Category Archives: Sleep Safety

Become a Sleep Angel with Jo Tantum

Jo Tantum - Author of 'Baby Secrets' is one of the UK's leading sleep experts for babies and toddlers.

Widely published in leading baby magazines, and prominent newspapers all over the world, Jo has also been part of many TV shows, including being the Baby Expert on Live with Gabby, spending a week with Doctor Hilary as a presenter on GMTV for Twins week, as an expert on ITV’S 'Baby House' and also on 'Richard and Judy' talking about her spaced soothing technique.

Jo is also donating an hour of her time for our December competition!

In February this year, Jo launched her Sleep Angels and Sleep Workshop Training Programmes. Throughout the training Jo reveals all her secrets and techniques, so that course graduates can feel confident in helping Sleep deprived parents in their area.

If you would like to learn Jo's techniques and Secrets , and help sleep deprived parents everywhere, why not become one of Jo's Sleep Angels Team. Training can also lead to exciting work opportunities.

The next Training Programme starts January 31st, there will be a meet and greet with Jo in London on the 19th December 1-4pm in Merino Kids (151 Northcote Road, SW11 6QB) a short walk from Clapham Junction station.

For more details contact- HelenPA@JoTantum.com

More than just a little white noise…

In our second sleep post we are looking at sleep aids, and there are plenty to discuss!!

From mobiles and specially designed toys, to musical monitors and innovative apps, which are the ones that will really help your baby nod off?

White Noise

White noise is by far our most favourite sleep aid, and it can often be created with things you already have at home - hoovers, washing machines, tv's or radios. Babies love background noise, and can often sleep soundly even with people chatting/hoovering/watching TV near them. We feel that it is important for babies to have their day time naps set to the normal family noises, even if they happen to be quite noisy! This way babies are able to then sleep anywhere - which is handy if you get caught out, and a quiet dark bedroom is not an option.

That isn't to say that we don't think white noise has a place in the nursery though - far from it! We believe that a low level of white noise along with low lights when getting your baby ready for bed, and in the dark when your baby is falling asleep, can really help to calm and settle your baby.

Starting with apps, there are many to choose from, so we would suggest finding one that you like the sound of. You could always try a free one first. It is important to remember that if you are using an app on a tablet or phone, that you turn off all notifications and lights, the last thing you want is for it to start ringing, vibrating or lighting up, all of which your baby will find very distracting.

On the toy front, there are a few, but the prominent two are both modelled on sheep. Having tried both, our favourite is Ewan by Easidream. Cute little Ewan is programmed with noises from the womb, as well as more traditional white noise, and also has an optional glow light. In our experience babies find him soothing and settle very quickly. He can also be easily secured with his velcro tail, ensuring that along with SIDS guidelines you don't have any cuddly toys loose in the crib. It also means he can go anywhere, and attach to almost any place your child takes a nap.

Mobiles and Music

The mobile has been a staple of the nursery for as long as most people can remember. From simple through to colourful, moving and musical, the mobile is designed to engage and mesmerise your baby, which is why the SWM team find it hard to understand their place over a cot.

Whilst we don't think a mobile will help your baby drift off quickly into a peaceful sleep, we definitely love them in the right place! We think the perfect place for a mobile is above your changing station. It gives your baby something pretty to look at while you change their nappy, it may even keep the more wriggly of babies still whilst being changed!

Music however, can be a very helpful aid. Not only can music soothe your baby to sleep. but it can endorse your bedtime routine and provide a signal for your baby that it is time for sleep. Soft, lilting and repetitive are generally the best kind.

Toys

There are lots of toys on the market which play lullabies and/or have a soft light. We don't usually recommend them for helping baby to sleep - they can be quite distracting, and cots and cribs should generally be kept as empty as possible to reduce the risk of SIDS.

Monitors

Some of the monitors available now have everything - including lullabies and light shows. They can certainly be handy. Soft lullabies can be a great way to help your baby get to sleep, but we would suggest saving the light show for the morning when you need to leave your baby and have them entertained for a few minutes.

Sleep – All Wrapped Up

Sleep is a precious commodity to most of the human race, so it comes as no surprise to us, that after breastfeeding, sleep is the most common baby subject the SWM team are quizzed on.

We have decided to write a series of blogs with some tricks and advice on settling your new baby more quickly, and for longer. We will be including safety advice (more of which you can find at The Lullaby Trust) and revealing the products we use to make our lives easier.

So we are kicking off the sleep series by looking at swaddling...

Why do we advocate swaddling?

