254 Part Three Infants
these baby gifts or purchases
somewhere else in the room.)
Make sure the baby does not
get too warm while sleeping.
The temperature of a baby’s
room should be between 68
and 72 degrees. (Babies who
become very warm may go into
a deeper sleep and thus fi nd it
more diffi cult to awaken.)
Offer a pacifi er for sleep from
birth and continue its use for sleep
even after the baby no longer uses
a pacifi er while awake.
Avoid sharing a parent bed
with a baby (called co-sleeping
or co-bedding). Young babies are
safest in their own crib in their
parent’s room.
Encourage adequate sleep.
(Sleep defi cits of even two
hours on a given day are
associated with SIDS.)
Have regular well-baby checkups.
Breast-feed the baby for at least
seven months and preferably
for one year.
Use a breathing monitor and
alarm if recommended by your
doctor.
Place baby on his or her back
to sleep. If you see a baby roll
onto the stomach, turn the
baby to his or her back. (Since
the American Academy of
Pediatrics recommended back
sleeping, SIDS has decreased
almost 40 percent. The rate
would likely decrease more
if all parents and caregivers
followed the recommendation.
It is easy to remember—“back
to sleep.”)
Places for Sleep and Play
Where do babies sleep and
play? Space for sleep and play
is based on a family’s lifestyle
When choosing play spaces for babies,
adults should keep the following points in mind:
Ensure that all spaces are safe. For
example, use eco-friendly paints and
natural fabrics. Put the crib in a safe
place. A house must be childproofed
by the time a baby can crawl.
(Childproofi ng and safety measures
are described in Chapter 22.)
Make all spaces for children washable.
Babies are messy by adult standards.
Decorate the nursery with the idea
that a child grows quickly. Today, most
parents are choosing a décor that fl ows
into the rest of the house and one that
they, as adults, enjoy. For example,
parents are using brighter colors and
tone-on-tone shades that stimulate the
baby’s perceptions. Polka dots, stripes,
and swirls are replacing small prints.
Colors are achieved by objects used on
or near neutral-colored walls or through
the use of brighter wall paints and
paper. As the baby grows, the décor
should include his or her interests.
Rooms should be bright and cheerful.
Place pictures and wall hangings at the
child’s eye level. Floor coverings should
allow play with blocks and wheeled toys.
Consider convertible furniture which is
often more economical than replacing
all baby furniture. Convertible furniture
is usually very sturdy, too, and thus
safe even for babies.
Learn
More About
Play Spaces for Babies
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