When you start thinking about where your baby is going to sleep at night or decorating your child's bedroom, you might find it useful to keep these safety tips in mind:
• All cots should be deep enough to be safe for your baby, have bars that are less than 45-65 mm apart and not have any cut-outs or steps. If your cot is second-hand or borrowed, make sure cot bars are less than 45-65 mm apart (a can of Coke cannot fit between the slats) to prevent your baby's head from slipping between the bars.
• If your cot is second-hand and painted, strip all paint and re-paint it with lead-free paint. If your child breathes lead dust or fumes or swallows anything with lead in it, he can get lead poisoning, which can cause learning disabilities and other neurological problems.
• Check the cot to be sure that the mattress fits snugly; there should be no corner-post extensions and no decorative cut outs in the headboard or foot board which could trap your baby's limbs.
• Put your baby to sleep on his back to decrease the risk of
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
• Don't use a pillow in the cot. For safe sleeping, your baby needs a surface that is firm and flat.
• When you're not in the room with your baby, keep the drop side of his cot up and locked.
• Position the cot away from windows, heaters, lamps, wall decorations, cords, and furniture which can be used to climb out of the cot.
• Avoid curtains and blinds with cords -- dangling cords carry a risk of strangulation. If you already have them, make sure that you tie up dangling cords.
• Once your child can push up on his hands and knees, you'll have to remove that adorable mobile and any toys that hang across the cot. When he can pull up, take out the bumper pads, too -- they can be used as steps -- and put the mattress in its lowest position so that he can't climb out of the cot.
• When the cot mattress is at its lowest height and the top rail is below your child's chest, it's time to move him to a bed.
• Stay with your baby when he is on the changing table. You may choose to put your changing mat on the floor so that there is no danger of him falling.
• Keep toiletries such as baby lotion and wipes, out of your infant's reach.
• Choose flame-retardant sleepwear and make sure pajama feet aren't too long or socks too slippery if your baby is pulling up or starting to walk.
• Secure wardrobes and bookshelves to walls to prevent them from falling over on your child. For the same reason, always remember to close drawers.
For other general tips on how to keep your baby safe that apply to every room in your home, see making your home safe for your baby.
Source: http://www.babycenter.com.my/baby/sleep/safeenvironment/
Showing posts with label co-sleeping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label co-sleeping. Show all posts
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Putting baby to sleep on the floor
We live in a part of the world where sleeping on the floor is common. Just a generation ago, it was not unusual for the entire extended family to retire – slumber party style! – on mattresses or roll-out bedding on the floor when it was time to sleep. Today, our modern houses may contain more bedrooms to accommodate everyone separately, but many families still find this arrangement practical, convenient and even desirable.
Can my baby sleep on the floor?
There is no reason your baby cannot sleep on the floor as long as you take all the necessary measures to create a safe sleep environment for her.
Some ethnic communities discourage the practice of sleeping on the floor as they believe the moisture from the “damp” floor will seep into our bodies and cause rheumatism or arthritis later in life. Current research does not support this theory. In any case, this traditional belief that the floor is somehow inherently “damp” may well stem from the fact that the rural housing of old had cement or mud floors that really were cold and damp, and truly uncomfortable to sleep on!
How can I ensure my baby is safe sleeping on the floor?
Look around the room where your baby will sleep. Ask yourself:
• What will my baby sleep on? Whether your baby sleeps on roll-out bedding or a mattress placed on the floor, it should be firm and flat, with fitted sheets.
• Is the room well-ventilated? In our hot, tropical weather, it is particularly important to ensure that your baby sleeps in a well-ventilated room. If there is no ceiling fan in the room, buy a sitting or standing fan (but do ensure it is not directed straight at your baby). Similarly, ensure your baby is not dressed too warmly for the room or wrapped too snugly. Overheating your baby is linked to an increased risk of cot death.
• What’s on the floor? No carpets, no floor mats, no beanbags, no cosy pillow for the family cat to sleep on. They could suffocate your baby. Besides, dust, dust mites and all manner of mould and fungus love these soft, warm surfaces. Obviously, you will also need to ensure that the room is swept and mopped every single day.
• What’s above the floor? Ensure your baby is placed to sleep far away from floor-length drapes and curtains as well as exposed electrical cords and plugs - if baby is too near any of these, there is a chance she could get tangled up.
• What’s around the sleeping area? Your baby should also be far away from any standing fan or lamp, stereo speakers, chairs and stools or anything that could be knocked over in the night, especially if you are co-sleeping.
• How do I keep the room clear of insects and mosquitoes? Most mosquitoes and insects enter your home at dawn and dusk. So make sure all windows and doors are shut by then. If you need to use electric coils, mats or liquid vapourisers to clear the room of pests, make sure they are switched off before baby goes into the room. Anything that emits fumes when heated may cause allergies and breathing problems. Noxious fumes from insect sprays and foams present similar hazards. For a chemical-free solution, you may wish to consider putting wire mesh or screens on all windows and doors. You could also safely leave baby to sleep within a mosquito net until she is old enough to roll or move about in her sleep. These days, electronic devices that rely on ultrasound and electromagnetic waves to repel pests are also available.
Finally, wherever you choose to put baby down for sleep, do put him to sleep on his back. This is the single most important thing you can do to protect your baby.
What else do I need to consider?
Your baby will get used to whatever you get her used to – as long as you are consistent. Wherever your baby sleeps, it is important to establish a bedtime routine and good sleep habits.
Source: http://www.babycenter.com.my/baby/sleep/floor/
Can my baby sleep on the floor?
There is no reason your baby cannot sleep on the floor as long as you take all the necessary measures to create a safe sleep environment for her.
Some ethnic communities discourage the practice of sleeping on the floor as they believe the moisture from the “damp” floor will seep into our bodies and cause rheumatism or arthritis later in life. Current research does not support this theory. In any case, this traditional belief that the floor is somehow inherently “damp” may well stem from the fact that the rural housing of old had cement or mud floors that really were cold and damp, and truly uncomfortable to sleep on!
How can I ensure my baby is safe sleeping on the floor?
Look around the room where your baby will sleep. Ask yourself:
• What will my baby sleep on? Whether your baby sleeps on roll-out bedding or a mattress placed on the floor, it should be firm and flat, with fitted sheets.
• Is the room well-ventilated? In our hot, tropical weather, it is particularly important to ensure that your baby sleeps in a well-ventilated room. If there is no ceiling fan in the room, buy a sitting or standing fan (but do ensure it is not directed straight at your baby). Similarly, ensure your baby is not dressed too warmly for the room or wrapped too snugly. Overheating your baby is linked to an increased risk of cot death.
• What’s on the floor? No carpets, no floor mats, no beanbags, no cosy pillow for the family cat to sleep on. They could suffocate your baby. Besides, dust, dust mites and all manner of mould and fungus love these soft, warm surfaces. Obviously, you will also need to ensure that the room is swept and mopped every single day.
• What’s above the floor? Ensure your baby is placed to sleep far away from floor-length drapes and curtains as well as exposed electrical cords and plugs - if baby is too near any of these, there is a chance she could get tangled up.
• What’s around the sleeping area? Your baby should also be far away from any standing fan or lamp, stereo speakers, chairs and stools or anything that could be knocked over in the night, especially if you are co-sleeping.
• How do I keep the room clear of insects and mosquitoes? Most mosquitoes and insects enter your home at dawn and dusk. So make sure all windows and doors are shut by then. If you need to use electric coils, mats or liquid vapourisers to clear the room of pests, make sure they are switched off before baby goes into the room. Anything that emits fumes when heated may cause allergies and breathing problems. Noxious fumes from insect sprays and foams present similar hazards. For a chemical-free solution, you may wish to consider putting wire mesh or screens on all windows and doors. You could also safely leave baby to sleep within a mosquito net until she is old enough to roll or move about in her sleep. These days, electronic devices that rely on ultrasound and electromagnetic waves to repel pests are also available.
Finally, wherever you choose to put baby down for sleep, do put him to sleep on his back. This is the single most important thing you can do to protect your baby.
What else do I need to consider?
Your baby will get used to whatever you get her used to – as long as you are consistent. Wherever your baby sleeps, it is important to establish a bedtime routine and good sleep habits.
Source: http://www.babycenter.com.my/baby/sleep/floor/
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The Benefits of Co-Sleeping
When it comes to research about co-sleeping, there's good news and there's bad news. The good news is that there is research to suggest that there are benefits to parents and infants who share a bed (or room) through the night. The bad news is that, beyond the research into the connection between co-sleeping and SIDS prevention, there's not much being done which inquires into its qualitative or long-term aspects. Until this type of research is done, we must continue to draw from the good work that is being done within the American culture, as well as from studies conducted in other cultures abroad.
What Research Shows
Benefits for infants
Co-sleeping promotes physiological regulation.
The proximity of the parent may help the infant's immature nervous system learn to self-regulate during sleep (Farooqi, 1994; Mitchell, 1997; Mosko, 1996; Nelson, 1996; Skragg, 1996). It may also help prevent SIDS by preventing the infant from entering into sleep states that are too deep. In addition, the parents' own breathing may help the infant to "remember" to breathe (McKenna, 1990; Mosko, 1996; Richard, 1998).
Parents and infants sleep better. Because of the proximity of the mother, babies do not have to fully wake and cry to get a response. As a result, mothers can tend to the infant before either of them are fully awake (McKenna). As a result, mothers were more likely to have positive evaluations of their nighttime experiences (McKenna, 1994) because they tended to sleep better and wake less fully (McKenna & Mosko, 1997).
Babies get more caregiving. Co-sleeping increases breastfeeding (Clements, 1997; McKenna, 1994; Richard et al., 1996). Even the conservative American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) admits to the breastfeeding advantages of co-sleeping (Hauck, 1998). Mothers who co-sleep breastfeed an average of twice as long as non-co-sleeping mothers (McKenna). In addition to the benefits of breastfeeding, the act of sucking increases oxygen flow, which is beneficial for both growth and immune functions. Co-sleeping infants also get more attention and protective care. Mothers who co-sleep exhibited five times the number of "protective" behaviors (such as adjusting the infant's blanket, stroking or cuddling) as solitary-sleeping mothers (McKenna & Mosko, 1997). These mothers also showed an increased sensitivity to the presence of the baby in the bed (McKenna).
Long-term Benefits
Higher self-esteem. Boys who coslept with their parents between birth and five years of age had significantly higher self-esteem and experienced less guilt and anxiety. For women, co-sleeping during childhood was associated with less discomfort about physical contact and affection as adults (Lewis & Janda, 1988). Co-sleeping appears to promote confidence, self-esteem, and intimacy, possibly by reflecting an attitude of parental acceptance (Crawford, 1994).
More positive behavior.In a study of parents on military bases, co-sleeping children received higher evaluations from their teachers than did solitary sleeping children (Forbes et al., 1992). A recent study in England showed that among the children who "never" slept in their parents bed, there was a trend to be harder to control, less happy, exhibit a greater number of tantrums, and these children were actually more fearful than children who always slept in their parents' bed, all night (Heron, 1994).
Increased life satisfaction. A large, cross-cultural study conducted on five different ethnic groups in large U.S. cities found that, across all groups, co-sleepers exhibited a general feeling of satisfaction with life (Mosenkis, 1998).
What Parents Suspect
Co-sleeping promotes sensitivity. Many parents who co-sleep feel that they become more attuned to their baby and child. They feel that their sensitivity to the needs and patterns of their baby translate into daytime sensitivity as well.
It reduces bedtime struggles.
Parents of co-sleepers know that children who sleep in their parents'' room have no reason to be afraid of bedtime. As they grow older and move into their own rooms, they have positive, secure images of sleeptime. They have no reason to equate bedtime with being alone.
It fosters an environment of acceptance.
Underlying the choice to co-sleep is a willingness to accept a child's need for the parent both day and night. A parent essentially communicates that while the child is small and needful, the parent will be there to help the child and address their needs. Co-sleeping parents tend to believe that this willingness to respond to the child's needs carries over into the daytime, and this powerfully contributes to the overall relationship with the child.
