Making Baby's Crib a Safe Sleep Space

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We all want our children to be healthy and safe. But when it comes to safe sleep, we are inundated with unsafe options marketed as safe ways to help our babies sleep better and longer.... and it is easy to cave, because sleep is critical for them, and us. It is no surprise that infant sleep is associated with maternal mental health, among other health factors (for both children and parents).

Weeding through what is safe and unsafe can feel overwhelming. Guidance has changed periodically (meaning advice from older relatives is often not safe), product recalls occur with some regularity, and there are far too many non-evidence based sources providing unsafe guidance that appeals to our emotions as caregivers.

As an evidence based parent, I've continued to find balancing safe sleep with getting sleep a learning process. 

But there are a few straight forward basic rules that I've found are easy to follow. Those apply to your crib's setup and products used within the crib itself!

Your baby may start sleeping in their crib immediately, or they may move to it after a bassinet (which is what our kids did). Whenever they start using it, here are a few ways to ensure they sleep safely AND comfortably! 

(The following has been adapted from the American Academy of Pediatric's Infant Sleep Guidelines)

1. Crib mattresses should be flat and firm. Incline sleepers are not safe additions to crib spaces.
2. Crib sheets should be well fitting and tight.
3. There should be nothing added to the crib space with an infant. This includes toys, stuffed animals, pillows, blankets, or any form of decoration.
4. Crib bumpers and mesh are neither necessary or safe additions to cribs. 
5. There should be nothing within reach of your infant while they are in their crib. This includes wires from your baby monitor, anything that could fall into the crib, and yes, their mobile. You'll want to move it before they get to the stage where they will be able to grab it!
6. Babies should be put to sleep on their backs. 
7. Make sure the crib complies with the most recent Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines. There are a number of infant items on the market that are not safe for sleep. If it is a padded pillow like surface, it is not a safe place to let baby sleep. Swings are also not safe sleep spaces. 

What's In and Around My Baby's Crib?

Lambs and Ivy Floral Crib Bedding Set

Lambs and Ivy Signature Floral Mobile

Notice something about the staging in the bedding set image? If you say "no blankets in the crib", you would be right! Blankets should never be left in a crib with an infant. And that mobile that is in the image (and on my infant's crib) will need to be moved as soon as she starts to show signs she will begin to sit. 

Stay tuned to my blog for even more evidence based tips on how to keep baby safe while sleeping!