How to develop a safe sleeping routine for your newborn baby

Helping your baby get a good night’s sleep is at the forefront of most new parent’s thoughts. But how do you develop a safe sleeping routine for your newborn baby that will give you peace of mind?

The first night at home with your baby can make some new parents feel quite anxious. If you’ve been in hospital for the first couple of days, you’ll have had the reassurance of midwives just a moment away.

This article is sponsored by VTech.

Now, in your own home, you’ll be eager to make the sleeping environment as safe and comfortable, as possible. Of course, no new parent is expecting to have a great night’s sleep for some time! You just want to make the surroundings and routine as good for the newest family member as you can.

Safe Sleeping Week

Safe Sleeping Week is dedicated to spreading the Red Nose message to parents and carers about how to sleep baby safely.

VTech is a proud partner of Red Nose supporting education and awareness of safe sleeping practices and promoting the correct use of baby audio and video monitors for new and expectant mums.

We’ve teamed up with them to share some tips on how to get baby to sleep safely and give you peace of mind:

How to Develop a Safe Sleeping Routine for your Newborn Baby

1. Keep an eye on them with a Baby Monitor

For times when you’re not in the same room, such as during the day or before you go to bed, consider a video baby monitor for added peace of mind.

Many new parents love being able to keep an eye on their baby when they’re sleeping. It’s a way to help ensure they’re happy and content without having to go into the room and risk waking them…every parents fear!

With a VTech Safe & Sound Baby Monitor you can have eyes and ears where ever your baby so you won’t miss a thing. A key feature across all VTech Baby Monitors is that they do not attach to the cot and are therefore less likely to become a hazard.

For the opportunity to win a VTech Baby Monitor, keep reading!

2. Sleep baby on the back

Red Nose recommends that when setting a newborn sleep routine, babies should sleep on their backs, not on the tummy or side:

“Placing babies to sleep on the side doubles the risk of SUDI (SIDS and fatal sleeping accidents) and is not recommended as a safe alternative to sleeping a baby on the back. The side position is unstable: a baby is likely to roll into the high-risk tummy position, placing the baby at nine times the risk of SUDI.”

Their research states that “the chance of babies dying suddenly and unexpectedly is greater if they sleep on their tummies or sides.”

3. Do not cover your baby’s head or face while they are asleep

Use lightweight blankets and sleepwear that never covers your baby’s face or head and that doesn’t have the potential to ride up in the night.

If using blankets, place your baby’s feet at the bottom of the cot and ensure that the blanket and sheet is tucked in securely at the bottom and sides or alternatively, use a safe baby sleeping bag.

Ensure during all sleep times there is no loose bedding or toys in the cot that can cover their head or face and cause a suffocation risk.

4. Do not smoke when pregnant, or after your baby is born

Red Nose research states that “babies who are exposed to tobacco toxins during pregnancy or after birth have a significantly higher risk of sudden infant death and the risk increases if a baby sleeps with a parent who is a smoker. These risks still remain even if parents smoke outside, away from their baby.”

You can reduce the risk by ensuring smokers cannot come to your home or wherever your baby is sleeping or spending a lot of time.

5. Sleep your baby where you sleep

Sleeping your baby in your room, in their own cot or bassinet, for the first six to twelve months will reduce the risk of SUDI and also provides parents with the opportunity to keep a closer eye on them. Just not in your bed.

Bassinets or cots can be pulled up close to your bed and provide a safe sleep space night and day.

Giveaway Closed!

We’re giving one lucky reader the chance to win their own VTech BM4500-OWL Safe & Sound Pan & Tilt Video & Audio Baby Monitor, worth $289.

This monitor allows parents to hear every sound your baby makes and watch every step they take on its 4.3” high resolution colour LCD screen.

The camera pans (260 degrees) and tilts (55 degrees) remotely via the parent unit so you can watch as your child moves about. With split-screen capability, you can watch up to four different cameras at once (additional cameras sold separately). With helpful extra’s including temperature sensor, lullabies, and two-way communication, you can rest assured your little one is sleeping safe and sound.

To enter to win this fantastic prize and help your baby have a safe night’s sleep, complete the form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Entries close at 11.59pm on Sunday 25^th March 2018 and the winner will be announced in our newsletter, so make sure you’re signed up here.

