Keeping your baby’s sleeping environment safe is one of the biggest concerns that new and expecting parents have. The general recommendations are to keep your baby cot free of any kind of object, place your infant in a safe sleeping position and pay attention to the softness of the sleep surface.
In this post, we discuss the best ways to keep your baby’s sleeping environment safe so that you can sleep easy. We’ll outline safe sleeping positions, how to dress your baby for certain temperatures, as well as the importance of a high-quality cot mattress.
Remove toys from the baby cot
Toys, blankets, and comforters – no matter how small – can pose a risk of suffocation to babies. Keep your baby cot a toy-free zone and keep comforters for use during the day when you can watch your little one.
Dress your baby for the temperature of the room as opposed to using blankets – see below for guidelines.
Keep the room cool
It’s recommended that your baby sleeps in an environment of between 20-22 degrees as a way to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). As it’s not always easy to control the heat of a room, here are a few guidelines for how to dress your baby depending on the temperature:
| Room temperature | How to dress your baby |
| 27+ degrees | Nappy |
| 26 degrees | Short-sleeve bodysuit |
| 24-25 degrees | Short-sleeve bodysuit + sleeping bag |
| 22-23 degrees | Sleepsuit + sleeping bag |
| 20-21 degrees | Short-sleeve bodysuit + sleepsuit + sleeping bag |
| 18-19 degrees | Long-sleeve bodysuit + sleepsuit + sleeping bag |
| 16-17 degrees | Long-sleeve bodysuit + sleepsuit + sleeping bag + socks |
| Below 16 degrees | Long-sleeve bodysuit + sleepsuit + sleeping bag + hat + socks + gloves |
To easily check the temperature of your little one’s room and dress them accordingly, you could invest in a nursery room thermometer.
Buy a high-quality cot mattress
A high-quality mattress is crucial for creating a safe sleep environment for your baby. Sealy cot mattresses are hypoallergenic and provide the perfect support for your baby’s growing body. Each mattress comes with a mattress protector to keep it safe from all of those baby spills!
Place them on their back to sleep
Placing your baby on their back to sleep is an important way to keep their airways clear during the night. Sleeping in this position can dramatically reduce the risk of SIDS.
This position is recommended for the first year of life but is particularly important during the first six months. Even when placing your baby on his/her back to sleep, avoid placing them on soft surfaces as these can pose a suffocation hazard.
Keep your house smoke-free
Keeping your baby away from smoke is important for keeping their airways clear and healthy. If you smoke, make sure that you smoke outside your house – away from your baby – and that you remove your jacket before holding your baby.
Follow these tips to keep your baby’s sleeping environment safe, reduce the risk of SIDS, and ensure that you get a great night’s sleep.
