Baby Sleep: Should I buy a baby crib?

[ Abstract ] The question of "whether to buy a crib for the child" entangles many new parents. In this regard, the editor chooses to stand on the side of "it is necessary to buy it" because mother and baby sleeping together actually has certain risks. However, if you let the baby sleep alone, there are still many sleep safety rules that need to be paid attention to.

Reasons to buy a baby crib

The shopping intention survey shows that the positive and negative opinions of netizens on the controversial issue of "whether to buy a crib" are close to 1:1. Some parents also expressed regret for buying a crib because the crib is rarely used and takes up space, and the baby basically sleeps with the parents. Especially for newborn babies who drink milk frequently, in order to facilitate care and feeding, and at the same time give the mother more rest time, they are more likely to choose to sleep with the mother and baby.

Of course, a good night's sleep is a good thing for both adults and children. However, there are certain risks in the way mother and baby sleep together.

News: Recently, a young couple in Suzhou was sleeping with their 20-month-old son in their arms. Unexpectedly, the mother’s hair got entangled with the child’s neck. Fortunately, the father discovered it in time and the child was out of danger after rescue.

The attending physician in this incident also gave a special reminder: It is against parents bringing their children to sleep together, especially letting the children sleep between the parents. Instead, it is advocated that children should sleep separately from their parents as soon as they are born; it is not recommended for young mothers to have long hair.

Let’s go back to the controversy mentioned at the beginning: Should you buy a crib for your child? Since even doctors recommend that children should sleep alone, what reason do you have not to buy a crib for your baby?

What kind of crib should I buy?

It is necessary to buy a crib for your baby. Generally, it can be used from birth to 6 years old. It has a long service life and is not cheap. Therefore, you should choose a safe, practical and cost-effective product. Common types on the market include: baby carrier, cradle, children's bed, and bed in bed (as shown in the picture). The editor recommends buying a crib with an independent cradle or a children's bed that can be converted into a sofa or bookcase, so that it will not be idle in the future.

If you still insist on your baby sleeping with your parents, you can consider buying a bed in bed, which can be folded and carried. The so-called "bed in bed" is to put it directly in the middle of the big bed. In fact, it is still equivalent to sleeping with your parents, but a wider area is allocated for the baby. The baby's "territory" is more secure, avoiding the baby from being squeezed and falling out of the window. In addition, young mothers should cut your waist-length hair first.

Safety is the first priority when purchasing a crib, and special attention should be paid to small details, including guardrails, workmanship, and the quality of bedding.

The best sleeping bag for babies

Letting babies sleep alone in a crib can avoid the accidents mentioned above, but some mothers may worry: In cold weather, babies sleeping alone may easily catch a cold, so they should cover themselves with more quilts. In fact, this is not the case. Since the respiratory system of infants and young children is not yet fully developed, wrapping the baby tightly with several layers of quilts may cause the baby to suffer from "infant heat syndrome". There are also media reports about careless parents covering the baby's face with a quilt, causing suffocation.

To provide a safe sleeping environment for babies, in addition to preparing a crib, it is best to use a sleeping bag to prevent the baby from covering his mouth and nose with the quilt when he moves. In this regard, the famous host Li Xiang also mentioned this parenting experience in "Boys on the Left, Girls on the Right". It is best to use a swaddle-style sleeping bag for babies, which can wrap the baby's hands, feet and body together, allowing the baby to feel close-fitting warmth; after 6 months, avoid restricting the baby's hand movements, and change to a split-leg sleeping bag to give the baby more room for his hands and feet to move.