It's important to keep your baby warm and comfortable while sleeping, but there are certain factors that must be considered in order to keep your baby safe. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is often associated with the baby's bedding, body temperature, and sleeping position. Therefore, it is important to know about the best sleeping habits, including keeping the baby warm, to reduce the risk of SIDS.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Setting Up a Baby's Room to Keep Baby Warm and Safe
Step 1. Change the room temperature
The nursery should be a comfortable and safe place to rest. You can help your baby rest well by adjusting the room temperature to create a calm and healthy environment.
The recommended temperature for the nursery should be between 20-22.2 °C to keep the baby safe and comfortable
Step 2. Place the cot in the ideal location
The position of the baby's cot in the room will affect how hot the baby's condition will be. Keep in mind several factors that can affect room temperature when you place furniture in the nursery.
- The cot should be a few meters from windy windows, air vents, fans and air conditioners so that the baby is not exposed to cold or hot air directly.
- Keep your baby away from windy windows, especially if the curtains are equipped with strings that can blow in the wind. Curtain strings pose a potential choking hazard for babies.
Step 3. If possible, choose a baby cot that is SNI certified or manufactured by a trusted manufacturer
You should use a certified baby cot, which does not pose a potential hazard to the baby. The bars on the cot should not be too narrow or too wide so as not to trap the baby's limbs, and there should be no hanging objects as this could pose a choking or choking risk.
- When buying a baby cot, if possible, look for products that are SNI certified so that they are safe for babies. SNI (Indonesian National Standard) is a standard set by the National Standardization Agency and applies nationally.
- The cot should be stable and equipped with a firm and firm mattress so that it is safe for the baby to sleep on his back.
- Your baby can sleep in a cot placed in your room, but don't let your baby sleep with you or anyone else in a cot or chair as this can increase the risk of baby smothering and overheating.
Step 4. Use a firm, firm mattress
Babies should sleep in cots with mattresses that are not too soft. Mattresses made of materials that are too soft have the potential to cause the baby to smother.
- A firm and firm mattress allows babies to sleep on their backs safely and reduces the risk of SIDS. Babies can sleep on their stomach after they learn to turn themselves around at six months.
- Keep your baby warm on a firm, firm mattress by using a flannel sheet that is the right size and fits tightly. Sheets should not be pulled and lumpy because it can cover the baby's nose and mouth and increase the risk of the baby suffocating.
Step 5. Warm the cot with a hot water bottle or heating pad
You may need to warm the cot if it's too cold in the house. The best thing you can do is to keep the nursery warm enough for the baby to sleep comfortably, even in light pajamas and no thick blankets.
- Place a hot water bottle or electric blanket on the baby's cot a few moments before he puts him to sleep. Make sure you remove the bottle or blanket before placing the baby in the cot to avoid overheating or burns.
- Do not leave the electric blanket in the cot. The blanket will cause the baby to overheat. Small babies are not able to regulate the temperature for themselves, so you have to be very careful. Never use loose blankets in a cot to reduce the risk of SIDS.
Part 2 of 2: Keeping Baby Warm and Safe in the Crib
Step 1. Put the pajamas on the baby
Baby pajamas should be able to make the baby feel warm and comfortable while sleeping, as well as safe. Make sure you don't wear clothes that are too warm on your baby, especially if the room temperature is rising.
- Wear light pajamas on your baby that cover most of the body if you are concerned about the baby's comfort. This kind of clothing is sometimes called a “onesie” (frog dress).
- According to SIDS prevention guidelines, ideally babies should wear no more than one layer of clothing, or no more than adults in the same environment would wear.
- If you want to swaddle your baby, use only one thin onesie to prevent the baby from overheating.
Step 2. Newborn baby with a swaddle
Swaddling the baby helps him maintain body temperature and allows him to sleep on his back comfortably. You can also purchase a blanket with an easy-to-use cover or use a light, square-shaped blanket to make your own blanket.
- Fold the thin square blanket diagonally to form a triangle.
- Lay the baby in the middle of the triangle with the feet pointing downwards.
- Pull one side of the blanket over the baby's chest. You can leave your baby's arm free so he can suck his fingers.
- Turn the bottom edge of the blanket toward your chest so that it covers the baby's feet.
- Take the last edge of the blanket over the baby's chest, wrapping it tightly, but not too tightly.
Step 3. Lay the baby on the bed on his back
Sleep position is a factor that can increase the risk of SIDS. Laying the baby in the supine position is considered the best and safest sleeping position.
Do not put the baby to sleep on his back or on his side. Putting the baby to sleep on his back or side can increase the risk of the baby choking or smothering by his clothes and sheets / blankets
Step 4. Keep the cot clean and free from piles of stuff
A clean cot is a safe bed. Do not use blankets or other loose fabrics as this can put the baby at risk of suffocation. You can keep your baby warm with a light blanket that is pinned to the foot of the mattress and pulled over the body, but not beyond the armpits.
- Soft toys and loose blankets have the potential to pose a smothering hazard and increase the risk of SIDS.
- Babies should not sleep on pillows. If your baby turns his head during sleep, he may be caught by the loose ends of the pillow or pillowcase.
Step 5. Take care not to overheat the baby
Babies can get dehydrated if they overheat and sweat too much. Excessive heat has been associated with an increased risk of SIDS.
- Several cases of SIDS have been associated with overheated infants. Make sure you watch your baby's temperature to make sure it doesn't go over 37.7 °C.
- Regulate the temperature in the nursery and monitor the baby for signs of overheating, such as sweating on the chest or in his hairline.
- Do not cover the baby's face with a blanket or swaddle the baby too thickly. Do not allow a baby to wear or be wrapped in more than one layer of clothing, or more than an adult would wear in the same room temperature.
- In hot weather, baby may only need to sleep in a onesie or may only wear a diaper.
Tips
- Consider using a baby sleeping bag. Look for a size that can be adjusted so that it can be used by babies and toddlers, and has a two-way zipper to allow for air circulation. Make sure the sleeping bag has no sleeves to prevent the baby from overheating. Your baby will feel warm and comfortable in the sleeping bag.
- You don't want your baby to overheat when the weather is hot. If the room is too hot, you may need to turn on the fan in the nursery, but don't place it too close to the baby or point it directly at him.
Warning
- Don't make the baby too warm. It's possible that you're making the baby too warm. Babies who sleep in an environment that is too warm are likely to be so deep that they can't wake up on their own when they have trouble breathing.
- Do not wrap the baby loosely. Blankets can cover the baby and pose a suffocation hazard.
