Expecting a child is an incredible gift and a joy! We have all kinds of celebrations gearing us up for welcoming the newest addition to our families.
The one thing on everyone's mind as soon as that adorable, beautiful baby is here is... sleep! Whether you're worried about how much sleep your baby is getting or how much sleep you're not getting, you're thinking about it! So, let's talk through some tips and get you back on track to some decent sleep. This will begin a series where we'll go over some tips towards proper Sleep Training. It's never too early to start building good sleep habits! Let's start with the basics...
Sleep Tip No. 1: Babies must always sleep on their back!
Have you heard this one before? You may have, or you may not have. You might have even heard the opposite! Any idea why it's recommended that babies sleep on their back? No? That's why we're here!
At the forefront of any parent's mind - especially any of our new parents out there - is safety, and that's just what this tip is about. When placing babies down to sleep on their back during nap time and during the night, you are significantly reducing the probability of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). There's no easy way to say it... SIDS is rare, but it's still scary. Putting your baby on their back whenever they lie down to sleep is one simple way you can lower the risk of SIDS.
Although there is a lot about SIDS that we still don't know, we do know that the safest sleeping position for babies is on their back. Part of the reasoning behind this is simply human anatomy. A common myth about babies sleeping on their back is that they will choke if they spit up while sleeping, but that is not the case! When lying on our back, our windpipe (trachea / tube to the lungs) is over top of the esophagus (tube to the stomach); and because of our good friend gravity, anything that may come up from the esophagus will not be able to reach the windpipe leaving the airways clear.
As you can see in the photo above, if your baby is sleeping on their stomach, however, gravity will not be of any help and the potential for choking is much higher. The moral of the story is... anytime you place your baby down to sleep, put them on their back! It's recommended that you continue to place your baby down to sleep on their back until they are at least 1 year old, or until they can flip themselves over both from back to stomach and from stomach to back.
Now, you may find that your baby fusses a little when you place them on their back for nap time or bedtime. Not to worry! There are a few things you can do to make your baby feel more comfortable on their back.
Swaddling - Until your newborn can roll over on their own, keep them comfy and cozy in a swaddle. This will give your baby that snuggly feel they may be craving since being in the mother's womb.
Pacifiers - Giving your baby a pacifier when you put them down also reduces the risk of SIDS, because the sucking motion reminds them to breathe.
Consistency - Every time you put your baby down to sleep, place them on their back. Once it becomes routine, your baby will know exactly what's going on, and will drift peacefully into sleep on their back.
In our next post, we'll talk more about a safe sleeping environment for your newborn to continue on the path back to better sleep for your baby (and you!).
If you want to read a little further into back sleeping take a look at these websites: