Lisa Joyce FRSA is an award-winning designer, developer and creator of baby products. She has sat on the BS/EN safety steering committees and has worked closely with the Lullaby Trust. She’s worked for numerous brands and was the design Director at the Gro Company. Lisa set up her own consultancy in 2013 and is currently working with sleep experts ‘Purflo’.
Lisa is also a Cosatto ‘graduate’ and was formerly the creative product manager between 2004- 2008.
What’s the best sleeping position for baby?
The safest place for baby to sleep is at the bottom of the bed called the ‘feet to foot’ position. This name came about when it was common for parents to use blankets and sheets and there was a concern baby might slip down under and suffocate and over heat. If baby is tucked up at the bottom portion of the bed, they can’t wriggle down inside. Baby sleeping bags and swaddles take the worry away from this of course.
How long should your baby sleep in your room for?
The most convenient and safe place for baby to sleep is in the same room as you for the first 6 months. It’s all about being able to physically check your baby. Whether you have a video or audio monitor or not, babies need to be physically checked regularly, particularly very young infants.
From a comfort perspective, babies are comforted by being in the same room as you. They can see and sense you and this is incredibly reassuring.
From a convenience perspective it’s much easier to check them in your own room. A bedside crib or bassinet (modern Moses basket) is great, as they are slim, portable and most have mesh sides. The mother and baby gold choice Purflo bedside crib is fully two-way mesh.
Safest room temperature?
The room temperature a baby sleeps in is one of the most common concerns for new parents as overheating is known to increase the risk of SIDS.
The recommendation from the Lullaby Trust and the NHS is between 16-20C which probably feels cool to us. However, decades of research support this temperate range.
On a practical level as a parent you can make sure the room is well ventilated. Keep doors open but also ensure baby is dressed appropriately. It’s perfectly normal for babies to have cold hands and parents worry that means they are cold and then switch the heating on. Don’t! Little babies don’t have the same ability to regulate their body temperatures and cold hands are just part of that.
Essentially, don’t cover their heads -that’s how they keep themselves cool, plus always make sure any bedding is the appropriate tog for the room temperature
Most swaddle and sleep bags have a tog rating – like your own bedding – which helps guide you on what temperature to use them in and usually how to dress your baby.
A colour change baby room thermometer is a great piece of kit and a really intuitive way of seeing if it’s too hot or maybe too cold.
Best products for safe sleep
When baby arrives, there’s so much going on so it’s all about keeping things simple and most importantly safe – especially at sleep time.
For a newborn a swaddle is essential. At Purflo we have just designed a ‘swaddle to sleep’ bag that can be used from birth to 4 months. It’s fitted, easy to get on and off and uniquely has breathable panels to aid ventilation. The Purflo ‘swaddle to sleep’ has been approved by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, so no concerns around over-wrapping. Swaddling is great way to mimic the feeling of baby being in the womb and can really help settle baby and keep them sleeping that little bit longer.
What’s nice about this product is that if your baby doesn’t like swaddling it can be used as a sleep bag too. It’s really versatile. I only used a swaddle bag on my second baby and it was a lifesaver for me.
Swaddling vs sleeping bag?
Typically sleeping bags are used from around 3 months. Even the ones labelled from birth have a minimum weight of 4kg but most people find them a bit big for teeny babies. The absolute key thing to look out for is the British or European standard on the labelling (BS8510:2009) or (EN 16781;2018). This means baby can’t slip down inside and the product’s safety is assured. Sleep bags and indeed the more modern transitional swaddles like Purflo’s are designed so baby doesn’t kick off covers in the night (which is good as it’s going to wake them up!) They are essentially a wearable blanket. Sleep bags and swaddles are sold seasonally so have a tog to indicate the temperature to use them with.
Babies love routines and consistency. Sleep bags and swaddles provide a familiar sleeping space night after night. Most have easy zips for night changes and they’re easy to wash and dry. I’d recommend the transitional swaddles first then a sleep bag from 3 months onwards.
Even if baby does like swaddling, you just stop as soon as they can roll onto one side which is around 3/4 months. This is another good reason to keep baby close at sleep time.
What tog would you recommend for different aged babies and different times of the year?
For most of the year 2.5 togs are perfect. Use in nursery temperatures from 16-20C and adjust clothing accordingly. Although this feels light, it’s the equivalent of a duvet to adults. In the summer as it becomes warmer, use lower togs such as a 1 tog – this I’d liken to us using a blanket. As it gets super hot, or it’s holiday time then just as we’d use a sheet at night, baby would need a 0.5 tog.
You can use up to a 4 tog product for a baby from birth, but I’d always urge parents to go light and layer with pyjamas or sleep suits.
Thoughts on co-sleeping?
This is a really contentious and tricky area. As a new mum, for 7 years I was terrified of co-sleeping. I’d seen the research and statistics and was fully aware of the risks. However, I was trying to establish breastfeeding and desperately wanted to sleep and for my son to sleep too. So, on day 3 of my motherhood journey I fashioned a crib out of a banana box from the greengrocer. I scooped the side off then slept with him safely packed inside. Thankfully bedside cribs exist now, with drop down sides and I used this with my second child 2 years on. It’s so easy and babies maintain their safe sleeping space. I do understand the reasons why people do it, or might be tempted to do so and it’s a very personal decision, but with the invention of bedside sleepers you don’t need to.
Can breastfeeding reduce the risk of SIDS?
Research shows breastfeeding can help reduce the risk of SIDS by 60%. It can help with reducing infections and can be protective to baby. However, breastfeeding is just part of a number of ways in which we can help reduce risks. It’s not possible for all new mums to breastfeed. My personal view is that if you can, you should. It’s definitely easier than faffing with bottles and it’s a lovely bonding experience – but it’s something I struggled with for sure. I managed for around 6 months and started to introduce some bottles at about 4 months. Mum’s health – both physical and mental, is a baby’s most important superpower.
Maximum sleep time for babies in car seats?
It’s generally recommended to only let babies sleep in car seats for around two hours. As much as possible and for as long as possible, babies should sleep on a firm, flat surface. Car seats naturally create a curved sleeping position which is fine for short periods but for prolonged periods can cause respiratory issues. Ensure straps are fitted correctly and snow suits/coats are removed as babies can overheat.