Essential sleep safety tips for babies that will help to give you peace of mind

So important to know.

As a parent our top priority is to always keep our children safe but how can we do that when we're not watching them. Until becoming a mum, I'll be honest, I didn't know there was a 'right way' to put a baby to sleep. I also never knew that there was a wrong way and that it could potentially endanger my child's life. There are several ways in which we can keep our babies safe while they sleep, the most important of which is their position. It's important to put infants to bed on their backs, especially when they are too young to roll over on their own. Young babies should always sleep on their backs to prevent suffocation or SIDS as this video demonstrates.

Safe infant sleep practices are important! Learn how to help baby sleep safely so parents can sleep soundly. #SafeSleep https://t.co/lwu9qAGdjQ pic.twitter.com/FPssDyarBx

— Amer Acad Pediatrics (@AmerAcadPeds) October 18, 2019

Another way we can keep our babies 'sleep safe' is to by avoiding loose cot bumpers, cushions and soft toys that could prevent an infant from being able to breathe if it fell on them. Light, breathable and waffle style blankets and bed fixtures are recommend instead. New babies should always have a firm mattress and parents are advised never to use a second hand mattress. For more sleep safety tips and advice for young children you can visit HSE.ie.