October is Safe Sleep Awareness Month! This year, we wanted to go beyond the ABCs of safe sleep (babies sleep safest Alone, on their Back, and in a Crib or portable crib) and address a common concern this time of year – how can I ensure my baby doesn’t get cold overnight without a blanket?
Overheating is a contributing factor to sleep-related deaths for infants. Overbundling in multiple layers of clothing and blankets or keeping room temperatures too warm has been shown to increase the risk of an infant overheating. What can be done instead?
Safe Sleep Academy suggests sticking to the following three rules to keep baby safe and warm overnight:
- Rule #1: Dress Your Baby Appropriately for the Environment. Don’t dress an infant in more than one additional layer than what an adult would need to be comfortable in that same environment.
- Rule #2: Avoid Hats and Other Head Coverings. Hats and head coverings can increase the risk of overheating or slip down baby’s face, putting them at risk of suffocation.
- Rule #3: Don’t Use Blankets. Like hats, blankets can put infants at risk of overheating, as well as suffocation and strangulation.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using wearable blankets – also known as sleep sacks – as the safest alternatives to blankets. As long as the environment is kept at a comfortable temperature for adults (~68-70 degrees F), it should also be comfortable for baby. Signs that baby is too hot include sweating, flushing/red or hot skin, or their chest feeling hot to the touch.
Want to learn more about safe sleep?
Read our blog post from October 2022 (Solo Sleep is Safe Sleep), join the Safe Infant Sleep – Evidence-Based Support Group on Facebook, and attend our upcoming Safe Sleep Training with Infant Loss Resources on November 8th !