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Hi Christine,
It’s great to hear that you loved the course and have been able to implement things that you have learned already!
I have answered your questions below.
1. At what age do you suggest to stop using the white noise machine?
There’s no set age for when you should stop using a white noise machine for your baby. Many people, including adults, use white noise to sleep better. So, if you notice it helps your baby sleep, feel free to keep using it.
As your child gets to be 2 or 3 years old, though, they might start feeling scared of the dark and prefer to be more aware of their surroundings during the night. They might ask to have the door open and the white noise off so they can see and listen to what’s going on around them. If this happens, you can simply turn the white noise machine off.
2. At what age should I stop using the sleeping bag? Should I use the same sleeping bag for winter and summer?
I recommend you continue using a sleeping bag for your little one until they are about 3 to 4 years old and have transitioned to a big bed. The reasoning behind this is toddlers tend to be quite active in their sleep, often kicking off their blankets. But it isn’t until they’re around 3 – 4 years of age that they develop the skills required to cover themselves again. This can lead to disrupted sleep for you and your child, as they call out to you to come and pull up their blankets. In saying that, if you live in a warmer part of the world, where your child won’t need to use a blanket, then you can stop using a sleeping bag whenever you prefer. Ultimately, the decision on when to stop using a sleeping bag depends on your personal preference and your child’s needs.
As for whether you should use the same sleeping bag for both winter and summer, this largely depends on the temperature of your baby’s room. If the room is kept at a constant temperature, such as 21 degrees Celsius year-round, then the same sleeping bag may be suitable for all seasons. However, if the room temperature drops significantly during the winter months, a sleeping bag with a higher TOG rating may be necessary to ensure your baby stays warm.
3. Why should I place my baby with their feet at the bottom of the crib rather than their head at the top? (lesson 12)
Placing your baby with their feet at the bottom of the crib is primarily advised to minimise the risk of the baby wiggling downwards and accidentally covering their face with blankets, which can increase the risk of suffocation. This positioning is particularly important for parents who use blankets in the crib. It ensures that the baby stays at the bottom of the crib and the blanket can be tucked in securely under the mattress, preventing it from covering the baby’s head.
However, if you’re using a sleeping bag that snugly fits your baby’s shoulders and neck, preventing them from wriggling down inside it, then the specific placement of your baby in the crib becomes less critical. In this case, you can position your baby anywhere within the crib safely. The key is ensuring the sleeping bag is the correct size and design to prevent it from moving over your baby’s head or allowing them to slide down inside it.
4. My baby boy always wakes up from his sleep and gets directly into crying, he never opens his eyes quietly and escalates the “I’m awake” signs gradually, like you’ve shown in the video of lesson 14. What might be the reason for that?
Babies waking up and immediately crying rather than gradually showing signs of wakefulness, can be due to a variety of factors. One significant reason could be the baby’s innate temperament. Some babies are naturally more sensitive or prone to immediate distress upon waking, which can cause them to cry right away. This immediate crying upon waking can be their way of signaling a need for comfort, hunger, a diaper change, or simply the need to transition from sleep to wakefulness with the assistance of a caregiver. Each baby is unique, and their responses to waking up can vary widely based on their temperament and needs at the moment.
5. Our local ministry of health recommends that babies should be put to sleep on their back up to one year of age. I’ve seen that your daughter at the age of 5 months was sleeping on her tummy. is that ok? My baby boy has started rolling and the minute I place him on his back in the crib he rolls over and falls asleep on his tummy.
The recommendation to place babies on their backs to sleep, especially up to one year of age, is a widely endorsed guideline aimed at reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
However, the American Academy of Pediatrics and Red Nose Australia also state that while babies should initially be placed on their backs for all sleep times, once they achieve the developmental milestone of being able to roll over independently, they can be allowed to find and settle into their own preferred sleeping positions. This includes sleeping on their tummy if they naturally roll into this position.
It’s crucial, however, that the sleep environment remains safe: the baby should sleep on a firm, flat surface, and the crib should only have a fitted sheet with no loose bedding, pillows, or soft toys that could increase the risk of suffocation or SIDS.
It’s always a good idea to check with your Local Ministry of Health to see if they align with these recommendations.
I hope that helps!
Emma