When should I move my child to their own room?
Whether you’re co-sleeping or room-sharing, here are some factors to consider when thinking about moving your baby into their own room, from sleep readiness to safety guidelines.
Some new parents struggle with the idea of having their baby sleep in a separate room, while others choose to have their newborns sleep in a themed nursery from the day they come home from the hospital.
In some families, co-sleeping is chosen for the convenience it offers, particularly for breastfeeding mothers. As the child grows and it becomes safer, bedsharing may be introduced. Around the age of three, a gradual transition into a separate ‘big-kid bed’ often begins. One approach involves starting with midday naps in the child’s own room to help both the child and parents adjust to nighttime separation.
Should you share a room with your baby?
With the many different ways to parent and all the conflicting views you may come across on social media, it’s important to keep the most recent safe sleep practises in mind.
Dr Pearline Juggernath, a specialist paediatrician in Johannesburg, shares some of the benefits of room sharing:
• Reduces risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by up to 50%.
• Provides a designated safe sleeping space for your baby while allowing them to remain in proximity.
• Increases the ease of feeding and ability to comfort your baby.
• Parents are quickly alerted to a distressed baby.
Factors to consider when moving your baby into their own room
Dr Juggernath says that the average recommended age is between six months and one year. However, it is important to remember that all babies have different needs and that it is ok for this timeline to look different in different households – the most important factor to consider is always the safety of the child.
These are just some of the questions to ask yourself before you move your little one into their own bedroom:
• Are your baby’s sighs and whimpering disturbing your sleep? The quality of parental sleep has profound impacts on mental health and wellbeing.
• Does your morning routine wake your baby? If you are an early riser, you may be waking your baby earlier than they’d like.
Safe sleep practises to consider
Whether you’re room sharing, co-sleeping or sleep in a different room to your baby, it is important to ensure you are creating a safe space for your baby to sleep.
“SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) refers to the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death – even after thorough medical investigation – of a baby under 12 months old, often occurring during sleep,” says Dr Juggernath.
Dr Juggernath advises parents to do the following to reduce the risk of SIDS:
• Always place your baby flat on their back to sleep – no pillows, cot bumpers, wedges or sleep positioners.
• Babies should sleep in their own space (bassinet or cot). Bed-sharing is discouraged.
• Use a firm, breathable mattress with only a fitted sheet.
• Avoid letting baby sleep on air mattresses, water beds or couches.
• Keep the sleep area free of loose blankets, duvets, stuffed animals or toys.
• Dress baby in layers of warm, breathable clothing.
• Use sleep sacks or wearable blankets instead of loose covers.
• Swaddle only until the baby can roll over.
“Other risk factors for SIDS include prematurity, a low birth weight, smoking or illicit drug use by the parents” adds Dr Juggernath.
IMAGE: freepik.com
