Here are three expert-backed tips to consider, including recommendations for safe baby products to use during sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Create a safe sleep environment<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn the US, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) \u2018Safe Sleep\u2019 guidelines on how to put babies to sleep, sleep environments, and sleep products are the gold standard when it comes to keeping babies safe during sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In large, that\u2019s because the group’s suggested practices reduce the risk of a condition called sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which is responsible for approximately 3,500 deaths a year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The below recommendations from the AAP<\/a> can reduce the risk of sleep-related infant death:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Place infants on their backs for sleep in their own sleep space with no other people. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Use a crib, bassinet, or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet. Avoid sleep on a couch, armchair, or in a seating device, like a swing or car safety seat (except while riding in the car). <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Keep loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, bumpers, and other soft items out of the sleep space. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Breastfeed<\/a> if possible and avoid smoking.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The AAP also recommends room sharing\u2014aka having your baby\u2019s crib or bassinet in your room\u2014for at least the first six months of the baby\u2019s life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think through bed-sharing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The AAP doesn’t recommend<\/a> bed-sharing with babies, noting that the practice can increase the risk of SIDS<\/a> and pose dangers to infants. <\/p>\n\n\n\nYet, according to some data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a>, about 61% of parents report bed-sharing with their baby<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe AAP’s safe sleep guidelines matter and have been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS\u2014but it’s also important to remember that babies sleep and have slept in different ways all over the world for millions of years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many parents who bedshare utilize the \u2018Safe Sleep 7\u2019<\/a>\u2014a guideline of practices that includes breastfeeding, not smoking, placing a baby on their back on a firm mattress, and having \u201cno soft mattress, no extra pillows, no toys, no tight or heavy covers\u201d as well as a sleeping environment that’s \u201cclear of strings and cords\u201d with \u201cgaps firmly filled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nKnow how to choose safe baby sleep products<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBeyond creating a safe sleep environment for your baby, you also want to be sure you’re choosing safe sleep products. But you’ve likely noticed that there are allllll<\/em> kinds of products marketed around infant sleep; choosing which baby sleep products to use can feel overwhelming. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAshanti Woods<\/a>, MD, a pediatrician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, says that when choosing any sleep product for your baby, \u201cthe goal and intention should be for safety.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat\u2019s why, before picking any product, it\u2019s important to familiarize yourself with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website<\/a> and check any product you\u2019re considering using during sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThis is significant as products are recalled regularly,\u201d says Woods. \u201cWe the consumers, often assume that a product is safe when we buy it from a reputable store\u2014but this list changes, and what was safe in January may be no longer safe in July. Check this list regularly and fill out the consumer cards to get notifications for your baby products.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From there? Know that while it may seem like there are endless sleep products for babies out there, these three are simple staples of safe sleep, according to experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- A crib and fitted bedding. <\/strong>\u201cBabies should sleep on a firm surface,\u201d says Woods. \u201cFirm simply means the surface does not indent when baby\u2019s body weight is placed on it. If a baby sleeps in a crib with a crib mattress<\/a>, a fitted sheet is the only \u2018bedding\u2019 or \u2018linen\u2019 in the crib. Babies should not have blankets, bumpers, or stuffed animals in the crib.\u201d Buy<\/em>: Saatva’s double-sided nontoxic crib mattress<\/span> ($355), which comes with a breathable, removable, and washable cover and Saatva\u2019s organic cotton crib sheet pair ($79)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A pacifier. <\/strong>\u201cPediatricians endorse the use of pacifiers<\/a> as they decrease the risk for SIDS,\u201d says Woods. Just remember not to attach the pacifier to any portion of your baby\u2019s clothing; that could pose a risk of strangulation, he notes. Buy<\/em>: <\/em>Parent favorite Philips Avent Soothie pacifier<\/a> ($12 for four), made from BPA-free silicone; it’s used in hospitals nationwide<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A swaddle.\u00a0<\/strong>These products or cloths used to wrap infants are a proven method to help babies sleep a little bit longer, says Woods. If you swaddle, make sure your baby isn’t overheating (sweating while bundled), make sure the swaddle isn’t too tight (your baby\u2019s legs should still be comfortably in the \u201cfrog-leg\u201d position), and make sure your baby isn’t too old to be swaddled (when a baby can roll from their back onto their stomach, they’re too old to be in the swaddle), notes Woods.\u00a0Buy<\/em>: If you deliver in a hospital, you’ll likely receive some swaddling blankets that you can use to wrap your baby tightly. For a specific swaddling product, consider\u00a0Happiest Baby\u2019s Sleepea swaddle<\/a>\u00a0($15), a top-rated swaddle that’s made with 100% organic cotton and has versatile features like a velcro strap, a two-way zipper, and arm openings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n
