The Perfect Sleep Environment for the Baby

Many parents have asked me what the perfect sleep environment for the baby is. How should the room look? How should the crib look? How do you create that cozy space in the room which will contribute towards better sleep?

Well, since the shelves of baby shops are getting overloaded with so much fancy stuff related to young children’s sleep, I understand that it could get very tricky to decide how to set up your baby’s room.

I have noticed that some parents are very organized, and they try to purchase these new toys or devices to make the room look extravagant and ready for the new family member.

I understand that every caregiver wishes to prepare the nursery room in the most presentable way. But what are the things to keep in mind while doing so?

Today I am sharing with you 5 things that will help you create that perfect sleep environment for your child:

1. Keep it safe

A kid’s sleeping environment should be a space where they feel safe and secure. So, I suggest focusing on safety first.

The American Academy of Pediatrics created some safety guidelines which parents should follow:

• Keep away from baby’s crib any soft objects, loose bedding, or any other objects that could increase the risk of suffocation, strangulation or entrapment. The only piece of bedding should be a fitted sheet which must fit tightly onto the mattress. Remove any pillows, blankets, bumpers, or soft animals from the crib. Keep in mind that one of the most common mistakes parents do once they are preparing a baby’s crib is using bumpers. Bumpers bring strangulation and suffocation risk for young children.
• Use a firm sleep surface. A crib, bassinet, play yard or portable crib is good to be used along with a tight-fitting, firm mattress and fitted sheet.
• Avoid bed-sharing! Even if it is so tempting to share the bed with your little one, don’t do it! Suffocation risk is even higher in your bed. Your blanket could cover the baby’s face, your pillow could prevent air supply, and even you yourself could accidentally become a risk for your little one.

2. Keep it simple

A fancy nursery filled with hundreds of toys and gadgets is not always the best option.

Your child’s sleeping space should be a place for sleep and not a place for play. What I am trying to say is children bedroom should not have many things that distract them from sleeping.

So, save your money!

The room doesn’t need so many toys and devices. Neither it requires a mobile hanging down or turning around in front of the baby’s face.

I recommend you try to keep that room as simple as you can.

So, when you place your baby into the crib which is clean and has no distractions in front of little eyes, you are teaching the child that this is the perfect place for sleep.

You are not leaving much space for distractions and that creates a perfect sleep environment.

3. Keep it cool

A cooler room for the baby allows better quality sleep. Helping a baby’s body get to the lower temperature faster can encourage deeper sleep and can help the baby fall asleep quicker.

There are risks linking Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) with overheating. If a room is too warm or a baby is overdressed, it may cause an increased metabolic rate in babies which could cause them to lose control of their breathing.

I advise you to use a sleep sack instead of a blanket. Even though swaddling with a blanket is a common way to keep a baby warm at night, it is still safer to use a wearable blanket like a sleep sack.

The ideal temperature in the room for sleeping should be between 20-22 Celsius to keep your little one cozy.

If your baby’s room is too cold, you may notice:

• Hands or nose can be cool to touch,
• Cold hands or feet,
• Cold chest under the clothes,
• Blue lips.

If your baby’s room is too hot, you may notice the baby having:

• Sweaty back and chest
• Red ears
• Fast heart rate
• Dampness of hair

As a general rule the American Academy of Pediatrics it is advisable to dress a baby in no more than one layer more than an adult would use to feel comfortable in the same environment.

4. Keep it dark

A dark room improves the quality of baby’s sleep. The darkness sends a message to the child’s body that it is time to rest.

Melatonin which is a sleep hormone produced in the dark influences sleep by sending a signal to the brain that it is time to sleep.

So, I suggest you purchase some blackout blinds and tape the curtains to the window. Do whatever works to keep that sun out of the room!

Also, remember when making the room dark, I mean make it completely dark – pitch black, as you probably want to use every opportunity for your baby to sleep.

5. Keep it quiet

I am sure you are aware that a sudden and loud sound could wake and scare the sleeping baby.

So, if you want to create a perfect sleeping environment for your little one, you should try to keep that room quiet. And I know that it’s not always that possible…

If you are having a challenging situation because of noise, I advise you to use a white noise machine in your baby’s room.

White noise machine imitates the sounds that your baby was hearing in the womb for 9 months.  This noise comforts the baby and helps to create a perfect sleep environment.

I hope that my 5 tips will help you create a perfect sleep environment for your little one.

Still have questions? King of Sleep is here for you!

If your little one is not sleeping through the night or you feel that you need additional help, you can always book 15 MIN FREE PHONE CONSULTATION with me. I would love to help you. I am using gentle sleep solutions which have already helped 55 000 parents like you!

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