You're home with your new baby, congratulations on this exciting milestone! It can be a bit daunting to begin with and you may start to develop some questions about sleep:
- Is the baby sleeping?
- How well do they nap during the day?
- Are they sleeping through the night?
- Are you getting any sleep?
If you're a new parent, sleep, or lack thereof is a very hot topic. While it's very normal for young babies to wake during the night, we can help you invest in some essential sleepwear to keep baby safe, comfortable and cosy.
Here is our checklist for keeping your baby snug at night:
Joey Merino Wool Swaddle Sack
Our Gold Award Winning Joey Merino Wool Swaddle Sack has been designed for safe sleep, to be simple to use and keeps your baby feeling snug and secure all night long! No more trying to wrap your child in a complicated muslin wrap, with half an eye open in the middle of the night. Best for newborns who are being swaddled and are not yet rolling (it's important to discontinue swaddling once your baby shows signs of rolling).
Follow these guidelines to ensure safe sleep:
- The neck must be fitted to avoid a baby’s head slipping down into the swaddle. To check for the correct fit, you should be able to fit two fingers in the neck hole when being worn.
- The swaddle sack should allow for full chest expansion when breathing
- The hips and legs need to be able to flop outwards into a natural position while the baby sleeps. Tight swaddling across the hips that hold the legs together is thought to contribute and increase developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).
- Babies don’t regulate their body heat very well and rely on their coverings to keep them warm but not hot. Do not overdress a baby underneath their swaddle and never cover their head at sleep time (e.g. with a hat or beanie). You can read our temperature guide for how to dress baby underneath
- Swaddling needs to be secure, without any chance of fabric draping over the baby’s face.
Shop Joey Merino Wool Swaddle Sack
Depending on the time of year you will want to invest in some good quality layers to wear under your swaddle sack, in natural fibres. See our temperature guide for what to wear depending on your room temperature.
A Matchy Matchy Luxurious Linen Robe
Don't forget you, mama! While your little one sleeps soundly in their Billie + Bobbie, why not treat yourself to the luxury of 100% European Linen? Our beautiful linen robes are the perfect complementary piece to help you relax and unwind, any time of the day or night. A gorgeous and luxuriously soft linen robe with pockets to keep all those essentials in reach, and in matching colours to your mini. Ideal for the hospital bag (matchy newborn photo opp anyone?) and lounging at home, you won't want to take this off (and we won't judge you if you don't).
Shop Luxury Linen robe
Red Nose recommends the below for providing a safe sleep space for your baby:
• Safe cot
• Safe mattress
• Safe bedding
• Safe sleeping place night and day
Safe cot - Does the cot meet current Australian Standards?
All new and second hand cots sold in Australia must meet the current mandatory Australian Standard for Cots (AS/NZS 2172) and should carry a label to say so. Old and second hand cots may be dangerous and they may not meet current standards. If purchasing, or if you have been given a cot, check the cot meets the current standards by referring to the guide to infant and nursery products publication “Keeping baby safe” available from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s website www.productsafety.gov.au.
Keeping Baby Safe contains specific and detailed information and safety advice on a range of products such as: baby carriers, baby slings, bassinets, prams and strollers, rocking cradles, car restraints and many others. Provide a Safe Sleeping 4 Environment night and day
Safe mattress - Is the cot mattress the right size for the cot and is it firm, flat and clean?
A baby can get wedged in gaps between the mattress and the cot sides. This is especially dangerous if their face is trapped and covered, or their neck is restricted in any way. Make sure there is no more than 20mm (less than 1 inch) gap between the mattress and the cot sides and ends. Remove plastic packaging from the mattress. Always make sure the waterproof mattress protector is strong, not torn, and a tight fit. The mattress should be firm*, clean and flat (not tilted or elevated). *Use a firm sleep surface that is compliant with the new AS/NZS Voluntary Standard (AS/NZS 8811.1:2013 Methods of testing infant products – Sleep Surfaces – Test for firmness). For further information about ensuring adequate mattress firmness see http://goo.gl/2stkDE or watch the video at http://goo.gl/HqUleB. A soft mattress or sleeping surface can increase the risk of sudden unexpected infant death if baby rolls over onto the tummy. Elevating the head of a cot does not improve reflux for babies under 12 months of age, furthermore, elevating the head of the cot increases the risk of SUDI. See the Red Nose information statement: ‘Sleeping Position for Babies with Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux’ for further information. A pillow, cushion or beanbag is not a safe mattress. In portable or ‘porta’ cots use the firm, clean and wellfitting mattress that is supplied with the portable cot. Don’t add additional padding under or over the mattress or an additional mattress. The baby can get trapped in gaps created and this is extremely dangerous. As in the household cots, the portable cot mattress should be firm, clean and flat (not tilted or elevated). All portable cots sold in Australia must meet the current mandatory Australian Standard for children’s portable folding cots AS/NZS 2195 and carry a label to say so.
Safe bedding - Is the bedding safe?
Remove pillows, doonas, loose bedding or fabric, lambs wool, bumpers and soft toys from the cot. Soft and puffy bedding in the cot is unnecessary and may cover your baby’s face and obstruct baby’s breathing. See the Red Nose information statements: ‘Pillow Use’, ‘Soft Toys in the Cot’ and ‘Bedding Amount recommended for Safe Sleep’ for further information. If you wrap your baby, consider baby’s stage of development. Leave arms free once the startle reflex disappears around 3 months. Discontinue the use of a wrap when baby can roll from back to tummy and to back again. The wrap may prevent an older baby who has turned onto their tummy from returning to the back position. See the Red Nose information statement ‘Wrapping Babies’ and the brochure ‘Safe Wrapping’ for further information.
Safe Sleeping place night and day
The following are things to look out for and avoid when your baby sleeps at night and during the day:
• Never leave baby unattended on an adult bed or bunk bed
• Waterbeds, beanbags, couches, pillows and cushions are not safe for babies
• Avoid falling asleep with the baby on a couch, sofa or chair
• Keep the cot away from hanging cords such as blinds, curtains, electrical appliances or decorative mobiles
• Keep heaters or electrical appliances well away from cots
• Never use electric blankets, hot water bottles or wheat bags for babies
• For daytime naps, safety of the baby’s sleep environment is a priority over sharing the same room
Got a question? Email us at info@billieandbobbie.com and we will do our best to answer all your questions.
You've got this! x