Helping your Baby Sleep Safely * Unless your doctor or health visitor tells you otherwise you should always put your baby down to sleep on his back. * Position your baby with his feet at the foot of the cot, securely tuck the covers under the mattress and make sure that they only reach the baby's shoulders so that he can't wriggle under the covers. * Your baby's hands and feet may feel cold, this is perfectly normal. Do not check your baby's body temperature by touching his hands or feet ... instead feel his neck or his tummy. * Do not cover your baby's head when you put him in the cot as a baby loses excess heat through his head to regulate his body temperature. * When your baby reaches 5 or 6 months old he will begin to roll over which is natural. Do not prevent your baby from rolling over however you should still put him down to sleep on his back. * Make sure that you remove your baby's outdoor clothing when you bring him inside even if this means waking him up. * Do not smoke in the same room as your baby, make sure your visitors understand the importance of this rule as baby's who are exposed to cigarette smoke have a greatly increased chance of suffering cot death. * If you are concerned about your baby's health seek medical advice straight away. Trust your instincts. Your Baby's Bedding * Your baby's mattress should be clean, fit the cot well and have a waterproof cover. If you have inherited a second hand cot you must buy a new mattress. * A pillow should not be used until your baby is 12 months old. A baby should lie flat to help his spine develop properly and he could suffocate if he rolls over face down in to the pillow. * Duvets should not be used until your baby is 12 months old. * Take care with baby quilts to ensure that your baby doesn't get too hot. * If you fold a baby blanket it counts as two blankets. * Once your baby can roll over or sit up unaided remove the cot bumper to avoid him getting caught in the ties or the padding. * If your baby is unwell he may be hot and feverish and will need less covers. The Nursery * Use a room thermometer in the nursery above the cot. Try to keep the room at a18'C / 65'F. * Do not put the cot in direct sunlight, next to a radiator or in a draft. * Never use a hot water bottle in your baby's cot. * Do not put stickers or transfers inside the cot, or anywhere that your baby can get hold of them from the cot, to avoid choking accidents. Your Baby's Mattress * We cannot stress enough that it is very important to have the correct size mattress. The gap between the mattress and cot sides and ends should not be more than 4 cm when the mattress is pushed tightly to one side. * If it is any larger than this, your baby could get an arm or leg trapped in the gap and could be dangerous, even fatal. * The cot should be assembled before measuring for the mattress. Once the cot is assembled, accurately measure the interior length & the width of the cot base. The mattress must be a snug fit & absolutely no smaller than 4 cm of these measurements. * It should not be too tight as that would impair the use of the drop–side action. * E.G. if your measurements are 142 x 72 cm – the smallest mattress you could safely have would be 138 x 68 cm – we'd suggest you had 140 x 70 cm. * Turn the mattress regularly to help maintain its shape & keep it aired. * Buy a new mattress for every new baby. That way, you can be sure your baby is sleeping in the cleanest, most comfortable environment possible. * A safe cot mattress is one that is the right size for the cot, is firm and clean. A soft mattress can increase the risk of SIDS if baby rolls over onto the tummy. Always remove the polythene wrapping from the mattress. * Never put soft bedding under the bottom sheet as this makes the sleeping surface too soft. * Never place your baby in a cot which is near to curtains or curtain cords as a baby could become entangled. |
