As a parent, your baby’s sleeping environment should matter a lot to you because these little ones are still very delicate.
Since babies’ organs are still developing, we want to make sure we follow the recommended safety guidelines to drastically reduce any issue of SIDS.
In the U.S. alone, about 3,600 babies die in their sleep every year. This could be due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, strangulation, or suffocation.
For this reason, we shall be discussing bassinets and the best position needed for safe sleep. Should a bassinet be inclined? Is it better for a baby to sleep in a flat bassinet? This and more are what we will be looking at in this piece.
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Table of Contents
Do Bassinets Need To Be Flat?
Going by the standard recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should always use a flat bassinet for newborns.
Since the airways of babies are still narrow and floppy, you want to reduce any risk of asphyxiation. Letting a baby sleep with his or her back on the sleeping surface and on a flat bassinet is the best option to follow.
However, there have been some cases of babies with reflux, which makes it pretty difficult for them to sleep in flat bassinets. If that is the case with your baby, then you need to prefer a solution.
What do you do if your baby is experiencing reflux, spitting up, and crying uncontrollably when placed in a flat bassinet? You should try to see a pediatrician to look into the case.
You may also want to tilt the bassinet slightly by placing a wedge under the mattress.
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Are There Any Consequence If A Baby Sleep On An Inclined Bassinets
You don’t need to wait for any consequences before you do the right thing. If the standard recommendation is to use a flat bassinet for your baby, please do.
I know you care so much about the comfort of your baby and are trying to do everything possible to give your precious one comfort. However, safety comes first when dealing with babies.
The rate at which babies are dying in their sleep tends to be slightly increasing and some of these deaths can be avoided. No mom would like to imagine that her baby choked or suffocated while sleeping.
Therefore, the consequence of using an inclined bassinet is that it leaves your baby at the risk of asphyxiation.
If your baby is struggling with a flat bassinet, you should always talk to your pediatrician before opting for any other solution.
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My Baby Is Refusing To Sleep On A Flat Bassinet
A lot of reasons can be responsible for babies refusing to sleep in a flat bassinet – It could be due to reflux or babies could get used to the comfort of sleeping in their parents’ arms.
If your baby develops the habit of sleeping in your arms, you have to undo the habit by helping him or her to sleep in the bassinet.
There will be crying at the initial stage, but just make sure you are close by to pet him or her to sleep. With time, your baby will get used to sleeping in a bassinet.
Also, make sure your baby is not hungry before going to bed. If your baby is hungry, it doesn’t matter whether it is a flat or inclined bassinet, babies will cry.
If reflux is the case, you may want to slightly tilt the bassinet by using a wedge. However, in all that you do, make sure you always relate with your pediatrician to be on the same side.
You may want to read: 5 best baby chairs that attach to tables.
Can I Add Extra Materials To Make My Baby Sleep More Comfortably?
You don’t need to do anything to your baby’s bassinet other than make sure your baby is doing fine inside the bassinet.
Many times, we get the urge or temptation to make the bassinet “more comfortable” by adding extra objects. This is, by all means, wrong and should be discouraged.
A bassinet should be left empty without any need for pillows, blankets, bumpers, or any other objects. The reason for this is to remove any risk of suffocation or strangulation.
Since the bumpers are not made together with the bassinet, anything could happen and they may fall on your baby’s face. You don’t want to imagine a helpless baby struggling for breath.
The makers of bassinets are following a specific standard that is best for babies. You don’t need to worry about your baby’s comfort because, in the real sense, he or she is comfortable inside the bassinet.
Therefore, whether you are using a bassinet or a crib for a baby, you should make the sleeping environment free from external objects. This is a safety measure that parents shouldn’t take lightly.
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Conclusion
If you have been wondering why a bassinet needs to be flat, the primary reason is for the safety of your child. It helps to clear the airway to prevent choking or suffocation.
Unless for the case of reflux (which you should talk to your pediatrician), you should not leave a bassinet in an inclined position.
Taking care of babies comes with a lot of dos and don’ts and we as parents should stick to the safety rules. Even when some of the rules look weird, we just have to listen to professionals in that aspect.
