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SLEEPING SOUNDLY
Helping take the worry out of sleep safet

At mothercare we understand that your new baby’s sleep safety is your number one priority right now. Here we take a few moments to alleviate some of the more stress-inducing concerns, offering advice and suggestions that we think will put a few of those sleep-time issues to bed.

Sleeping position
Babies are too young to roll themselves over in their sleep and you should therefore lay them down on their backs. Recent research shows that cot death is more common in babies who go to sleep on their tummies.

• Some mums worry that babies on their back might be sick and choke, but there is no evidence this happens. However babies with special medical problems may need to be nursed on their tummies – if this is the case, your doctor, midwife or health visitor will explain why.
   
• Always place your baby on his/her back to sleep. The recommended sleeping position for babies is the ‘feet to foot’ position, so that they cannot shuffle down under the covers.
   
• About Cot Death Article
   

 

A place to sleep
When you put your baby to bed, you want her to be comfortable and safe, and that starts with where she sleeps.

• For the first few weeks baby can sleep in a carrycot, crib or moses basket conforming to British Standards 7551, firm planted on the floor or secure base.

• By the time your baby gets to three months old she should be sleeping in a proper cot.

• The cot should be strong, without cracked or broken slats, with no points or edges.

• Place the cot away from ledges or appliances that can be grabbed by exploring little hands. Never position your cot near a radiator, beneath a frequently used shelf, or a wall-hanging frame, especially one containing glass or mirror.

• Most of our cots have an adjustable-height mattress base. This reduces awkward stretching and is a relief in the early months when you are to and fro with your baby all the time. But the base must be fully lowered as soon as your baby can sit up and well before she can pull herself up into standing position.

• Most of our cots have drop sides to make life easier, and the mechanism – designed to be easy for you to use – will defeat the most determined toddler. You may want to choose the convenient one-handed system.

• Cot beds are larger than average and convert to a child’s bed. This is good investment because it can be used for a wider age range.

• Travel cots solve the problem of where baby sleeps when you go away. But do not use it as a playpen unless it is designed for that use.

 

Sleep safe
Great progress has been made in identifying the factors that play a part in cot death. A few simple precautions should give you greater peace of mind and significantly reduce the risk:

• Avoid smoking in pregnancy – dads-to-be too.

• Put your baby to sleep on his/her back.

• Don’t let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby.

• Ensure that your baby does not get too hot.

• Keep your baby’s head uncovered.

• If your baby is unwell, seek medical advice at once.

• Don’t fall asleep with your baby on a sofa.

• Quilts, duvets and pillows should not be used for babies under 12 months old, due to the possibility of overheating.

• Don’t share a bed with your baby if you or your partner smoke, have been drinking alcohol, taking drugs or medication which makes you drowsy or excessively tired.

• Keep your baby’s cot in your bedroom for the first 6 months.

 

Choose the right mattress

• Our mattresses are available in a range of sizes to fit everything from moses baskets and pram to cots and cot beds. You can therefore choose the right mattress for each stage of your baby’s development.

• The mattress support should be firm and snug, the gap between mattress and cot should be no more than 4cm – remember, a mattress must be the correct size for the cot, as little body parts can easily get trapped.

• We recommended that you buy a new mattress for every baby. This is because the interior of the mattress can compress through the increasing weight and size of a growing baby or child, and this may not be ideal for a newborn.

 

Mattress hygiene tips

• Regularly wipe clean the surface of any mattress and vacuum or sponge clean any non-removable covers.

• Turn the mattress regularly to maintain its shape.

• Rotate the mattress head to foot, so that both ends are used equally.

 

Mothercare Mattress Range

Mothercare One-piece foam mattress

• provides good support and comfort for newborn and younger babies.
• one-piece non-allergenic inner foam core.
• wipe clean, waterproof, white non-PVC cover for hygiene and protection against dust mites.

 

 

 

 

 

Mothercare Sleepright® Spring interior mattress with CoolMax® by Dupont

• CoolMax® is a fibre that is knitted into the unique zip-off panel, it helps draw moisture away from a baby's skin.
• wash the top panel at 60°C to kill any dust mites and then line or tumble dry thoroughly.
• sturdy coiled springs, plus layers of foam and cotton felt for support.
• hygienic white PVC layer beneath the panel covers the mattress core.
  reinforced edges.

 

 

 

Mothercare Sleepright® foam mattress core with CoolMax® by Dupont

• all the benefits of the unique zip-off top panel.
• good support for newborn and younger babies.
• foam core enclosed in a permanent, protective, airtight PVC covering.

 

 

 

 

 

Spring interior mattress with Amicor™ pure

• sturdy coiled springs covered with polyester foam provides the best back, neck and head support for your developing baby.
• Amicor™ pure is a revolutionary anti-fungal fibre that is part of the fabric enclosing the mattress.
• repels dust mites that cause allergens in bedding by removing their food source.
• help prevent your child's sensitivity to asthma.
• sponge washable.

 

 

 

 

Click on CoolMax® Mattress - Infomation for more detail

How much bedding do I need?

• We always recommend that quilts and duvets should NOT be used for babies under 12 months, owing to the possibility of overheating.

• We also recommend that you do not let a baby under 12 months sleep on a pillow, cushion, bean bag or waterbed or with a hot water bottle.

• Do not put a baby to sleep in direct sunlight or near a radiator or other heat source.

• Bumpers are suitable for babies from newborn up to the age at which they start to sit up unaided. Remove bumper once your child starts to pull him/herself up.

• We recommend that you use a combination of sheets and blankets so layers can be added or removed. Remember, a blanket doubled over counts as two layers.

• Parents or carers should check the temperature of the room and most importantly, feel the baby to see whether he/she is too hot or sweaty (it is normal for hands and feet to feel cool). This is a sign the remove layers of bedding.

 

TOG RATING: The tog system measures the insulating properties of fabrics. The higher the tog rating, the greater the warmth. Mothercare applies this to our sleeping bags, coverlets, quilts and duvets.

Babies need to be warm, but not too hot to sleep well and to sleep safely. A steady temperature of 18(° C) in their room is perfect. Try using a room thermometer to help you get it just right for your baby.

 

How much do I need to buy?

For Moses Basket, Pram or Crib

For Cot or Cot Bed

Give sleeping bags a go

Is there a baby in the world who doesn’t kick off the top bedding, get chilly in the middle of the night, and decide to wake up the whole house? One great modern-day solution is a Mothercare baby sleeping bag, the snuggly alternative to traditional blankets and top sheets