Mercy Health — Springfield Regional Medical Center Birthing Center
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Safe Sleep
It’s natural to focus on (or obsess over) the topic of sleep when there’s a newborn in the house. Sleep is important to their health and development. And, of course, you want them to sleep so you can catch up on your sleep too. But did you know that how and where your baby sleeps is more important than when they sleep?
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How to Help Your Baby Sleep Safely Follow these five easy steps until your baby turns 1 year old: Always lay your baby to sleep on his or her back. Whether it’s naptime or bedtime, lay your baby on his or her back – never on the stomach or side. Babies who sleep on their stomachs may breathe in less oxygen and may be more likely to overheat. And infants placed on their side are more likely to roll onto their tummy while they’re sleeping. Lay baby on a firm, flat surface. Your baby should only sleep on a firm mattress that is covered with a tight-fitted sheet. It’s tempting to let your little one sleep on the couch after a feeding. And whenever possible, avoid letting your baby sleep in his or her car seat, bouncer or swing. Young infants have weak neck muscles, causing their heads to fall forward during sleep and restrict their breathing. Don’t put anything in the crib or bassinet except your baby. Do not let your baby sleep with pillows, blankets, stuffed animals or bumper pads. Bedding and soft objects pose suffocation or strangulation risks, or may cause your baby to overheat. If you’re concerned that your child is cold, dress him or her in an extra layer of clothing or a sleep sack. Share your bedroom – NOT your bed. It is recommended babies sleep in the same room as their parents for the first year of life. However, they should sleep in their own crib or bassinet. It’s hard to resist snuggling with your baby in bed, but the risk of suffocation from pillows and blankets – or a sleeping adult rolling on top of them – is too high. Common Myths about Infant Sleep Safety Parents are often overwhelmed with information. It can be difficult to recognize outdated advice, or separate fact from fiction. Your baby will not choke while sleeping on their back. Babies spit up. A lot. They spit up after feeding, during play and at rest. Some people mistakenly believe that stomach-sleeping prevents choking. Stomach-sleeping only increases your baby’s risk of death. No matter how frequently your baby spits up, back-sleeping is still safest. Older babies love to roll, but should still start on their backs. Babies eventually grow strong enough to roll on their own. At that point, they may flip onto their stomachs while they’re sleeping. If your baby rolls onto his or her stomach during sleep, you don’t have to turn them back over (and risk waking them up). But you should continue placing your baby on his or her back at naptime and bedtime for the first 12 months of life. |
YoMingo®
Mercy Health offers 24/7 parent education powered by YoMingo®, an education program designed to give you convenient access to valuable information. It includes the tools and support you need at every stage of your journey.
YoMingo gives you access to:
- Evidence-based information on prenatal care, labor & birth, postpartum, breastfeeding, and newborn care including lots of videos
- Information specific to your arrival and stay at Mercy Health
- List of available classes and support groups
- Kick counter, contraction timer, personal journal, feeding log, immunization log, and other tools
This education powered by YoMingo is available on any device with an internet connection and also as a mobile app called YoMingo.
Register for the program by clicking here:
Once you have registered, you will receive an email invitation from noreply@yomingo.com where you will be provided unique login credentials. If you do not receive the email in your inbox, be sure to check your junk/spam folder. You can also download the mobile app version by searching your app store for “YoMingo”
Already registered? Log in here: https://app.yomingo.com/
Disclaimer: The information in YoMingo® is NOT intended to take the place of a healthcare provider or any information that your healthcare provider has discussed with you about your own personal health. It is imperative and advised that you find care and work with your healthcare provider to keep yourself healthy and safe. Always call your healthcare provider with any questions you may have. By creating an account in YoMingo, you have verified that you have read and agree to this disclaimer.