15 - Safe Sleep Strategies: Keeping Your Baby Safe and Sound

In this episode of Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies, and the Battle for Sleep, Doula Deb dives into the essential topic of safe sleep practices. Whether you’re an expectant parent or already in the thick of sleepless nights, this episode delivers evidence-based tips that will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and ready to tackle bedtime with confidence.

Listeners will discover the ABCs of safe sleep—Alone, Back, Crib—practical tips for creating a safe and cozy sleep setup, and insights into room sharing versus bed-sharing. Deb also tackles common sleep myths, breaking down fact from fiction in a way that’s both reassuring and actionable. And for those navigating the complexities of bed-sharing, she introduces the “Safe Seven” guidelines to help parents minimize risks while making decisions that work for their family.

This episode isn’t just about safety; it’s about finding balance and creating peace of mind during one of the most challenging stages of parenting. If you’re ready to feel less stressed and more confident about your baby’s sleep, this is the episode for you. Grab your headphones—you won’t want to miss these game-changing insights!

For free downloadable resources, visit my website or come hang out with me on social media!

Transcript

Welcome to Doula Talk, where we talk about all things postpartum, babies, and the battle for sleep. I'm Doula Deb, here to guide you through parenthood, where sleep feels like a long lost friend, and everything from diapers to developmental milestones keeps you on your toes. Whether you're tackling sleepless nights, newborn quirks, toddler antics, or just trying to find what works for your family, I got you. With years of experience, real talk advice, and a dash of humor, I'm here to help you find your rhythm.

So grab your coffee or your toddler's leftover snack, settle in, and let's get into it.

Hey guys, welcome back to Doula Talk. As you know, this month is about sleep and today we're going to talk all about sleep safety. If you've ever found yourself Googling, "how do I make sure my baby is safe while sleeping" at 2 a.m.? This episode is for you. Whether you're an expectant parent or already in the thick of midnight wake ups, I've got your back with evidence-based advice and a judgment free vibe.

Let's talk about keeping those tiny humans safe and sound while catching those Z's ourselves. First, we're going to talk about why safe sleep practices matter. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, following these guidelines significantly reduces the risk of sudden infant and unknown death syndrome. It's now called SUIDS and other sleep-related injuries. Now, I know this can be scary topic, but knowledge is power. My goal is to give you a clear, actionable steps to create a safe sleep environment that works for your family.

Alright parents, here's the golden rule of safe sleep. Follow the ABCs. A is for alone. Your baby should always be sleeping in its own space free of pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, and bumpers, which can all be a suffocation hazard. B is for back. Always place your baby on their back to sleep. Whether it's nap time or bedtime, babies are safest when they snooze on their backs. And C, C is for crib or bassinet.

That means use a firm flat mattress with a fitted sheet. And if you're a fan of those bedside sleepers, make sure they meet safety standards. One little tip I do is put a mattress protector, a fitted sheet, another mattress protector, and another fitted sheet. So you have two sets of sheets on there. If there happens to be a deeper blowout or a little spin up on that mattress,

All you do in the middle of the night is take that top fitted sheet and mattress protector off, and then you're good to go. No middle of the night trying to get those fitted sheets on that crib mattress. you can just focus on getting everybody back to sleep. Let's tackle the next big question. Should my baby sleep in my room or their own room? The AAP recommends room sharing for at least the first six months and ideally up to a year.

And having your baby nearby can reduce the risk of SUIDS and make night time feedings easier for parents. So everybody can get back to sleep a little quicker. All right. Let's talk about some practical tips that making safe sleep doable for your family. Number one is swaddling. If your baby isn't rolling yet, swaddling can help them feel secure and safe. And once they start moving, it's time to transition to a sleep sack or other wearable blanket, like the Merlin suit or

The Dreamland weighted blanket swaddle is one of my favorites. So next thing is temperature, temperature control. Um, I like to keep things a little on the cooler side, um, for sleeping. shows that people sleep better at the cooler temperatures, um, anywhere between 68 and 72, um, and then dress your baby accordingly. So if you guys like it a little bit cooler than that, just add an extra layer on your baby so that they can stay nice and warm.

One way to know if your baby is cold, I usually get to the hands, toes, ears, and nose test. So if any of those body parts hold, or chilly, in a layer, see how that feels. number three is going to be pacifier. studies show that offering a pacifier for sleep time can help reduce the risk of swits. And if your baby doesn't want it, no big deal. It's just one of those tools in your toolkit. And if it happens to be available for your baby, just a little...

Side note, we try to not do pacifiers super early on because those newborns who have those teeny tiny tummies, they may be sucking because they're hungry. So we want to pay attention in those early weeks, you know, under three to four weeks, that if they are sucking for more than just a few minutes, they probably are hungry and you should go ahead and feed them. But outside of that, sometimes sucking can be a really comforting tool to also keep your baby safe for snakes.

number four is consistency, creating that bedtime routine to help your baby and you wind down even simple steps like reading a story or a lullaby can work wonders helping everybody sleep more. So I want to acknowledge that co-sleeping is practiced safely in many cultures worldwide. We've been doing this from the dawn of time. If bed sharing feels like it's the right choice for your family, let's just go ahead and explore the ways to reduce the risks.

