Newborns are busy little people: they're busy growing and developing—but mostly busy sleeping! The average newborn infant sleeps up to seventeen hours a day. While the sight of a sleeping infant is as peaceful as it gets, it's essential to ensure that your baby is safe at bedtime, at naptime, and all the time.
That's why the American Academy of Pediatrics releases an annual list of recommendations regarding best practices in safe sleep for babies. Our understanding of infant development and safety is constantly changing and evolving. You can keep your baby's dreams sweet by brushing up on the latest research and making changes in your home.
We know new parents are busy, so we did the work for you. We've gone through all the changes made to the Safe Sleep for Babies Act in 2022. We'll provide all the information you need to make the safest decision for your slumbering little one.
Read on to brush up on your sleep safety knowledge before bedtime.
What Is the Safe Sleep for Babies Act?
The American Academy of Pediatrics is a professional organization consisting of pediatricians in all medical disciplines. They have nearly 70,000 member physicians who are experts in their fields. As an organization, the AAP's mission is to ensure that all children and adolescents in America are safe and well.
In 2022, their opinions have impacted legislation. Biden signed The Safe Sleep for Babies act into law on June 23rd, 2022. This legislation bans the sale of infant cribs and sleep products that do not meet the AAP's safety guidelines.
The majority of banned products are inclined crib mattresses and crib bumpers. Both can pose risks related to SIDS.
What Does This Mean for Families?
You can rest assured that the infant products you purchase for your sweet baby adhere to all the latest research on infant safety. Unsafe cribs, mattresses, and bumpers are no longer on store shelves, so parents cannot mistakenly bring home a dangerous product.
Companies can no longer manufacture products that don't meet the guidelines, either. The Consumer Product Safety Commission will use the new guidelines when inspecting and approving all infant products for sale.
While it is illegal to sell these unsafe infant products, it is not illegal to own them. Still, the AAP recommends that families remove inclined crib mattresses and crib bumpers from their homes and replace them immediately.
For most families, the change will be predominantly aesthetic. While crib bumpers look cute, they aren't worth the risk to your precious baby's health.
What's New in Baby Sleep in 2022?
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics cares about sleeping babies all the time, they only update their recommendations when they've observed significant changes in health trends. The 2022 list of recommendations, published in July 2022, is the first update to their guidelines since 2016.
Safe Sleeping
The AAP recommends that infant sleeping occurs on a flat, non-inclined surface. It should be firm and adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Safe Sleep for Babies Act. Baby cribs should never include bumpers, blankets, stuffed animals, or other soft objects that can pose a suffocation risk.
Parents should not put their babies to sleep in car seats, strollers, or other products not intended for sleep, such as swings or carriers.
They are also clear that babies should sleep alone in a crib or bassinet, not in bed with a parent or caregiver. They advise that parents sleep in the same room, but not the same bed, for the first six months. After that, babies can transition to their own room or nursery as appropriate.
The organizations note that pacifiers are safe and associated with reducing the risk of SIDS.
Feeding
The AAP continues to advise that mothers feed their infant human breastmilk for the first two months of life. Though this is not possible for all infants, it's associated with a decreased infant mortality rate.
Ideally, parents should plan to breastfeed for the first six months but can continue for as long as it is beneficial.
Swaddling
The AAP advises that parents avoid using any commercial product that claims to reduce the risk of SIDS. That includes swaddling to reduce the risk of SIDS.
Parents may still choose to wrap their infants for other reasons, but they must always place babies on their backs. Avoid weighted swaddling products, and discontinue swaddling when the baby begins to show signs of rolling over.
Other Safety Recommendations
The AAP also recommends avoiding exposure to unsafe substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs. They do, however, advise that all babies receive recommended immunizations.
Furthermore, the AAP advises that babies begin tummy time as early as possible after coming home from the hospital. It minimizes the instance of positional plagiocephaly (or a flattened head due to laying on the back for most of the day).
If you have questions or concerns about these recommendations, speak to your pediatrician. They'll be happy to answer questions or make suggestions to help keep your little one safe.
Sleep Tight Every Night with Pixsee
Babies are experts at sleeping, but little ones still need your help to settle down safely in their cribs. We're lucky to have the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Safe Sleep for Babies guidelines to give us a hand. If you follow their suggestions, you'll sleep easier knowing your precious baby is safe and cozy.
If you're still seeking peace of mind, the Pixsee smart video baby monitor can help. The award-winning Pixsee smart baby camera includes helpful safety features, from FHD video streaming, crystal-clear night vision to 24/7 smart detection alerts. Visit our online store to learn how Pixsee can become your trusted parenting companion—at nighttime or anytime.
