When can my child sleep with a pillow? After the age of two, children can start to sleep with a pillow. Earlier than this places them at risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and is not recommended. It is safer to introduce a pillow once your child is in a bed and to not use any pillows while [...]
When can my child sleep in a bed rather than a crib? There are no hard and fast rules about the age at which a child is ready to sleep in a bed. Children develop at different rates and you need to consider the whole family when making the decision to move your child into a bed without rails. One [...]
How can I keep my baby warm at night without blankets? It is dangerous for an infant to overheat at night. For example, the bedroom typically should be kept cool – sometimes recommended at around 18C (between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius, or between ) and parents should make sure that their baby is [...]
When is sleep surface- or bedsharing, forms of co-sleeping, extra risky? Bedsharing is a family choice, but poses risks. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recognizes that parents bedshare with infants for a variety of reasons, such as beliefs that it is better for their infant, [...]
Is co-sleeping a safety concern in other cultures? There are lots of mixed opinions about co-sleeping. And, yes, it does vary quite a bit world-wide. However, there is always a safety risk to co-sleeping (sharing the same bed or sleep surface) if your little one is younger than 12-months-old. For [...]
He climbs – how can I keep him in the crib? Typically, I recommend keeping your little one in a crib as long as it is safely possible. If your little one has tried to climb out once, it may help to offer a small reward for staying in the crib. Once they’re climbing out consistently, it is not [...]
Where is it safest for a baby to sleep? Sleep environment and safety is very important! The most important thing to do is to make sure you put your baby down on her back. Be sure her own sleep surface is firm, flat, and free from anything that may disrupt her breathing (risk of suffocation) such as [...]
Will sleeping on her back cause a flat spot on my baby’s head? The Back to Sleep campaign (the recommendation to put a baby to sleep on her back when sleeping) to prevent SIDS leads to the possibility that an infant could develop a flat spot on her head. A baby’s skull is soft and the bones [...]
When can I stop worrying about SIDS? Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation. Babies are most at risk for SIDS is between 1 and 4 months of age and 90% of cases occur before the age of 6 [...]
What kind of bedding is best for my baby? Sleeping on a firm, flat surface without any soft bedding is best. So, place your baby on her back, and remove any soft bedding, pillows, stuffed toys, or bumpers that could obstruct breathing or suffocate your little one during sleep. Find more information [...]