8 Tips to Create A Safe Sleep Environment for Your Baby

There are SO many books and checklists for expectant parents, but the most important thing is knowing how to keep your baby’s sleep environment safe.

The moment you walk into a baby store to make your baby registry, you will feel a huge rush of excitement. It may quickly turn into overwhelming stress between which wipe warmer you need to buy and which activity mat will help your baby’s brain develop while fostering fine motor and gross motor development. Take a deep breath and relax. All your baby needs is love, nourishment, and a safe environment.

Here are 8 tips to keeping your baby’s sleep space safe:

1. Remove all distractions: Mobiles are great for young babies, but once they’re a bit older and pulling themselves up to standing, they may try pull it down and it may become more of a distraction and safety hazard. Those light up, musical crib aquariums are also a no-go, in my book. They’re far too stimulating to promote sleep. Not to mention, once your baby learns how to turn it on, you’ll wake up to it in the middle of the night- thus negating all of your hard work at teaching your baby to sleep through the night.

2. Keep it quiet: Music is for any time of the day- except during sleeping time. A great time for music is before your bedtime routine. Singing songs with your baby and dancing will help your baby exert energy in preparation for sleep. The only sound that should be heard during sleep is white noise. White noise is helpful in blocking out unnecessary noises like siblings, lawn mowers, dishes, etc.

3. Keep it dark: It is especially important for naps to have some sort of blackout system in your baby’s room. Darkness helps with melatonin production and keeps distractions to a minimum. I recommend using BlackoutEZ Window Covers.

4. Keep a good temperature: The ideal temperature for a baby’s room is between 67-72 degrees. A good rule of thumb is to dress your baby in one more layer than you’re wearing. For example: if you’re wearing an undershirt and a long sleeve shirt, your baby should be wearing a onesie, sleeper pajamas and a warm sleep sack. This will keep your baby warm. I love Halo brand sleep sacks. They have a wide range of sleep sacks from infants up to toddlers!

4. Keep a good temperature: The ideal temperature for a baby’s room is between 67-72 degrees. A good rule of thumb is to dress your baby in one more layer than you’re wearing. For example: if you’re wearing an undershirt and a long sleeve shirt, your baby should be wearing a onesie, sleeper pajamas and a warm sleep sack. This will keep your baby warm. I love Halo brand sleep sacks. They have a wide range of sleep sacks from infants up to toddlers!

5. Keep the crib empty: There should not be anything in the baby’s crib- no blankets, no pillows, no toys! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that baby’s don’t use loose blankets or pillows until 1 year old or older.

6. Remove hazardous object outside of the crib: Anything within reach of the crib should be removed. When your baby learns that he can reach his little hand outside the crib to “play” with something, you’ll be surprised to see that they can pull things right into the crib. I’ve heard stories of little ones reaching out to pull some books into the crib, but you don’t want to risk your baby pulling on window blind cords or any hazardous objects!

7. Secure furniture to the walls: When your baby grows into a toddler and you transition to a toddler bed, your baby may explore his room with his newfound freedom. Securing furniture to the walls prevents it from tipping over, should your baby decide he wants to practice his climbing skills. This is so important!

8. Keep baby in his own space: I’m an advocate for teaching babies independent sleep. Your baby should have his own sleep space on a firm, flat mattress. You baby should always be placed to sleep on his back. I loved the Arm’s Reach Co-Sleeper for our babies. They were right within reach and still in their own space; I could sleep with my pillows and blankets and not have to worry about my baby’s safety!

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If you have the perfect sleep environment for your baby and he’s still not sleeping through the night and you’re ready to start sleep training, let’s set up a time to chat! Some things to think about when deciding when you want to start sleep training your baby: