One of the many categories of people that worry excessively is parents, especially new parents. Let’s be honest, there’s actually a lot of things to worry about being a parent. As parents, there are a lot of things you should start to take into consideration, especially things that you may have overlooked in the past.
For them, safety becomes paramount and one of the main things parents are often concerned about is the fear of the death of their child.
There are a couple of stories, and news about kids, mostly kids below the age of one who die in their sleep. No one wants to experience such a thing, so it is definitely worth worrying about.
Scientists aren’t exactly sure what causes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), but they do have ideas that the sleeping environment, development of the child in the womb, and external factors like smoke and living conditions can increase the risk of sudden death in infants. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent this from happening which is what we’ll look at in this article.
How to Keep Babies Safe While They Sleep
In all of this, being vigilant is key to stopping sudden infant deaths. It’s true that there’s no rest for parents, especially in the early stages of child development between the newborn phase and the toddler phase. Because those are the times when kids are the most helpless and for the toddler phase, restless and sometimes, reckless. But to make sure your baby is safe while sleeping, you need to consider doing the following if you haven’t already.
Practice Safe Sleeping
Allow Your Child To Sleep on Their Back: Putting babies to sleep on their backs makes it easier for them to breathe easier. When babies are placed on their stomachs, they can block their own airways or breathe in their own carbon dioxide which increases the risk of sudden infant death.
Firm and Flat Sleeping Surface: Sleeping on a soft surface is really comfy but not for babies. As an adult you may need soft bedding to help relax the tense muscles of your body after a long day and to have a good night’s sleep. For babies, soft cushions and bedding can suffocate them if the baby’s face gets pressed into them. So it’s best you opt for a firm bed when shopping for child bedding.
No loose Stuff in the Crib: While toys, blankets, and excessive pillows look way too cute when arranged in a baby’s crib, the babies don’t actually need them when they sleep. These excessive toys, and blankets can cover the baby’s face which makes it difficult for them to breathe, leading to suffocation.
Share a Room, Not a Bed: I know some parents are in love with the idea of cuddling their babies while they sleep, but they aren’t supposed to sleep on the same bed as you; that’s why they have a crib. It’s fine to share a room with them where you can easily coo at them from your bed, and keep a close eye on them. Sharing beds with them can lead to accidental suffocation or strangulation if you accidentally roll over them.
Pacifier Use: Use a pacifier for sleep time which will help the baby’s airways to be open and reduce the risk of sudden death.
Prenatal Care
Always go for regular prenatal checkups to ensure that both the baby and you as a mother are safe throughout pregnancy.
These prenatal visits can catch any potential problems with the baby earlier on which will reduce premature birth, which is a factor in SIDS.
Breastfeeding
When babies have a weak immune system, it increases the risk of sudden death. However, breastfeeding the baby helps to boost the immune system and provide the child with the essential nutrients that baby formula may not have.
Immunization
Getting your baby vaccinated protects them from childhood illnesses like whooping cough, which can lead to a bigger health condition or even worse death.
Don’t Overheat Your Baby
One of the several factors of SIDS aside from premature births is overheatig. Babies cannot regulate their body temperature as well as adults, so it’s best to wear lighter clothes for night time, and keep the room cool. If a baby is too hot, they might have trouble breathing or waking up.
Bottom Line
Let’s be real, being a parent, especially for the first time, can be really stressful, and one of the biggest worries is making sure your baby is safe while they sleep.
Even though the cause of SIDS is still kind of a mystery, there are definitely things you can do to lower the risks.
Simple stuff like always putting your baby on their back to sleep, keeping the crib free of loose items, and making sure the room isn’t too hot can make a huge difference.
