Every new parent who brings home a newborn is concerned about the health and safety of their infant. As a homeowner you will have made preparations perhaps decorated a new nursery and bought home a crib. Once the baby is home then worries turn to how to keep baby comfortable and safe at home.  Here is a blog to help you think through some key pointers and safety tips to keep baby healthy, comfortable and safe in their crib.

How To Ensure That Your Baby Is Comfortable And Safe

Ensuring that the baby is safe and comfortable in the crib in the nursery is so important because it can protect your baby from sudden infant death syndrome. There is big importance around sleep time so let’s review how to ensure that the baby is safe in the crib.

Safe sleeping position

Babies should sleep on their backs for all sleep times (naps and at night) until their first birthday. It’s known that babies who sleep on their back are much less likely to fall prey to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) than babies who sleep on their sides or their stomachs. The biggest problem with the side position is that the baby can roll more easily onto the stomach. In addition to this, most parents are worried that the babies will choke when they are on their backs. But many studies have shown that their gag reflex and anatomy will keep that from happening. Even babies with specific conditions such as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux) should sleep on their backs too. 

Newborns should be placed skin-to-skin to their mother as soon as they are born. After that, however, they can be placed on their backs in the bassinet. This can give the mother a break when she needs to sleep or can’t do skin-to-skin. It should be noted that some preemies may need to sleep on their stomachs, but this is just a temporary situation during their NICU stay. Another thing to be mindful about is that some babies will roll onto their stomachs which is why parents should always place their baby to sleep on the back and put pillows that will support the baby and prevent it from rolling. It should be noted that these pillows should in no way threaten to block the baby’s airflow.

Make sure the crib is safe

Another very important way to ensure that your baby is comfortable and safe is to baby proof the cot. Make sure the crib itself is baby-proofed, secure and safe for use. It’s worth noting yet again that under no circumstances should the baby sleep in any other position than on their back. There is a high risk of choking when they sleep on their side. Moving back to crib safety, one of the most important things is to pay special attention to the mattress.

As many professionals note, investing in top crib mattresses means that the baby has a firm and safe mattress. Plus always use a tightly fitted sheet. Furthermore, the mattress should fit perfectly in the bassinet. Never use soft bedding, pillows, loose sheets, blankets, toys, or comforters in the crib or sleep area. If not supervised, they could block the baby’s airflow. And in a few rare cases this could lead to suffocation. Another very important thing to note is that babies should not sleep on adult beds, armchairs, couches, or other soft surfaces. They need to sleep exclusively on the firm mattress in their crib. In addition to this, babies should never sleep in the same bed as their parents, as there is a high risk of suffocation.

Develop a routine

Aside from the safe sleeping positions and the safe sleeping space, these additional elements need to be considered to make the baby as comfortable and as safe as possible. One of the important elements is the temperature and keeping the room cool is the key because overheating is a known risk factor for SIDS. It may be useful to use a fan for air circulation. Other important elements are the noise, lighting, hunger, and bedtime routine. The noise levels should mimic those of the sounds in the womb which is somewhat of a combination of hum and white noise (as well as muffled sounds). This can be replicated using a white noise machine or simply using an app. 

Hunger is a concern

Furthermore, your smell should feel familiar and comforting for the little one. You can try sleeping with their sleeper or swaddle blanket before use to give it your scent. Hunger is also a very important element because no one sleeps well when they are hungry. This is especially true for newborns, (because they are hungry all the time). The babies should be fed every 2 – 3 hours, which translates to roughly 8 to 12 times a day. Last but not least, a bedtime routine is very helpful to allow your baby to understand what is happening. This is why it’s important because it will signal that it is time to sleep.

A final note on how to keep baby comfortable and safe and safe at home

These are some of the most important things to consider to keep the baby safe and comfortable in their crib. Please note that having a firm mattress and placing the baby on the back are two key points to remember. In fact they are two of the most important things to know and implement in their sleeping routine.

FURTHER READING FOR NEW PARENTS, HOMEOWNERS & PETOWNERS

At Housesitmatch.com we like to offer useful and practical articles on topics for our readers. In this selection we offer you a number of suitable pieces from our own blog on renovating and decorating a home.

Baby bedroom checklist – For first time parents

Bringing baby home – Toy mistakes to avoid

Dream home – How to build your own

New home features you didn’t know you would want

Housesitters keep pets safe at home and save money

What a housesitter does – Top 10 responsibilities