What is the best and safest way to sleep with your baby? We asked the experts from Artsana
When it comes to deciding where little one should sleep, there’s a number of different options that new parents have to consider, including which room they should be in and what type of crib or bassinet to use.
Here in the UK, the NHS advises that newborns should sleep in their parents’ bedroom for at least the first six months of their life, ideally placed in a separate cot. This is further supported by research across Europe, which found that the risk of sudden infant death (SIDs) was significantly lower when babies were left to sleep in the same room, but not in the same bed as the parents.
The rise of side sleeping
Following this advice, the method of side sleeping has since become a popular method for many parents, as it enables parents to have their little one very close by whilst still putting them in their own crib. A side sleeping crib attaches to the parents bed and allows close proximity between parent and baby without having to share a bed or bed covers, which is ultimately much safer for little one.
As well as helping to reduce the risk of accidental suffocation or that baby might roll or fall out of the bed, using a side sleeping crib also helps reduce the risk of overheating from the heat produced by a duvet and body heat. Regulation of body temperature is also often helped by the mesh windows or side panels that most side sleeping cribs feature, which help promote healthy air flow during the night.
Side sleeping in a bedside crib also allows parents to follow two simple safety rules for newborns – the ‘Feet to Foot’ rule and the ‘ABC’ method. The ‘Feet to Foot’ is the idea that baby’s feet should be close to or touching the foot of the cot or crib, with the covers safely arranged so that baby cannot shuffle below the covers. Meanwhile, the ‘ABC’ method refers to putting baby to sleep alone on their back in their own cot or crib.
What are the other benefits of side sleeping?
As well as being a safer option, side sleeping has many wider benefits for both baby and parents.
For babies, side sleeping can play a vital role in helping to keep little one calm during the night and encourage bonding, as well as helping to regulate stress hormones known as cortisol. Additionally, side sleeping can often help newborns adjust to sleeping patterns.
For parents, using a side sleeping crib can help to make night times that little bit easier and ensure a good night’s sleep all around. As well as offering peace of mind that little one is right next to you to keep an eye on, parents can also easily reach their little one during the night to soothe and comfort them, should they wake.
Additionally, for mums who have had a c-section or experienced a difficult birth, a side sleeping crib provides easier access to baby, helping to minimise discomfort as they tend to their little one.
How to safely side sleep
If parents do decide to side sleep with their little one, bedside cribs, such as the Chicco Next2Me range, are designed to make this as safe and easy as possible. The Chicco Next2Me cribs can all be securely attached to parents’ bed and feature a side panel that can be lowered, allowing parents to reach their little one during the night for night feeds and comforting.
The latest addition to Chicco’s Next2Me range, the Chicco Next2Me Forever, is the first revolutionary 3-in-1 crib that not only allows parents to side sleep with their little one for longer, but can also be transformed into a standalone cot and floor bed, growing with baby from birth until 4 years.
The flexibility of the Next2Me Forever enables parents to move little one into a standalone cot when they feel is suitable, rather than being restricted to the six-month age limit on most side-sleeping cribs. Meanwhile, when the time comes for little one to move into their own room, this extended crib also provides a familiar sleeptime environment for little one, helping to make the transition smoother.
No matter how parents decide to sleep with their little one during the first months of their life, it must be a choice that they are comfortable with. By being educated about the different options available and the safety advice available, parents will be able to make an informed decision which will hopefully result in a good night’s sleep for everyone.
