The newborn stage comes with plenty of questions, and one of the biggest for many parents is how to create a safe sleep environment for their baby. While there can be a lot of information online, focusing on a few evidence-based recommendations can help simplify things.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies should be placed on their backs for every sleep, both naps and nighttime sleep. Babies should also sleep on a firm, flat surface such as a crib, bassinet, or play yard with a fitted sheet and no loose blankets, pillows, toys, or crib bumpers.
Safe Sleep Basics
A few commonly recommended safe sleep practices include:
- Place baby on their back for every sleep
- Use a firm, flat sleep surface
- Keep the sleep space free of blankets and loose items
- Share a room, but not the same sleep surface
- Avoid overheating
While it may feel tempting to add extra comfort items, a simple sleep space is considered the safest approach.
Getting Through the Night Safely
Safe sleep and sleep deprivation often collide during the newborn stage. Families searching for a baby nurse in Salt Lake City are often looking for support navigating overnight care while maintaining safe sleep practices. While “baby nurse” is a commonly used term, our trained postpartum and infant care doulas provide non-medical overnight newborn support tailored to each family.
Many families also use overnight newborn care in Salt Lake City to help create opportunities for rest while adjusting to newborn life.
If you’re preparing for life with your newborn, Doulas of Utah offers overnight support and postpartum care to help families feel rested and supported. Reach out today!
