There are a few important things to know about safe sleep for your baby. First make sure your baby’s sleeping environment is the best it can be before deciding how to lay babies in a crib. A baby’s room should be a smoke free environment. Always lay baby to sleep on his back. The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a crib next to your bed. Do not let your baby sleep in your bed or share a bed with anyone else. It is too easy for an adult or child to roll over on to baby.

Babies should always sleep in their crib. A bed is too big and baby can get trapped between the mattress and footboard, headboard or wall. A couch is also too dangerous as baby can fall off. When you have laid baby in the crib, make sure the room temperature is not too warm. The baby’s crib should not be in direct sunlight or near a radiator, heater or fireplace. Never let a baby sleep with a hot-water bottle or an electric blanket. The crib should not be near any appliances or anything that dangles, like telephone wires or window blinds cords. Make sure baby’s clothing is cotton because this is a breathable fabric. Never give a baby under one year of age a pillow to sleep with.

Timing is key when it comes to laying your baby down for the night. If you try to lay your baby down too early, your baby is not tired enough and if you try to lay your baby down too late, your baby is overtired. This is easier said than done, but you will
soon be able to tell when your baby is ready to be laid down to sleep.

You rock or nurse your baby off to sleep and then try and lay them down in the crib. Your baby wakes up before his body has even touched the bedding. This is so frustrating for so many parents. The reason for this happening is that your baby is not completely asleep yet. When you are laying the baby down, your baby gets the feeling of dropping and suddenly wakes up. Your baby misses the motion and your warmth and scent. You need to ensure your baby is completely asleep before you try to lay him down in the crib. There are ways you can check to see if your baby is asleep. Lift your baby’s arm and let it fall a very short distance. If there is no reaction from your baby, it is safe to say your baby is sleeping and you can lay him down.

To prevent your baby from feeling the sudden drop when you are laying him down, put a step stool next to baby’s crib. If you stand on this, it gives you better leverage to bend further in to the crib, so baby does not feel the drop as much. It is perfect if you can actually lean your elbow on the mattress as you lay baby down. You want the drop to be as short as possible. Another way to achieve this is to wear a baby sling. Once you know baby is asleep, unfasten sling and lay baby down in the crib. The sling will still have some of your warmth and your scent.

Laying baby to sleep is not always the easiest thing to do, but have patience and persevere. The reward of peaceful sleep will be well worth it.