quick clicks

dads today articles

dads today q&a

message boards

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Nap and Nighttime Sleep Solutions

Tips to Create the Perfect Sleep Environment

By Shannon McKelden

"Room temperature is tricky," Dr. Moore says. "It is also highly important. They need to be warm but not too warm." (SIDS researchers suspect overheating may be a cause of SIDS.)

According to Dr. Moore, babies are more vulnerable to heat loss than adults, and getting cold can wake them before they're fully refreshed. They seem to be most susceptible between the hours of 3 and 5 a.m.

"What I did when my kids were babies and they started to have these awakenings in the morning even after they'd been sleeping through the night [is] I'd put them in footed pjs (or socks) and that really seemed to help," Dr. Moore says. "Feet need to be warm for sleep. Very important! I know of parents who used those baby sleeping bags (sleep sacks) to good effect also."

Jen Willoughby of Soquel, Calif., found these were effective for her daughters. "I used a swaddle blanket from the beginning with both [girls], then a sleep sack when they grew out of that," she says.

Spivack, also co-founder of www.sleepyplanet.com, cites the ideal nursery temperature at 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit and doesn't recommend blankets. "Once Baby is about 4 months old and beyond, it's likely he will kick off his blanket at night and may wake from feeling chilly," she says. "We recommend dressing baby in a diaper, light cotton pjs or a onesie, and then placing a 'blanket sleeper' on them (footed, zip up fleece pjs) that will serve as the blanket so they can move around the crib and remain warm and cozy."

Visit the baby department of any store and you'll find a plethora of crib-safe mobiles, mirrors and other toys. But is bed for play or sleep?

"The best practice is to help the baby develop [a] habit of sleeping in bed, not playing," says Dr. Kamal Naqvi, University of Texas Southwestern sleep disorders specialist at Children's Medical Center Dallas."I recommend that parents do not place toys or other items he may use for entertainment in the crib with him. It's also important to not leave other blankets or stuffed toys in the crib, as they can be a suffocation hazard."

Want to see more?

• Hit the Sack, Baby: Why Are Some Experts Recommending Sleep Sacks?
• Bedtime for Toddlers: 10 Steps to Sleep Without Tears
• Sleep Soothers: 7 Ways to Get Baby to Sleep
• Check out our Article Library.
• Talk about it!