When I wrote about surviving changes in your baby’s sleep, I briefly discussed creating an ideal sleep environment for your baby. But what exactly does that mean? According to the National Library of Medicine, essentially a ideal sleep environment for your baby is a “room that is quiet, dark and at a slightly cool temperature”. While that’s the basics, let’s dive in a a bit deeper.
Ideal Sleep Environment For Your Baby
ABC’s of Safe Sleep
- ALONE– When it comes to your baby sleeping, they should be sleeping alone.
- BACK– Until your baby is able to roll over on their own, they should be sleeping on their back.
- CRIB– Your baby should be sleeping in a crib, bassinet, or play-yard (pack & play).
Crib
- Baby’s crib mattress should be firm and has no gaps larger than two fingers between the sides of the crib and the mattress.
- Aside from a fitted sheet avoid blankets, pillows, toys, etc. in crib with your baby.
- It’s recommended you place your crib close to the door, away from windows, and not directly against a wall.
Room & Windows
- When painting your baby’s room, keep in mind soft colors! Think pastels, soft blues, lavender, muted greens, and neutrals. All can evoke calm and help stimulate sleep.
- On a scale on 1-10 with one being bright and 10 being pitch black, it’s recommend that your baby’s room should be between 8-10. Blackout curtains can help!
- Ideal temperature for your baby’s room while they sleep is between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sound
- Keep non-white noise to a minimum when you’re little one is sleeping.
- White noise can help your little one sleep as long as the volume is not more than 50 decibels (average noise level of a vacuum cleaner).
- Not all white noise is the same or will work for your baby. Take the time to find what works best for your little one the best.
