Every year there are new baby products claiming to be safe and intended to help babies sleep better. The problem is, some of them are not safe, and they have not had to meet any kind of safety guidelines. Recently, the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission “approved a new federal rule that will ensure that products marketed or intended for infant sleep will provide a safe sleep environment for babies under 5 months old.” Products will need to meet federal safety standards – there are no requirement at this time. This rule is set to take place mid 2022.
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Canadian Standards
Good Night Sleep Site follows the US Safety Sleep Guidelines, but we also follow Canadian standards as well. We strongly suggest researching products before you buy anything.
The ABC’s of Safe Sleep
We have made it our mission to share the ABC’s of safe sleep. Babies should sleep:
Alone on their
Back in a
Crib or bassinet
We suggest room sharing over bed sharing, and cribs should be kept clear of everything but a certified crib mattress and a well fitted sheet.
Joint Statement on Safe Sleep: Reducing Sudden Infant Deaths in Canada
While we will continue to suggest room sharing over bedsharing, we know that many families are bed sharing. Recent Canadian data shares that a third of mothers reported sharing a bed with their infant everyday and an additional almost third reported doing so occasionally. The Canadian Paediatric Society and Health Canada released a joint statement last month on safe infant sleep to help reduce the risk of SIDS.
“Sudden infant deaths that occur during sleep continue to be a significant public health concern in Canada. This joint statement provides health practitioners with current evidence-based information so they may offer guidance to parents and caregivers to help reduce the risks.”
You can download the pdf here.
Setting up a Safe Nursery
There are several things to consider when setting up your nursery. Placement of crib, window coverings, temperature in the room, products used in the nursery etc. We have rounded up several articles to help you, including this great article from Today’s Parent: 8 unsafe nursery trends that influencers post way too often .
Extra reading:
Setting the temperature in the crib
Why sleep pods are not safe for sleep
All you need to know about sleep sacks
The Newborn Phase
Bringing home a new baby can be overwhelming. Sleep is chaotic, and something you do one day that results in sleep might not work the next day. It can be tempting to buy all of the items that you see online and in new parent groups to help you get through the first few months, but you really don’t need much. A certified crib or bassinet will do. We have some tips for you as well:
And how to help your 3-4 month old sleep better
Guidlines are always changing, be sure to bookmark both the US and Candian sites for easy reference. We are also here to help if you have any questions.