Terms and Conditions:

1. These terms and conditions of entry, including information on how to participate and prize details (Terms), apply to the promotion and entry into the promotion is deemed acceptance of these Terms.
2. The promoter is Tell Me Baby. ABN 25 155 148 093.
3. Entry is open to residents of Australia aged 18 years or over excluding:
   a) management, employees, directors and contractors of the Promoter, its related bodies corporate, firms or companies associated with the promotion (including suppliers of prizes);
   b) a spouse, de-facto spouse, parent, guardian, child or sibling of a person referred to in paragraph 3(a) of these Terms;
   c) persons who have breached the terms and conditions of any promotion run by or on behalf of the Promoter, (Eligible Entrants). The persons referred to in paragraph 3(b) of these Terms includes natural and non-natural relations (in the opinion of the Promoter) and the Promoter is responsible for determining whether a person is an Eligible Entrant in its absolute discretion.
4. This Promotion is a game of skill. Chance plays no part in determining the winner.
5. The Promotion ends at 11:59pm 25th March 2018.
6. To enter, Eligible Entrants must complete the entry form on com.au
7. Prize includes 1 x VTech BM4500 OWL. Cost of delivery will be at the expense of VTech.
8. Incomplete entries or those that contain defamatory comments are ineligible to win.
9. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any entries not received for any reason during the promotion period. No responsibility will be taken for lost, late or misdirected entries. The Promoter does not warrant that the entry mechanism will be available at all times during the Promotion Period.
10. Eligible Entrants may only enter once and in their own name.
11. The winning Eligible Entry/Entries will be chosen by a selection panel based on the entrant’s creativity and skill. The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered in to.
12. If an Eligible Entrant wins a prize, they must be a Subscriber at the time of it being awarded.
13. Winners will be notified by email and their name will be published in our weekly newsletter.
14. The Promoter will do its best to contact the winner/s. If a winner does not accept their prize within one month of being chosen, the Promoter will select the next best Eligible Entry/Entries.
15. The Promoter reserves the right to select alternate winner/s if it determines in its sole discretion that the winner/s do not adequately satisfy these terms and conditions.
16. Prizes are not transferable and not redeemable for cash.
17. The prize winner is responsible for any expenses, fees and costs connected with the prizes that are not included in the prize descriptions.
18. The prize(s) will be delivered to the residential address as provided by the winner(s) by the prize supplier. The Promoter conducts this Promotion on behalf of the prize supplier and is not responsible for any loss, damage or delivery of the prize once the prize supplier has been provided with the winner’s details.
19. The Promoter and their promotional partners are not responsible for any loss or damage in relation to the prize once it has been awarded.
20. The Promoter reserves the right to change the dates of the promotion if required. If for any reason the promotion is incapable of being run as planned, including due to infection by infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorised intervention, fraud or any other causes beyond the control of the Promoter, which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Promotion, the Promoter reserves the right in its absolute discretion to take any action that may be available to it, including cancelling, terminating, modifying or suspending the Promotion. Notice of any changes to the promotion will be given at http://tellemebaby.com.au/competitions
21. Any Eligible Entrant who, in the opinion of the Promoter, tampers or interferes with the entry mechanism in any way, engages in any unlawful or improper conduct which jeopardises or is likely to jeopardise the fair or proper conduct of the Promotion, or who does not properly comply with the entry process, will be ineligible to receive a prize or enter further promotions run by the Promoter.
22. All entries become the property of the Promoter. Once submitted, your entry will not be returned to you. By entering the promotion, Eligible Entrants acknowledge that the Promoter is granted a worldwide, non-exclusive, irrevocable licence in perpetuity to reproduce, publish, adapt, communicate and broadcast all or part of their entry in any media for the purposes of this competition and inclusion in the Promoters products and marketing materials.
23. The Promoter and its promotional partners will use the personal information contained in your entry to conduct the promotion, and award the prize. If you win a prize, the Promoter can use your name to credit you for your entry and for marketing purposes.
24. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest. We hereby release Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest of any liability. You understand that you are providing your information to Tell Me Baby and not to Facebook.
25. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A purchase or payment of any kind will not increase your chances of winning. This Promotion is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook