One of the most important decisions new parents can make is that of where and how the new baby will sleep. This most important of steps occurs even before the baby is born, frequently with the selection of a crib.
When buying a crib, you should opt for a new one instead of a used one whenever possible, and never use a crib manufactured before 1988 (when current safety standards were put into effect by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission). It is estimated that as many as 40 infant deaths and thousands of injuries occur each year due to older cribs, which may have missing hardware, slats set too far apart, corner posts on which clothing could get caught, and headboards or footboards with cutouts that could entrap children. New cribs should all have slats no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart, and with head and footboards free of cutouts. When putting the crib together, too, you need to take care that all screws and bolts are secure. Loose ones could allow the mattress to dip down a bit, and a child could slip into the gap and suffocate.
If you choose a crib, you will then need a crib mattress – make sure it’s a firm one that fits the crib properly. You can test for this by sliding your fingers between the mattress and the sides of the crib-if more than 2 fingers fit, the mattress is too loose. You should also avoid putting any type of soft bedding materials into the crib. It is recommended that you dress the baby in a sleeper instead of using a blanket, as some infants can become tangled in blankets or cover their faces with them and suffocate. If you do feel the need for a blanket, position the baby with his feet at the foot of the crib, and tuck the blanket around the bottom of the mattress. Do not allow the blanket to come up above the baby’s chest. You should also only use snug-fitting crib sheets, the fitted kind with elastic at the corners. Flat or oversized sheets (or old ones with worn-out elastic) could become loose from the mattress, ride up and suffocate the baby.
It is also recommended that you not place pillows or stuffed animals into a baby’s crib – take all toys out at naptime, as you would not want these to pose a suffocation hazard. Never use cords or elastic to tie any toys to the bed – nor should you hand any objects such as diaper bags or mobiles from or near the crib, as the cords might pose a strangulation hazard. You should never tie a pacifier on a string around baby’s neck for the same reason. And you should avoid using bumper pads, as they don’t really do anything to protect babies, but they could themselves pose a suffocation hazard and their ties a strangulation hazard.
Bassinets and cradles should only be used for the youngest and smallest babies – baby will need to move to a crib of his own at around 3 months (if you haven’t already started him out in one). The biggest danger with bassinets and cradles is the possibility of babies falling out of them if they tip over or because the bottom breaks or collapses. When shopping for these items, be sure to look for one with a sturdy bottom, a wide, stable base, and legs with good locks to prevent accidental folding. You also need to follow the guidelines on the weight and size of babies who can safely use the cradle or bassinet. Mattresses in these should also be firm and fit as snugly as should crib mattresses.
One option you might be considering instead of a crib or bassinet is that of co-sleeping, also known as “the family bed” This means that the baby actually sleeps right in the parents’ bed with them. This is usually quite a safe practice, as long as certain guidelines are followed here as well:
• Use a large enough bed (queen or king-sized if child will be sleeping with both parents; full will do if it’s just baby and mom)
• Take precautions to ensure baby does not fall out of bed. If using guard rails, mesh ones are preferable to those with slats.
• Place baby next to mother-between mother and wall. Mothers seem to have a better awareness of their baby’s presence than do fathers. Babies should not co-sleep with babysitters or other caretakers.
• As with cribs, cradles, or bassinets, make sure baby is placed to sleep on his back and not covered with your blanket. You may need to leave the blanket and sheet off the bed altogether (except for a fitted bottom sheet) and cover yourself and baby separately with appropriate-sized blankets or sleeper pajamas (yes, they make them in adult sizes, too). With all those bodies in the bed, you need to make extra sure that baby does not overheat.
• Do not co-sleep if either adult is obese, has a sleep disorder (such as sleep apnea), or is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Many instances of babies being injured in co-sleeping arrangements occur with a parent whose judgment is impaired.
• Do not co-sleep on a waterbed - the mattress you sleep on needs to be fairly firm.
• Do not co-sleep on a sofa - baby could slip between the cracks in the cushions or between the cushion and back of the sofa.
• Do not wear perfume or strong deodorant or hairspray (may impair baby’s breathing) or lingerie with ties longer than 8” while co-sleeping.
• If you are unsure about having baby in the same bed, but would like him nearby, try a bedside co-sleeper. There is also a sort of nest (basically a padded, soft box) in which baby can sleep-you would place this nest on your mattress, but it provides a little barrier between baby and adult bodies.
Whichever option you choose for baby’s sleeping arrangements, make sure you choose wisely and always take precautions to ensure that baby sleeps safe as well as sound.
