A Newborn should be using a swaddle blanket until they learn to roll over or each 4-
6 months of age, whichever comes first. The idea is that if a Baby already knows how to roll over and is still being swaddled, they can suffocate. While swaddled, they might not be strong enough to roll onto their front. This is a huge safety issue. So wait, then purchase a Sleep Sack at around 6 months.
What Is The Purpose Of A Sleep Sack?
A Sleep Sack is designed to keep a Baby warm, even if they toss and turn throughout the night.
How Do I Choose The Right One?
Find the right TOG. It is an acronym for Themral Overall Grade. It basically tells you how much temperature a garment retains. Babies are not able to self-regulate their body temperature. This makes it dangerous and easy for a Baby to over heat. When choosing a Sleep Sack, here is a sample TOG:
Your room temperature is 75 degrees Farenheit or 24 degrees Celsius or hotter, choose 0.5 TOG.
Your room temperature is 69-74 degrees Fahrenheit or 21-23 degrees Celsius, choose 1.0 TOG.
Your room temperature is 61-68 degrees Farenheit or 16-20 degrees Celsius, choose 2.5 TOG.
Your room temperature is 59 degrees Farenheit or less, 15 degrees Celsius or less, choose 3.5 TOG.
Which Sleep Sack Is Most Effective?
When it comes to keeping your Baby asleep, there are so many individual factors to consider. Getting Baby off to the right start immediately after birth is so important. Please read my Sleep Associations post. Sleep is a complicated subject and each Baby is different. If you have a Baby with a pretty good sleep pattern, I highly recommend getting the Zen Sack, by Nested Bean. This sack is effective and genius! If you have gotten your Baby used to the Lub-dub method, they will follow suit with this sleep sack. It is filled with beads that created a slight weight. For the back sleepers, the tiny bean sack is on the front (chest area). For the tummy sleepers, the bean sack is located on the back. The idea behind this bean sack is that it makes the Baby believe that the Mother’s hand in present on the Baby’s body.
It’s a wonderful idea and I just love it! It is pricy, it can range from $35 up. This helps prevent a Baby from waking up after a bad dream or if it has been startled. It helps a Baby self-regulate and go back to sleep. This in turn, allows Mom and Dad to get some z’s too! It is never too late to begin the Lub-dub method when getting your Baby to sleep, next buy a Zen Sack.
What Are The Benefits Of A Sleep Sack?
It promotes back sleep, which prevents a Baby from rolling onto their tummy and not being able to roll back. This could lead to suffocation and S.I.D.S.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “However, there is no evidence that any of these devices reduce the risk of SIDS. Importantly, the use of products claiming to increase sleep safety does not diminish the importance of following recommended safe sleep practices.” Many sites stress that Sleep Sacks actually prevent Babies from dying of S.I.D.S., but this is not true. S.I.D.S. related to suffocation is less likely to occur, but a Sleep Sack cannot prevent it from happening 100%.
Sleep sacks prevents a Baby from covering their faces with crib blankets.
When used properly, they can help regulate a Baby’s body temperature.
They are designed with the intention of keeping a Baby cozy and warm.
Sleep Sacks allow Babies to move around freely, while in the crib, no matter how much they move around at night.
How Do You Know When Baby Is Too Hot?
The rule of thumb is checking the back of Baby’s head. If it is sweaty, more than likely their back will be too. This is a sign that they are too hot! When using a sleep sack remember the time of year it is and plan according to the room temperature.
The Truth About SIDS
Every Parent faces the fear of having this tragedy happen to their own Baby. Based on research, I want every Parent to know that the Babies that are at higher risk, are usually facing major health problems. This includes:
- Babies that are premature at birth and are underweight
- Babies born with respiratory infections
- Babies that had a Mother who smoked during pregnancy
- Living in a smoking environment or even sleeping in the same room as a smoker
- Sleeping on a surface that is not firm or is shared with other children or adults
- Overheating that was never addressed and resulted in death
- Brain defects at birth
- Babies that sleep on their side or stomach
- If the Mother has had inadequate prenatal care
- If the Mother has a serious drug/alcohol addiction
- If Parents fail to be informed about Safe Sleep for Babies
- Intentional/unintentional trauma
- Cardiac disorders at birth
The Reality Behind S.I.D.S.
All the reasons mentioned above are major factors that contribute to a result in S.I.D.S. For example, one of the main reasons, is related to not being able to breath effectively. Babies born with lung infections due to a U.T.I. that was never treated or due to the Mother being a smoker, are going to place a Baby as “High Risk” for S.I.D.S. Another reason is that when a Baby sleeps on its side or stomach, it is not able to expand its’ lungs properly. This too, can lead to failure to breath. Babies should Always be on their back to sleep, at least for the first 6 months.
Simply not having a firm mattress, will raise the risk higher because the lungs are not getting the support they need at the beginning of a Babies’ life. Research has found that Babies that have just slept in the same room as another smoker, was at risk. When one thinks about it, that smoker’s lungs are damaged and releasing toxins into the Babies’ breathing environment. Perhaps having an air filter could also help reduce this risk, by making sure the air is as clean as it can be, should one of the Parents be a smoker.
When Parents are very young and uninformed about Safe Sleep or have addictions, they are at a higher risk for affecting the development of Baby. Drug/Alcohol addictions also lead to child abuse and neglect, including in utero, which places the Baby at risk for S.I.D.S.
How Can You Do Your Part?
- By getting informed and avoiding intentional use of addictive substances, all Parents will be well on their way to reducing the risk of S.I.D.S.
- Making sure to get prenatal care as soon as possible
- Using Safe Sleep precautions
- Taking post natal care classes
- Placing Baby first and avoiding distractions that could lead to neglect or abuse of any kind