We want to make sure that you're informed of the safest practices and potential trade-offs of co-sleeping. If you're considering the midsharing or even if you think you won't, knowing these safe seven is really key. I want to do a whole nother episode on this so that we can be really clear about the guidelines, but I want to go over them really quickly with you today. And I encourage you to look them up for further guidance. These guidelines are designed to reduce the risks and help parents create a safer sleep environment. Let's go ahead and break it down.

Number one, non-smoking parents only. If anyone in the household smokes, bed sharing is not a safe option, period. Two, sober and alert caregivers. Alcohol, drugs, including certain medications, like, you know, if you had a C-section or you have pain medication on board, co-sleeping is not the best option. even extreme fatigue can impair your awareness and make bed sharing really unsafe for your baby. it's not that you don't love them, it's just that

When you are that exhausted or under the influence of a medication, alcohol, or drugs, you are not going to be the safest place for your baby in the bed. Breastfeeding is going to be best for this situation because the studies show that breastfeeding parents tend to be more instinctually in the position in their bodies in a way that is protective for bed sharing. Now, this doesn't mean that formula feeding parents are not as aware or don't love their babies as much.

It just shows behaviors of breastfeeding tend to be more conducive to bed sharing than not. Having number four is having a healthy, full term baby. sharing is safest when you have a healthy babies that are over 39 weeks of gestation and we have better outcomes with that. Number five is always put your baby on your back. Even in bed sharing setups, always place your baby on your back and not on their tummies. Number six.

Keep your bedding minimal. Use a firm mattress, no loose blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals near your baby. Make sure to dress your baby warmly instead of relying on the covers. And then that goes for you too, because covers can't go on you that are next to your baby. So make sure that you dress warmly so that you don't have to have those covers on you that might accidentally go on top of the baby. And number seven, baby needs to stay close to mom or the birthing parent.

Babies should stay on the breastfeeding parent's side of the bed, away from pillows and the edge. Never place them between two adults or near other children or pets. These guidelines are simple, but really powerful tools to keep your safe sleep environment if you share a bed with your baby. While, while intentional bed sharing with the Safe 7 can be done relatively safely, there are some things you should always avoid in these situations.

No couches or recliner sleeping. These are the most dangerous places to fall asleep with your baby. So if you feel like you might doze off, move to a bed set up with a safe bed sharing guidelines. Next one is going to be soft surfaces that babies will fall into. like water beds, memory foam mattresses, and couches are really not suitable for co-sleeping because of the potential of babies slipping down or accidentally getting their, their face where they can't breathe very well. Instead, make sure to choose a firm, flat mattress where it can be safe as possible. and we did talk about this already, but the next one is heavy bedding. So DeVay's quilt's fluffy blankets that they should all be kept away and far away from your baby. All right, let's bust some myths. Number one is going to be my baby sleeps better on their tummy. And you know what? It is true. Babies will sleep better on their tummy, but it is not the safest option.

When the back to sleep program came out in the eighties and nineties, we saw a drastic and severe drop in babies having unexplained deaths while sleeping. Back sleeping is what you should always practice. It's the safest option. Now, as soon as your baby can roll from back to front and front to back, they are going to do that on their own. That is now considered safe for them to do because

They have neck control to turn their head so they're not going face down onto the mattress or the bedding. Don't worry if they're rolling over and they're, they prefer sleeping on their belly at that point. Great. You have finally graduated to that point where you do not have to worry about back sleeping. But until then, always placing your baby on your back is much safer. here's a second myth. It's fine to leave blankets in the crib if my baby looks cold. No.

You never save until they are bigger. Using a wearable blanket or layer their clothing appropriately is much better instead. I personally am a huge fan of the weighted blankets. As soon as your baby is, it has a weight of 10 to 12 pounds. You can start using the weighted blankets, especially for the neurodivergent families who tend to have their nervous systems a little bit more on edge.

These can be just a huge game changer as long as we're using them safely and appropriately. And number three myth is my baby will choke if they spit up while they're sleeping on their back. Actually back sleeping helps with airways, keeping them open and clear. So babies have these amazing reflexes that prevent choking. So that should not be a concern when with back sleeping. And.

Here we come to a close, if you are struggling with sleep, whether it's safe sleep setups, your baby's sleep patterns, or just your own sanity, it's okay to ask for help. That is why I'm here. Sleep coaching and personalized support can make all the difference. That's a wrap for today's episode. Remember, sleep isn't about perfection. It's about being as as possible while finding what works for your family within these guidelines.

If you have any questions or need support, feel free to reach out. You can also visit my website for resources and services to help you navigate parenthood with confidence. Until next time, stay compassionate to yourself and those little ones. You are doing a fantastic job and I hope you get some sleep soon.