We have all always found that our swaddled babies settle more quickly, and generally sleep better and for longer. A new born baby who has been used to the close confines of the womb seeks comfort in the arms of their parents, or the closeness of feeding at the breast. It is only natural that they would seek the same comfort when drifting off to sleep too. Unfortunately as lovely as it would be, holding your baby close to you all day (and night) is rarely possible and even unsafe, and the most natural time for baby to be put down is when they are asleep. A baby who is put down to sleep without being swaddled not only lacks the comfort in being physically confined, but also is then prone to being woken by their own the startle reflex - the moro reflex.

How do we swaddle safely?

It is important to make sure when you are swaddling your baby that:

The material of the swaddle being used is suitable for the temperature in baby's room. We tend to use a custom made swaddle (see below for the ones we love!) or a large muslin square, which is light in the summer, and can have blankets tucked in over the top for layered warmth in the winter.
The baby is swaddled securely over the arms and shoulders, but loosely over the hips - the baby should be able to bring his/her knees up and out if they want to. This is due to some studies showing that babies swaddled tightly over the hips can suffer more readily from hip dysplasia.
The swaddle does not cover their face, and that loose ends are tucked securely into the wrapped swaddle or the cot.

What do we use to swaddle?

There are a couple of products on the market which we completely adore, but topping the list are the muslin or bamboo swaddles by Aden and Anais. Whilst certainly not the cheapest, they are definitely the most versatile. The light breathable fabric is perfect for swaddling babies all year round, and their size means that they are just as perfect for your 5-6 month old as they are for your newborn. They work wonderfully as a sun visor/sleep shade when clipped to, or draped over the hood of a pram, and are a great cover up for mums who prefer a little more privacy when breast-feeding. (they also make wonderful capes for older siblings!) Most importantly the organic cotton is easily washed and gets softer with use.

Can't Wrap? Won't Wrap? or Baby Houdini...

Easy alternatives which offer the wonderful benefits of swaddling

We LOVE the easy zip up sleeping bags especially designed for newborn babies. With many new companies popping up to fill this market, there are two products we love recommend.

The Love to swaddle UP by Love to Dream - If you have ever watched a baby who is not swaddled fall asleep, they will more often than not, have their arms up beside their head. The love to dream swaddle UP is designed for exactly this. Their unique design enables babies to get their hands to their mouth and face, but doesn't allow them to scratch themselves in their sleep. The stretchy fabric ensures the snug and secure fit that your baby will take comfort from, and helps suppress the moro reflex, whilst still allowing your baby plenty of wiggle room for the legs and hips. The zip up design will also ensure that your little Houdini is secure all night!

The Ergococoon by Ergo Pouch - Whilst this is perfect for use with your newborn, (we wouldn't recommend them if they weren't) we LOVE to use this for babies in the 3-6 month category. These swaddles are perfectly designed to help your baby transition from swaddling to sleeping with their arms free - a natural progression for all babies. beginning with the arms in position, the ergococoon provides a safe, stretchy cocooned feeling for your baby, and they are able to sleep with their hands over their chest or down by their sides. Then you can choose to allow one arm out at a time, or transition completely to both arms out.

Product Review – The Love to Dream Love to Swaddle Up

This last few weeks we have had the pleasure of reviewing the 'Love to Swaddle Up' by Love to Dream.

While there are many ways to swaddle your baby, few of them are as safe and as well designed as this little pouch.

If you have ever watched a baby sleep, free of any confines, you have probably seen them sleep with their arms above their head. However, generally babies are swaddled with their arms down at their sides, or crossed over their chest. This is because babies are born with the moro reflex, which startles a baby, causing them to fling their arms, often waking them up and disturbing their sleep. When swaddled with their arms confined, the reflex is suppressed and babies often settle and sleep longer.

The unique design of the Love to Swaddle Up not only allows your baby to sleep in a position more natural to him, but also allows him important access to his hands. At the same time, the stretchy fabric encases him, and gives him the security of swaddling, and the moro reflex is suppressed.

Aside from the benefits for your baby, the swaddle is great for parents too!

The swaddle is a simple zip up design which is easy and fast to use. There is no danger of your baby being swaddled incorrectly, and no chance for him to wriggle out in the middle of the night. It's also easy to change a nappy, or strap your baby into a car seat without removing the swaddle.

During our time testing this product we could not find fault with it - it worked as it promised and the quality was great. Due to sick ups and exploding nappies, the Love to Swaddle Up was washed repeatedly and always looked as good as new. Both zips were smooth to operate and the stretch remained constant. The design proved simple but effective and fool proof for even the most sleep deprived!

When testing with the families we worked with, parents could only find one negative aspect - they felt that it 'looked tight around the neck' We took the time to explain to our families that the product is absolutely safe, and actually safer with this design - if the neck were loose, your baby would be able to wriggle down in the sack, and would have the potential to suffocate.

This is an amazing product and definitely a must buy!