Choose the best crib mattress for your baby<\/p>\n \n \n \n \n \n ![\"saatva](\"https:\/\/blog-staging.saatva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/crib-mattress-1024x515.jpg\")
\n <\/a>\n\n \n \n Crib Mattress<\/a>\n <\/h4>\n\n \nThis dual-sided crib mattress is designed with the unique sleep needs of babies and toddlers in mind. Handcrafted with a hypoallergenic cover made with organic cotton, GOTS\u00ae certified organic wool, and recycled steel coils. <\/p>\n\n\n
\n \n Shop Now\n <\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\nFAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat is the safest thing for a baby to sleep in?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Babies should sleep on a flat, firm crib mattress inside a crib or bassinet, with a fitted sheet. There should be no blankets, bumpers, or stuffed animals in the crib. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out more helpful content for parents and families from Cassie Shortsleeve:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- 6 Common Questions About Room Sharing for Kids, Answered<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 7 Tips to Transition Your Child From Crib to Bed<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 6 Travel Sleep Tips All Parents of Babies and Toddlers Need<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 6 Nighttime Potty Training Hacks From a Pediatrician<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sleep is a hot-button topic for new parents\u2014for good reason. In the early days of parenting, there\u2019s little sleep to be had. Babies need (and get) a lot of sleep, though their sleep needs don\u2019t quite line up with the leep needs of adults. Ask someone about baby sleep? It can seem that you get a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":31600,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[391,389],"tags":[],"coauthors":[430],"guest":[],"host":[],"class_list":["post-31599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sleep-family","category-sleep-health"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/82"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31599"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31599\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31710,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31599\/revisions\/31710"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31599"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=31599"},{"taxonomy":"guest","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guest?post=31599"},{"taxonomy":"host","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host?post=31599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- \n
- Place infants on their backs for sleep in their own sleep space with no other people. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Use a crib, bassinet, or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet. Avoid sleep on a couch, armchair, or in a seating device, like a swing or car safety seat (except while riding in the car). <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Keep loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, bumpers, and other soft items out of the sleep space. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Breastfeed<\/a> if possible and avoid smoking.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The AAP also recommends room sharing\u2014aka having your baby\u2019s crib or bassinet in your room\u2014for at least the first six months of the baby\u2019s life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think through bed-sharing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The AAP doesn’t recommend<\/a> bed-sharing with babies, noting that the practice can increase the risk of SIDS<\/a> and pose dangers to infants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet, according to some data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a>, about 61% of parents report bed-sharing with their baby<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The AAP’s safe sleep guidelines matter and have been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS\u2014but it’s also important to remember that babies sleep and have slept in different ways all over the world for millions of years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many parents who bedshare utilize the \u2018Safe Sleep 7\u2019<\/a>\u2014a guideline of practices that includes breastfeeding, not smoking, placing a baby on their back on a firm mattress, and having \u201cno soft mattress, no extra pillows, no toys, no tight or heavy covers\u201d as well as a sleeping environment that’s \u201cclear of strings and cords\u201d with \u201cgaps firmly filled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Know how to choose safe baby sleep products<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Beyond creating a safe sleep environment for your baby, you also want to be sure you’re choosing safe sleep products. But you’ve likely noticed that there are allllll<\/em> kinds of products marketed around infant sleep; choosing which baby sleep products to use can feel overwhelming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ashanti Woods<\/a>, MD, a pediatrician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, says that when choosing any sleep product for your baby, \u201cthe goal and intention should be for safety.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s why, before picking any product, it\u2019s important to familiarize yourself with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website<\/a> and check any product you\u2019re considering using during sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is significant as products are recalled regularly,\u201d says Woods. \u201cWe the consumers, often assume that a product is safe when we buy it from a reputable store\u2014but this list changes, and what was safe in January may be no longer safe in July. Check this list regularly and fill out the consumer cards to get notifications for your baby products.