Sleeping safely

Sleeping safely

Reducing the risk of cot death

Sadly we still don't know why some babies die suddenly and for no apparent reason from what is called 'cot death' or 'sudden infant death syndrome' (SIDS). But we do know that placing a baby to sleep on his or her back reduces the risk and that exposing a baby to cigarette smoke or overheating also increases the risk.

Suggestions for reducing the risk of cot death:

always put your baby to sleep on his or her back in the feet-to-foot position (this means that the baby's feet are right at the end of the cot to prevent the baby wriggling down under the covers);

• do not smoke during pregnancy - fathers too;
• don't let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby;
• don't let your baby get too hot and don't overheat the room;
• don't cover your baby's head in the bed;
• if your baby looks unwell, see the doctor straight away;

• do not share a bed with your baby if you have been drinking alcohol, taking drugs or are a smoker.
• don't give your baby a pillow or duvet until he/she is at least one year old.

The safest place for your baby for the first six months is in a cot in your room. While it's lovely to have your baby with you for a cuddle or a feed it is safest to put him back in his cot.

Getting the right temperature

Little babies are not very good at controlling their own temperature. It is important to prevent them from getting too hot or getting chilled. Overheating is known to be a factor in cot death.
If the you are comfortably wearing light clothing in the room, then the temperature will be acceptable for the baby to wear light clothing too.
Your baby should wear one light layer of clothing more than you. If the room is hot, keep your babies clothing and bed covering light.
It is good to take your baby into your bed for comfort, but when your baby falls asleep he/she might find it too hot under your heavy duvet.
Don't cover your baby's head with anything because this is where babies loose most of their heat when temperature is too high.
Never use an electric blanket or hot water bottle. Babies have delicate skin and may burn easily.
Ill or feverish babies don't need any extra bedding. Actually they need fewer.
Remove hats and extra clothing as soon as you enter a warm room, car or bus, even if it wakes your baby up.

Clean air

Babies shouldn't be exposed to tobacco smoke either before or after birth. If you or anyone else who looks after your baby smokes, make sure you don't smoke near the baby. It would be even better if you completely give up. Smoke is still present in the air that you breathe out even a considerable time after you have finished smoking. Babies and young children who breathe smoke in the air are more likely to be asthmatic and get colds, coughs, chest and ear infections.

Cot Matresses

According to current research toxic gases found in some fire retardant cot matresses does not increase the risk of cot death at all. If your baby is at all unwell, seek medical advice as soon as possible. Remember that cot death is rare, so don't let worrying about cot death ruin your first few months with your newborn.

Lack of sleep

Disturbed nights can be very hard to bear. If you are bottle feeding, encourage your partner to help share the feeding. Many fathers find it a valuable time for getting to know their babies. If you are breast feeding, your partner may be happy to take over the early morning changing so that you can go back to sleep. Or once breast feeding is established they could occassionally give an expressed bottle of breast milk.

How to make baby sleep

Getting to sleep

Sleep patterns

In the first few weeks your baby's sleeping pattern is not likely to fit in with your need for sleep. Try to follow your baby's needs. You'll gradually get to know when sleep is needed. Don't catch up on housework while your baby sleeps. Snatch sleep and rest whenever you can.

Some babies sleep much more than others. Some sleep for long periods, some in short. Some quickly learn to sleep right through the night, some don't for a long time. Your baby will have his or her own pattern of waking and sleeping, and it is unlikely to be the same as other babies you know.

A baby who wants to sleep is not likely to be disturbed by household noise, so there's no need to keep the house silent while your baby sleeps. Indeed it will help you in the long run if your baby gets used to sleeping through a certain level of noise.

Parents often want their children to learn to sleep at night for the longest period (while they are sleeping). It helps to encourage night-time sleeping right from the start by teaching your baby the night time is different from the daytime. Suggestions to help distinguish night from day, during the night:
keep the lights down low;
keep your voice as low as possible and don't talk much;
put your baby down as soon as you have fed or changed him/her;
nappy changing wakes him/her up so don't change your baby if it's not necessary.

If your baby always falls asleep in your arms, at your breast, in your partners arms, or with someone by the cot, he or she is less likely to settle alone. This might not matter to you and may be unavoidable in the early weeks, particularly with a breastfed baby. If you want your baby to get used to going off to sleep alone it is wise to start putting the baby down before he/she falls asleep right from the beginning whenever possible. However you may need to wait until the baby is awake and alert for longer, more frequent periods. Remember though, the longer you leave it, the more difficult it will become.

When you have created a pattern you may wish to move things around a bit. For example you may wake your baby for a feed just before you go to bed in the hope that he/she will sleep for a longer period.

Feeding Time FAQs

Feeding Time FAQs

When can I start breastfeeding my baby?

So long as both you and baby are well, you will be able to hold him or her straight away, and babies are often delivered onto their mum's tummy as skin-to-skin contact is reassuring for both. As soon as the placenta has been dealt with, you can start breastfeeding straight away. Ask your midwife to help you to put baby to the breast.

Does breastfeeding hurt? and can I avoid the pain?

If breastfeeding hurts then your baby's position may be wrong. If you can't get the position right, ask for help. Pain in your nipple when your baby first latches on indicates your nipple is not at the back of your baby's mouth.

My nipples are cracked and painful, what can I do?

When you start breastfeeding your nipples may become dry, cracked and sore. This is common in the first few days but it may be worth asking your midwife or health visitor to check your baby is positioned correctly as this may be a cause of discomfort.
Sore nipples can be further eased by:
keeping nipples clean and dry, but try not to use soap which dries out the skin;
change breast pads frequently, and try to use cotton rather than plastic-backed disposables;
wear natural fabrics which are breatheable such as cotton, and let the air get to your nipples as much as possible;
after a feed, rub a couple of drops of breast milk into your nipples;
try a nipple cream. Choose one which doesn't need to be wiped off before you feed such as Lancinol.

Could anything else be causing sore nipples?

Thrush in your baby's mouth can sometimes cause sore nipples. Thrush is an infection that creates small white patches in the baby's mouth which don't wipe away (not to be confused with milk left on the tongue). If your baby has thrush both of you will need medical treatment.

What is breast engorgement?

Breast engorgement is when breasts become swollen, hard and painful. It occurs when the a milk duct in the breast becomes blocked and often occurs if there has been a delay in starting breastfeeding, or a limit to the amount of time or frequency of your baby's feeds. It rarely happens if you feed on demand although may also occur if your baby is ill and not feeding as frequently as usual.

I have a hard, painful lump in my breast. What is it?

It is probably milk which has built up because a duct is blocked and isn't emtying properly. Make sure your bra is not too tight and nothing is pressing into your breast as you feed.
Try massaging the lump towards the nipple whilst giving a good feed on that breast. It may help to alternate pressing hot and cold flannels onto the lump. If left untreated, blocked ducts can lead to mastitis.

I have flu symptoms and there is a painful, red, hot patch on my breast. Why?

You may have mistitis. Do not stop breastfeeding as you need to maintain milk flow to clear the blocked duct. Try different positions and the suggestions above for relieving blocked ducts. Rest well and try not to wear a bra or restrictive clothing, especially at night. A health visitor can provide further information, help and support.
If you have an infection, you may need to take antibiotics. Your GP can prescribe something suitable while breastfeeding.

Bottle Sterilisation Methods

Sterilisation methods
Start by cleaning the bottle and teat in hot, soapy water as soon as possible after a feed to remove every trace of milk. Then rinse completely.
Steam sterilising - follow the manufacturer's instructions which usually state you should place the bottles and teats face down in the machine. Make sure the unit is sealed before switching on. It is best to start a steam cycle shortly before a feed as any equipment not used immediately should be re-sterilised before use.
Microwave sterilising (steam) - similar system to above, but instead of the machine creating the steam, the microwave produces it by heating up the water. Make sure you purchase a kit which is an appropriate size to fit into your microwave leaving enough space for the plate to turn. As above, any equipment not used immediately should be re-sterilised.
Cold water sterilisation - follow the manufacturer's instructions. Bottles can be left in the sterilising solution for a minimum of 30 minutes and maximum of 24 hours (when the solution should be changed). Bottles and teats should be placed in the container face-up taking care to ensure there are no air bubbles.

bottle feeding

Bottle Feeding

If you are not breastfeeding, you can use infant formula milk instead, however since this does not contain any antibodies there is a greater risk of your baby developing infections. Unless recommended by a health visitor or GP you must always follow the manufacturer's instructions for sterilising bottles and making up feeds.
Most infant formulas are based on cow's milk. Any other formula, such as soya-based, should only be given upon the advice of your GP which may be in situations where there is a strong family history of eczema, asthma or food allergies and you are not breastfeeding.