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Prevent Overheating: Overheating is considered a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), so while you want your baby to be comfortable, it is imperative to avoid over-bundling them.Avoid soft mattresses, pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, and other soft or loose objects. Firm Sleep Surface: The best sleep environment for a baby is a safety-approved crib with a firm mattress and snug fitted sheet.Back to Sleep: Babies younger than 12 months old should always be placed on their back to sleep, even for short naps.The American Academy of Pediatrics has developed a list of research-based tips for helping infants sleep more safely during their first year of life: Babies may cry when they are feeling too cold. An easy way to tell if the room is at a comfortable temperature for your baby is if you also find it comfortable.
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Be particularly careful not to overdress a baby with a fever, cold, or infection.īabies should not sleep in a room that is too hot or too cold. If they are hot to the touch, remove one layer. You can check your baby’s temperature by looking for telltale signs like sweating and by placing a hand on their chest. Looser clothing may become a fire hazard, and zipper pulls and buttons may be a choking hazard. To avoid the risk of pajamas riding up over your baby’s face, opt for snug-fitting clothing. Avoid covering your baby’s head and face when putting them to sleep, as this can increase the risk of suffocation and overheating. It is not safe for babies to sleep while wearing hats, hoods, or any type of head covering. Is It Safe for Babies to Sleep With Hats? To prevent this from happening, stop swaddling your baby for sleep after the first time you see them trying to roll over. If a baby rolls over while swaddled, they may become trapped face-down. Once babies begin trying to roll over, swaddling can become highly dangerous. Be sure the swaddle is not able to come loose and cover the baby’s head or neck. Commercial swaddles may have Velcro or other fasteners, which should be securely attached. You can leave the arms out or include them in the swaddle based on your baby’s personal needs. If you do swaddle your baby, the AAP recommends wrapping the blanket more firmly around the chest and more loosely around the hips and knees. It may be appropriate for very young infants who are laid on their back to sleep, although there is no evidence that it reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Swaddling is the practice of snugly wrapping a light blanket around the baby. Instead, infant sleep clothing, such as sleep sacks, is designed to reduce the chances of trapping or smothering your baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against using blankets. You may want to combine multiple layers, such as a long-sleeved onesie together with a sleep sack. In cold weather, you can dress your baby in footed pajamas and a wearable blanket, otherwise known as a sleep sack. On very warm nights, your baby may also be comfortable in a diaper with a lightweight swaddle, as long as they are not in an air conditioned room.
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In the summer months, you can dress your baby in a onesie or baby pajamas made of breathable materials such as muslin. You may choose to give them one additional layer beyond what an adult would wear, but no more. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends dressing babies in clothes similar to what an adult would feel comfortable wearing in the same temperature. For example, babies often sleep in sleep sacks and onesies. However, there are several important considerations to take into account.Ī baby should sleep in clothing intended for infant sleep in order to stay warm at night, since babies are not supposed to sleep with blankets or bedding apart from tight-fitted bed sheets. Dressing your baby for sleep may seem simple compared to trying to get them to sleep through the night.
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