Nothing feels good like seeing your baby sleeping in a crib. Since you are used to sleeping with your blanket, you may think that your little one should sleep with one too. It is also common to find moms staring at their infants for minutes to hours as they sleep. At some point, you may feel a twinge watching the little angel all alone in the crib.
During pregnancy, you may have read many books on what is expected of you once you get the baby. Something common in these books is how to lay your kid. Babies should sleep on their back in a firm infant mattress with a well-fitted piece of sheet. You may have heard from your doctor during clinics that babies should not use pillows and blankets.
After some time, the baby grows and begins to sleep on its side. There also comes a time when you need to introduce a blanket and pillow to your kid. How do you get to know that your baby is ready to sleep with a blanket? This is a question that some moms cannot answer, and honestly, they don't know.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a condition that doctors cannot precisely explain because there is no exact cause. So far, blankets and pillows are the greatest contributors to SIDS. Doctors recommend that you keep loose beddings and soft objects away from the sleeping zone of your kid. After twelve months, you can slowly begin introducing the blanket and pillows.
How to Introduce the Blanket
As aforementioned, consider introducing a blanket to your kid once it turns one year old. This is, however, not an automatic process, and you can still wait longer if you notice that the baby is not ready. Once the little angel is old enough, there are other factors to consider before introducing the blanket, especially at night. Below are the common factors to consider;
- Even after your child turns one year, heavy and large blankets present suffocation and strangulation hazards.
- Regardless of how old the child is, it should not sleep with blankets having long strings on their edges at night. Such a blanket can wrap around the neck and strangle the baby.
- Introduce a blanket with breathable fabric like muslin. Weighted and quilted blankets can also suffocate the infant if it covers the head while turning.
Safe Sleep Tips to Avoid Suffocating Your Baby
Apart from keeping your baby's crib clean and clear of objects, here are other factors to consider for safe sleeping at night. Remember, at night, you may not be as active as you are during the day. If, by chance, you realize that your kid rolls around while sleeping at night, avoid blankets at all cost. An alternative to this is footed pajamas or sleep sacks until they get older enough to handle blankets.
If you decide that your baby is ready to use a blanket, make sure it does not go higher than the chest. Tuck the blanket in around the mattress to hold it firm. In this case, all movements the child may make won't risk its life.