Co-sleeping is just as safe or safer than a crib.
Existing studies do not prove that co-sleeping is inherently hazardous. The elements of the sleeping environment are what dictate the level of danger to the infant. When non-smoking parents who do not abuse alcohol or drugs sleep on a firm mattress devoid of fluffy bedding, co-sleeping is a safe environment. In addition, it is likely that there are many children whose lives have been saved by sleeping next to their parents. There is anecdotal evidence, for instance, of mothers who have noticed their child not breathing and were able to stimulate them to breathe.
Common Co-Sleeping Myths
Children Can Suffocate.
The recent Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) finding that adult beds are inherently hazardous is both misleading and inaccurate. Parents should know that this recent campaign is sponsored and financed by the Juvenile Product Manufacturing Association (i.e. crib manufacturers), an organization that has everything to gain from parents choosing to buy cribs. Parents should also know that perhaps millions of parents sleep safely with their infants every year. A recent study persuasively documented that babies who sleep on their backs with a nonsmoking, non-drinking, parent who did not abuse drugs show no greater risk than solitary sleepers.
Dr. McKenna, professor of anthropology and director of the Mother-Infant Sleep Lab at Notre Dame, gives the following safety suggestions: "Infants should sleep on firm surfaces, clean surfaces, in the absence of smoke, under light (but comfortable) blanketing, and their heads should never be covered. The bed should not have any stuffed animals or pillows around the infant and never should an infant be placed to sleep on top of a pillow. Sheepskins or other fluffy material and especially beanbag mattresses should never be used. Water beds can be dangerous, too, and the mattresses should always tightly intersect the bedframe. Infants should never sleep on couches or sofas -- with or without adults -- where they can slip down (face first) into the crevice or get wedged against the back of a couch."
If they sleep in your bed, they'll never leave. This has never been studied or documented, and anecdotal evidence from co-sleeping parents does not bear this out. Many co-sleeping parents report that their children become willing to leave, with little or no persuasion, on their own around age two or three, as they mature physically, emotionally and cognitively. These families also report that there are many ways to help children find their own sleeping space.
Co-sleeping families tend not to see things in terms of habits that need to be broken, but as patterns that can be established, but that continually evolve and change. For co-sleeping families, laying the foundation for security and closeness takes precedence over early independence.
Source : http://www.attachmentparenting.org/support/articles/artbenefitscosleep.php
What Research Shows
Benefits for infants
Co-sleeping promotes physiological regulation.
The proximity of the parent may help the infant's immature nervous system learn to self-regulate during sleep (Farooqi, 1994; Mitchell, 1997; Mosko, 1996; Nelson, 1996; Skragg, 1996). It may also help prevent SIDS by preventing the infant from entering into sleep states that are too deep. In addition, the parents' own breathing may help the infant to "remember" to breathe (McKenna, 1990; Mosko, 1996; Richard, 1998).
Parents and infants sleep better. Because of the proximity of the mother, babies do not have to fully wake and cry to get a response. As a result, mothers can tend to the infant before either of them are fully awake (McKenna). As a result, mothers were more likely to have positive evaluations of their nighttime experiences (McKenna, 1994) because they tended to sleep better and wake less fully (McKenna & Mosko, 1997).
Babies get more caregiving. Co-sleeping increases breastfeeding (Clements, 1997; McKenna, 1994; Richard et al., 1996). Even the conservative American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) admits to the breastfeeding advantages of co-sleeping (Hauck, 1998). Mothers who co-sleep breastfeed an average of twice as long as non-co-sleeping mothers (McKenna). In addition to the benefits of breastfeeding, the act of sucking increases oxygen flow, which is beneficial for both growth and immune functions. Co-sleeping infants also get more attention and protective care. Mothers who co-sleep exhibited five times the number of "protective" behaviors (such as adjusting the infant's blanket, stroking or cuddling) as solitary-sleeping mothers (McKenna & Mosko, 1997). These mothers also showed an increased sensitivity to the presence of the baby in the bed (McKenna).
