Co-sleeping
Co-sleeping means sharing a bed or sleep surface with your baby. Some parents co-sleep even if they didn't plan to. The lullaby trust recommends that the safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own, safe bed space.
It’s important to NEVER co-sleep with your baby:
• on a sofa. The risk of sudden infant death is 50 times higher for babies when they sleep on a sofa or armchair with an adult.
• If you or your partner or family member are smokers. If the baby was exposed to smoking in pregnancy (either the birthing parent smoked or someone the birthing parent lived with was a smoker).
• If you or your partner have been drinking alcohol
• If you or your partner have taken any medication that can make you drowsy or used recreational drugs.
• Your baby was born premature (before 37 weeks) or weighed under 2.5kg or 5.5lbs when they were born.
The Lullaby Trust has made a guide for families who co-sleep or bed-share. You can find it on their website to help you sleep more safely.
Coping with crying
Crying is one of your baby’s few ways of communicating with you particularly in the first few months. Sometimes, when a baby is crying it can be stressful for the parent or caregiver.
Although crying can be frustrating to cope with, it’s important to NEVER shake a baby.
The ICON website will help you understand why babies cry.
Babies cry for lots of reasons when they need a parent to help them. Crying is nature’s way of making sure parents pay attention and help.
Common reasons for crying can be:
o Hunger
o Needing a nappy change
o Tiredness
o Wind
o Wanting a cuddle
o Being too hot or cold
o Boredom
o Over stimulation
Sometimes, babies cry for no reason at all.
Sometimes babies cry and will not settle.
Crying increases from around 2 weeks of age and peaks at approximately 6 weeks.
This may be upsetting for the baby and the parents. It is important to keep your baby safe if you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed. It is also important to seek support if you need it.
If you are struggling, put your baby down in a safe place. Take a couple of minutes for yourself before going back to your baby when you feel calm.
Contact your health visitor for support: 0191 282 3319 (mon-fri 8.30-4pm) or the National Cry-sis helpline on 0800 448 0737 9am-10pm, 7 days per week.
If you’re worried your baby is unwell it’s important to seek medical advice.
Car seats
If you don't have a car and need to travel by taxi with your baby, ask a friend or family member for a car seat to borrow.
It is important to know that car seats that have been involved in an accident won’t protect your baby. Check this if you’re borrowing or buying second-hand.
Choosing a car seat is important. With so many models available, it can feel overwhelming to find the best one.
The link below is packed with information to help you decide.
Prop feeding
NEVER prop feed your baby
Prop feeding is when a baby is fed with a bottle ‘propped’ (held up) by a pillow, blanket, or a special ‘prop feeding cushion’. This is instead of a caregiver holding the bottle for the baby. Many products for prop feeding are advertised, but they aren't safety regulated.
The NHS has warned against prop feeding for years. Prop feeding is linked to several risks. These include:
• Unexpected death
• Aspiration pneumonia (when milk goes into the lungs)
• Ear infections in babies.
With a prop feeding device, the baby cannot adjust the angle of the bottle or the rate of flow of the milk.
If your baby is going to use bottles for feeds, please ensure no one who cares for them uses the prop feeding method.
First aid for babies
See the link below for first aid advice for babies and children from St John Ambulance:
Bathing your baby
Bathing your baby can be a fantastic way for you to connect and bond. Parents can sometimes feel anxious about bath-time.
Here is a 2-minute video on YouTube showing how to safely bath your baby.
The Little Orange Book
The Little Orange Book gives you information about common childhood conditions and serious illnesses.
It helps parents and carers spot and deal with common illnesses in the first 5 years of a child’s life. It also directs you to the best service for extra support if needed.
You can download the book here for free:
Drugs and alcohol
It is important that your baby is not left in the care of someone who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Even if you think you are ok after taking or using drugs or alcohol, you might not be. You may feel or have:
o Tired or have a lack of energy
o Restless or irritable
o Angry or upset
o Worsened sleep
o Impaired judgement
o Hallucinations
o Worsened mental health
Some prescribed medications can also make you feel drowsy or have other side effects. For more information and support around alcohol and/or drug use:
Healthier Together App
The Healthier Together App is a useful tool you can download on your phone or tablet to track your child’s health. It has links to support you with worries you might have, such as:
o A symptoms checker.
o Identifying symptoms from clear and easy-to-follow images.
o Useful red, amber, green traffic.
light system.
o Yes or no answers.
Smoking and passive smoking
Even though you aren’t pregnant second-hand smoking can:
o Reduce baby’s birth weight
o Increase risk of SIDS (cot death)
o Increase risk of your baby being admitted to hospital for breathing problems in the first year
Quitting smoking might be the best thing you do for your health, as well as the health of your baby. There is a lot of help and support for you from the NHS: