The Do’s and Don’ts for Safe Baby Bedding
Thursday, July 21st, 2011There are so many options for baby bedding. Picking out the baby’s bedding is probably one of the most exciting preparations parents make. However, most expecting parents are not aware that some baby bedding and practices are quite unsafe. This article explores the do’s and the don’ts of baby bedding. Pay close attention- your baby’s safety could depend on this.
Five things that will make your baby much safer
1. Do choose a safe crib: Older cribs might be cheaper or even free, but they are not worth the risk. Many older cribs may be painted with lead paint, may have wider bar gaps, that a baby’s head can get stuck in, and may not have high enough bars for an older baby.
2. Do use securely fitted sheets and mattress: Gaps between a mattress and the edge of the crib allows the potential for a baby’s head or limb to get stuck. Parents should choose sheets that fit tightly onto the mattress. Fitted sheets with elastic that goes all the way around the mattress usually works best. To avoid unsafe sheets parents can always choose a baby sleeping bag, or sleeping suit. For added safety, try crib sheets that slip onto the mattress like a pillowcase, or brands that attach to the crib bars. In addition babies with sensitive skin should have sheets made from organic cotton.
3. Do put your baby on their back: SIDS research has discovered that babies are more prone to suffocate if they sleep on their stomach or on their sides.
4. Do become aware of baby bumper risks: Many child care organizations like The American Academy of Pediatrics, SIDS First Candle Alliance and Health Canada believe the risks associated with crib bumpers far outweigh the benefits. Bumpers increase the risk of smothering, entanglement, and strangulation. However, most crib bedding sets still come with a bumper. Many parents choose to keep the bumpers because it matches their nursery set. However, parents need to ask themselves if their matching cartoon character or ladybug nursery set is more important then their baby’s safety. There are four things parents can choose to do with a bumper:
- Use bumpers that surround each crib bar, like those produced by Go Mama Go Designs.
- Use a well made traditional bumper.
- Use one of BreathableBaby’s breathable mesh bumpers.
- Forget about the bumper all together.
If you choose option two, the well made traditional bumper, then keep these tips in mind:
- Avoid fluffy pads that can cause re-breathing of air or suffocation.
- Avoid gaps or overlaps in the padding to decrease the risk of a baby getting stuck
- Avoid bumpers that only attach at the top. A bumper needs 12-16 ties or Velcro tabs sewn onto the bumper to avoid a baby getting trapped. If there are not enough ties more should be sewn on.
- Avoid tie strings that are too long or too short. They should be 7-9 inches to ensure that they do not come undone or pose a risk of strangulation, or choking.
5. Do keep your baby’s room free of tobacco smoke. A baby’s room should have no tobacco smoke in it before they arrive or while they are using the room. Tobacco smoke has proven to be a potential factor in SIDS.
Four Pitfalls of baby bedding
1. Don’t let your baby’s head get covered: Asphyxia and overheating can both be caused by a blanket or a sheet covering a baby’s head. This is a known cause of SIDS.
To avoid this you can place your baby at the bottom of the bed. This way they can not slide down under the covers. A baby sleeping bag or sleeping suit will get rid of this risk all together and cannot be kicked off in the middle of the night. Also soft toys, pillows, and anything else with a soft surface should be left out of the crib.
2. Don’t place crib near a window or furniture: Cribs should be placed away from windows and furniture. When a baby gets older they will climb on anything, make sure that all furniture is out of reach of your baby.
3. Don’t sleep in the same bed with your baby: Many mothers choose to sleep in the same bed as their baby. Not only will this make it harder to get your baby to sleep on their own later on, but it also can cause accidental smothering or crushing.
4. Don’t overheat your baby: Many parents accidentally overheat their baby in an effort to keep them from getting cold. This is a dangerous habit, because overheating has been known to be a factor in SIDS. Parents should become aware of the Tog rating on their baby’s bedding to ensure that they do not overheat their baby. Tog is an international standard of measurement for thermal effectiveness. A safe tog value for your baby is 65 degrees or 8 togs Fahrenheit. The tog sum should include the value of all the individual layers, including your baby’s clothing.
A baby is the most precious gift you will ever be given. As good stewards of this beautiful gift let us be aware of what is and what is not safe for our babies.
About the Author
Alan Riley is the publisher of www.beautifulbeddingsets.com, an internet site dedicated to meeting the bedding needs of people with diverse tastes and diverse needs. This site not only features baby bedding sets, but also specially designed sets by JoJo Designs. The Riley family is from Melbourne Australia, a city renown for its trees and gardens. Alan enjoys spending his leisure time sailing, which always gets him ready for a good night’s sleep. He and his family also enjoy being active members of their church.
Category: Kid Tips, Parenting | 
Tags: babies, infants, keeping baby safe, safe bedding, safe cribs, tips for infant bedding | 
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