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From there? Know that while it may seem like there are endless sleep products for babies out there, these three are simple staples of safe sleep, according to experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- A crib and fitted bedding. <\/strong>\u201cBabies should sleep on a firm surface,\u201d says Woods. \u201cFirm simply means the surface does not indent when baby\u2019s body weight is placed on it. If a baby sleeps in a crib with a crib mattress<\/a>, a fitted sheet is the only \u2018bedding\u2019 or \u2018linen\u2019 in the crib. Babies should not have blankets, bumpers, or stuffed animals in the crib.\u201d Buy<\/em>: Saatva’s double-sided nontoxic crib mattress<\/span> ($355), which comes with a breathable, removable, and washable cover and Saatva\u2019s organic cotton crib sheet pair ($79)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A pacifier. <\/strong>\u201cPediatricians endorse the use of pacifiers<\/a> as they decrease the risk for SIDS,\u201d says Woods. Just remember not to attach the pacifier to any portion of your baby\u2019s clothing; that could pose a risk of strangulation, he notes. Buy<\/em>: <\/em>Parent favorite Philips Avent Soothie pacifier<\/a> ($12 for four), made from BPA-free silicone; it’s used in hospitals nationwide<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A swaddle.\u00a0<\/strong>These products or cloths used to wrap infants are a proven method to help babies sleep a little bit longer, says Woods. If you swaddle, make sure your baby isn’t overheating (sweating while bundled), make sure the swaddle isn’t too tight (your baby\u2019s legs should still be comfortably in the \u201cfrog-leg\u201d position), and make sure your baby isn’t too old to be swaddled (when a baby can roll from their back onto their stomach, they’re too old to be in the swaddle), notes Woods.\u00a0Buy<\/em>: If you deliver in a hospital, you’ll likely receive some swaddling blankets that you can use to wrap your baby tightly. For a specific swaddling product, consider\u00a0Happiest Baby\u2019s Sleepea swaddle<\/a>\u00a0($15), a top-rated swaddle that’s made with 100% organic cotton and has versatile features like a velcro strap, a two-way zipper, and arm openings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\nChoose the best crib mattress for your baby<\/p>\n \n
\n \n\n <\/a>\n\n \n Crib Mattress<\/a>\n <\/h4>\n\n \n
This dual-sided crib mattress is designed with the unique sleep needs of babies and toddlers in mind. Handcrafted with a hypoallergenic cover made with organic cotton, GOTS\u00ae certified organic wool, and recycled steel coils. <\/p>\n\n\n
\n \n Shop Now\n <\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n
FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is the safest thing for a baby to sleep in?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Babies should sleep on a flat, firm crib mattress inside a crib or bassinet, with a fitted sheet. There should be no blankets, bumpers, or stuffed animals in the crib. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out more helpful content for parents and families from Cassie Shortsleeve:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- 6 Common Questions About Room Sharing for Kids, Answered<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 7 Tips to Transition Your Child From Crib to Bed<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 6 Travel Sleep Tips All Parents of Babies and Toddlers Need<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 6 Nighttime Potty Training Hacks From a Pediatrician<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sleep is a hot-button topic for new parents\u2014for good reason. In the early days of parenting, there\u2019s little sleep to be had. Babies need (and get) a lot of sleep, though their sleep needs don\u2019t quite line up with the leep needs of adults. Ask someone about baby sleep? It can seem that you get a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":31600,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[391,389],"tags":[],"coauthors":[430],"guest":[],"host":[],"class_list":["post-31599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sleep-family","category-sleep-health"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/82"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31599"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31599\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31710,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31599\/revisions\/31710"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31599"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=31599"},{"taxonomy":"guest","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guest?post=31599"},{"taxonomy":"host","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host?post=31599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- 7 Tips to Transition Your Child From Crib to Bed<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A pacifier. <\/strong>\u201cPediatricians endorse the use of pacifiers<\/a> as they decrease the risk for SIDS,\u201d says Woods. Just remember not to attach the pacifier to any portion of your baby\u2019s clothing; that could pose a risk of strangulation, he notes. Buy<\/em>: <\/em>Parent favorite Philips Avent Soothie pacifier<\/a> ($12 for four), made from BPA-free silicone; it’s used in hospitals nationwide<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A crib and fitted bedding. <\/strong>\u201cBabies should sleep on a firm surface,\u201d says Woods. \u201cFirm simply means the surface does not indent when baby\u2019s body weight is placed on it. If a baby sleeps in a crib with a crib mattress<\/a>, a fitted sheet is the only \u2018bedding\u2019 or \u2018linen\u2019 in the crib. Babies should not have blankets, bumpers, or stuffed animals in the crib.\u201d Buy<\/em>: Saatva’s double-sided nontoxic crib mattress<\/span> ($355), which comes with a breathable, removable, and washable cover and Saatva\u2019s organic cotton crib sheet pair ($79)<\/li>\n\n\n\n