Ensuring your baby's comfort while sleeping
Sleep can be an all-consuming element in your life when you have a baby. At ergoPouch, we are obsessed with sleep and we can empathize that it may seem overwhelming to wonder if all elements are aligned for a safe & comfortable sleep for your little one. Rest assured we have thought of everything so you don't have to.
Here is our sleep-easy checklist, read on for more information!
- Breathable fabrics and healthy skin
- Body temperature
- TOG rating
- Safe, snug and secure fit
- Healthy body positioning
Breathable Fabrics and Healthy Skin
We know babies and children sleep better in natural fibers for the simple reason that they improve breathability and keep your little ones body at an even temperature, resulting in a safe and comfortable sleep for your mini. All ergoPouch sleepwear is TOG rated and made from breathable, natural fibers including organic cotton and bamboo.
Sleepwear that is filled with synthetic fibers (such as polyester) will make your child overheat, sweat, and may frequently wake them up throughout the night. Natural fibers such as cotton are the BEST choice for sleepwear as they allow children's sensitive skin to breathe, reducing the chance of overheating and encouraging a longer sleep - hooray!
Synthetic fibers and the irritation caused by synthetic fabrics rubbing on sweaty skin can also cause an eczema flare-up. For those babes who are prone to skin irritation through eczema, chemicals or other, breathable and organic fabrics will go a long way to keeping your mini's skin smooth and soft.
Body Temperature
Its really important to dress your child correctly to accommodate the temperature of their room while they're sleeping, as their little bodies are not as great at regulating temperature as our adult ones.
Choose an appropriate Romper (pajama/onesie) to dress your child in underneath their swaddle or sleep sack. Their back and tummy should feel warm, not too hot or too cold. £A baby whos too warm may have damp hair or be sweaty, flushed and have a fast pulse. In this case, remove a Romper of clothing, and you can even try moving your baby to another room that's a bit cooler.
Often your baby's feet or hands will actually feel cooler than their core temperature, which is normal! As a baby is developing their circulatory system, their body is giving their vital organs priority when it comes to blood. As babies and children use their extremities to get rid of heat when they feel too hot, don't make the mistake of covering hands and feet during sleep.
Mix and match our TOG-rated Rompers (pajamas), designed to be worn under our range of Cocoon Swaddle Sacks, Sleep Sacks, Sleep Suit Sacks and Sleep Onesies.
TOG Rating
TOG rated fabrics are an important tool that helps to take the guesswork out of choosing the right sleeping garment for your baby. As your baby cannot regulate their temperature like adults can, the Rompers they wear to sleep are integral to ensuring they are at just the right temperature. A TOG is a unit of measurement for insulation and warmth of sleepwear and bedding. Put simply, the lower the TOG rating, the lighter the fabric. The higher the rating, the more padded and insulated it is.
Refer to our What to Wear Temperature Guide for taking the guesswork out of dressing your little one for sleep.
Safe, Snug and Secure Fit
Your babies sleepwear should be slim fitting on the body, to avoid the danger of loose fabrics around their face. A baby who does not have the coordination or muscle tone to move a piece of fabric from their face is at an increased risk of SUIDS.
Make sure your babies sleepwear is fitted around the neck hole, has child-safe mechanisms (such as zips and press studs) and does not restrict their movement in a way that is dangerous (e.g. a rolling babies arms should not be contained).
Healthy Body Positioning
Little growing bodies need room to move & grow while they're sleeping, both for healthy growth and joint development, but also to self soothe. There are three key areas here to consider when choosing sleepwear.
1. Chest Expansion
If choosing to swaddle your babe, make sure there is enough room around the chest to allow for full chest expansion. Those small and developing ribs need enough room to expand in and out with each tiny breath. The ergoPouch Cocoon Swaddle Sack is made from a fabric which allows for stretch in all directions across the chest. This blend creates a cozy yet comfortable swaddle for your baby to sleep and breathe in.
2. Hip Joints
To ensure the healthy development of their joints, babies hips and legs should always have a natural bend up and out during sleep. It is always important to allow room for the hips to move. If they are wrapped straight down and pressed together, this can increase the risk of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).
Here at ergoPouch, we have designed an easy to use Organic Cotton Cocoon Swaddle Sack that replaces a traditional wrap with a cloth or blanket. The Cocoon Swaddle Sack has received an acknowledgement from The International Hip Dysplasia Institute for being a hip-healthy product. The ergonomic bell-shaped design provides enough room for hip mobility and allows babies to move their legs comfortably and adopt ˜frog-leg position. All ergoPouch products are ergonomically designed for optimal hip development.
Once your baby has graduated from being swaddled to arms-out in the Cocoon Swaddle Sack, we suggest using the Jersey Sleep Sacks or Sleep Suit Sack.
3. Arm Movement
Whilst the idea of a swaddle is to contain the startle (moro) reflex to keep baby from waking, babies also need some arm movement to promote healthy development and shoulder joints. A swaddle shouldn't be so tight that it pins your baby's arms in one place, but allow for some natural arm movement. Look for a swaddle with stretch, such as the Cocoon Swaddle Sack, to allow for this.