Long-term Benefits
Higher self-esteem. Boys who coslept with their parents between birth and five years of age had significantly higher self-esteem and experienced less guilt and anxiety. For women, co-sleeping during childhood was associated with less discomfort about physical contact and affection as adults (Lewis & Janda, 1988). Co-sleeping appears to promote confidence, self-esteem, and intimacy, possibly by reflecting an attitude of parental acceptance (Crawford, 1994).
More positive behavior.In a study of parents on military bases, co-sleeping children received higher evaluations from their teachers than did solitary sleeping children (Forbes et al., 1992). A recent study in England showed that among the children who "never" slept in their parents bed, there was a trend to be harder to control, less happy, exhibit a greater number of tantrums, and these children were actually more fearful than children who always slept in their parents' bed, all night (Heron, 1994).
Increased life satisfaction. A large, cross-cultural study conducted on five different ethnic groups in large U.S. cities found that, across all groups, co-sleepers exhibited a general feeling of satisfaction with life (Mosenkis, 1998).
What Parents Suspect
Co-sleeping promotes sensitivity. Many parents who co-sleep feel that they become more attuned to their baby and child. They feel that their sensitivity to the needs and patterns of their baby translate into daytime sensitivity as well.
It reduces bedtime struggles.
Parents of co-sleepers know that children who sleep in their parents'' room have no reason to be afraid of bedtime. As they grow older and move into their own rooms, they have positive, secure images of sleeptime. They have no reason to equate bedtime with being alone.
It fosters an environment of acceptance.
Underlying the choice to co-sleep is a willingness to accept a child's need for the parent both day and night. A parent essentially communicates that while the child is small and needful, the parent will be there to help the child and address their needs. Co-sleeping parents tend to believe that this willingness to respond to the child's needs carries over into the daytime, and this powerfully contributes to the overall relationship with the child.
Co-sleeping is just as safe or safer than a crib.
Existing studies do not prove that co-sleeping is inherently hazardous. The elements of the sleeping environment are what dictate the level of danger to the infant. When non-smoking parents who do not abuse alcohol or drugs sleep on a firm mattress devoid of fluffy bedding, co-sleeping is a safe environment. In addition, it is likely that there are many children whose lives have been saved by sleeping next to their parents. There is anecdotal evidence, for instance, of mothers who have noticed their child not breathing and were able to stimulate them to breathe.
Common Co-Sleeping Myths
Children Can Suffocate.
The recent Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) finding that adult beds are inherently hazardous is both misleading and inaccurate. Parents should know that this recent campaign is sponsored and financed by the Juvenile Product Manufacturing Association (i.e. crib manufacturers), an organization that has everything to gain from parents choosing to buy cribs. Parents should also know that perhaps millions of parents sleep safely with their infants every year. A recent study persuasively documented that babies who sleep on their backs with a nonsmoking, non-drinking, parent who did not abuse drugs show no greater risk than solitary sleepers.
Dr. McKenna, professor of anthropology and director of the Mother-Infant Sleep Lab at Notre Dame, gives the following safety suggestions: "Infants should sleep on firm surfaces, clean surfaces, in the absence of smoke, under light (but comfortable) blanketing, and their heads should never be covered. The bed should not have any stuffed animals or pillows around the infant and never should an infant be placed to sleep on top of a pillow. Sheepskins or other fluffy material and especially beanbag mattresses should never be used. Water beds can be dangerous, too, and the mattresses should always tightly intersect the bedframe. Infants should never sleep on couches or sofas -- with or without adults -- where they can slip down (face first) into the crevice or get wedged against the back of a couch."
If they sleep in your bed, they'll never leave. This has never been studied or documented, and anecdotal evidence from co-sleeping parents does not bear this out. Many co-sleeping parents report that their children become willing to leave, with little or no persuasion, on their own around age two or three, as they mature physically, emotionally and cognitively. These families also report that there are many ways to help children find their own sleeping space.
Co-sleeping families tend not to see things in terms of habits that need to be broken, but as patterns that can be established, but that continually evolve and change. For co-sleeping families, laying the foundation for security and closeness takes precedence over early independence.
Source : http://www.attachmentparenting.org/support/articles/artbenefitscosleep.php
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