are no tricks to speed this up, but it helps to keep things quiet and calm during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes. Try to keep the lights low and resist the urge to play with or talk to your baby. This will send the message that nighttime is for sleeping.
If possible, let your baby fall asleep in the crib at night so your little one learns that it's the place for sleep. Don't try to keep your baby up during the day in the hopes that he or she will sleep better at night. Overly tired infants often have more trouble sleeping at night than those who've had enough sleep during the day. If your newborn is fussy it's OK to rock, cuddle, and sing as your baby settles down. For the first months of your baby's life, "spoiling" is definitely not a problem. (In fact, newborns who are held or carried during the day tend to have less colic and fussiness.) When to Call the Doctor While most parents can expect their newborn to sleep or catnap a lot during the day, the range of what is normal is quite wide. If you have questions about your baby's sleep, talk with your doctor.Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MDMoses baskets, cribs and co-sleepers are designed for newborn babies to sleep in for the first few months. They provide cosy and reassuring confined space for your child.
However it’s not essential that your new baby sleep in one. It’s fine for a newborn to use a cot or cotbed from the start.The Lullaby Trust (formerly known as the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths - FSID) says the safest place for your baby to sleep is on his back, on his own sleep surface, in the same room as you, for at least the first six months. A Moses basket, co-sleeer or crib can take up much less space than a cot or cotbed, meaning it’s easier to fit in your bedroom, and this is one of the main reasons some parents opt to use one.Another reason some parents buy a Moses basket or crib is because they feel their newborn looks a bit small and ‘lost’ in a cot or cotbed. Co-sleeping cots are becoming increasingly popular. They allow you to keep your baby close, while following the NICE guidelines to have your baby in a separate crib or cot.When deciding whether to buy a Moses basket, crib, co-sleeper or if to head straight for a cot/cotbed, consider where your baby will have daytime naps.
Will you be happy to leave him in a bedroom on his own, or would a Moses basket that can be carried from room to room make you feel better?Cost may also be a factor. If you plan to have more children or can sell the Moses basket/crib, the additional expenditure may be worth it.If you’ve made the decision to buy a Moses basket or crib, you then have to choose between the two. A Moses basket is recommended for a baby up to 3-4 months, though this can be longer, depending on the weight, length and mobility of your baby. Once your baby starts to pull himself upright, a Moses basket is not a safe place. Such a short lifespan can make it an expensive purchase if bought new. Second-hand Moses baskets are relatively cheap, although it’s advisable to buy a new mattress, and the basket may not come with dressings (the fabric that covers the basket) and bedding. Separate dressings can cost more than buying a brand-new dressed basket. FSID advises that if you use a Moses basket, ensure it only has a thin lining.
Most baskets are woven from palm, though maize, cornhusk, and the more durable and expensive wicker are available, too.Carrying handles are a useful feature, enabling you to move the basket around the house so your baby is always close by. Check that the handles are strong (particularly when buying second-hand) and meet in the middle so you can carry the basket with one hand and place the other underneath for support. Ensure that the handles will fold down the outside of the basket and won’t flop onto your baby. A new Moses basket usually comes with a foam mattress, set of bedding and sometimes a hood, so there’s no additional costs. You may, however, want to buy a separate stand that places the basket at a more convenient level next to the bed. Rocking stands for Moses baskets are also available.Once your baby is ready to move into a bigger bed, placing the basket into the cot/cotbed for a few days will make the transition easier. More spacious and expensive than a Moses basket, a crib has a slightly longer lifespan, lasting to about 6 months.
However, a crib shouldn’t be used once your baby becomes active. This short life span means it can be an expensive outlay, unless you plan to use it for future children or sell on. A crib is usually made of wood, either natural or painted, and may come flat-packed. Some have rails for fabric drapes at the head end, though bedding and a mattress often have to be purchased separately, adding to the cost.A crib can have a rocking or gliding action, to help send your baby to sleep. Some babies don’t like this motion and others can be wrigglers and cause the crib to sway, but most rocking or gliding cribs can be locked into a stationary position.As opposed to the solid body of a Moses basket, a crib usually has bars or slats, enabling you to see your baby more easily when you’re lying in bed. Being larger than a Moses basket but smaller than a cot, a crib may give your baby a feeling of space but also security.The downside of a crib is that it’s not portable like a Moses basket.