How to Provide Safe Sleeping Quarters for a Baby
Provide a soft but firm surface for your newborn to sleep. A new crib mattress is good but a used one that still provides support is fine. Surfaces that are too soft can restrict an infant’s breathing if they turn over onto their stomachs. Avoid waterbeds and air mattresses.
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Step 2
Place your new baby on her back to sleep. Pediatricians suggest this position as the safest for infants to ensure a clear air passage. However, when your baby is big enough to turn onto her stomach by herself, it’s probably OK to allow her to sleep that way.
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Step 3
Remove all pillows, stuffed animals and overstuffed quilts from your baby’s crib or bassinet during sleep time. Even a small infant can wave their arms and legs around and pull soft items over their face, restricting their breathing.
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Step 4
Maintain a steady temperature in your baby’s room. She should be warm enough that excess blankets are not needed but not so warm that she perspires. It is better to put her in a warm footed sleeper as opposed to adding blankets to her crib.
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Step 5
Give up smoking, at least around your infant. Being exposed to second-hand smoke increases your baby’s chances of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
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Step 6
Check your infant’s crib to ensure she can’t wiggle between the mattress and the bars. The mattress should fit snugly against the sides of the crib. In addition, the bars on the crib should be close enough to each other that your infant’s body cannot slip through the space.
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Step 7
Breastfeed your baby for the first six months if possible, if you can’t, avoid putting her in her crib with a bottle propped in her mouth to keep her safe from choking.
