Newborn Sleep Environments: The Best Setup for the Best Rest

In this article, we’ll look at light, temperature, and sound levels. But first, we’ll start with the all-important safety basics.

A good sleeping environment for your baby isn’t about fancy sheets or gadgets, it’s about creating a peaceful, safe place where they can rest.

There’s no substitute for a cot. Babies need their own sleep environment to keep them safe, it is recommended that they don’t sleep with toddlers or older siblings in the same cot. If you have newborn twins and separate cots is not an option, follow this link for the current advice from Red Nose Australia on how to minimise the risks of co-bedding.

Sometimes, when you’re in a different environment, it can be tempting to create a makeshift bed out of items like couch cushions or pillows. These are unsafe and increase the risk of suffocation.

Where you place the cot is also important. Set the cot up in your own bedroom for at least the first 6-12 months of your baby’s life, this means that you are able to keep an eye on your baby at all times.

Within the cot, the environment needs to be free of all items that could end up covering your baby’s face. A firm, flat mattress is the best choice for inside the cot. It is advised that blankets are kept out of the cot, as they increase the risk of suffocation. If you have a baby sleeping bag or sleep suit, that is a great alternative for nights when it’s cold.

Don’t forget to also check the area around and above the cot for anything that can fall or end up in the cot.

Check above the cot and remove things like:

• Floating/Wall-mounted shelves
• Curtain cords
• Electrical cords
• Picture frames
  
  

And avoid putting the following items into the cot:

• Blankets
• Stuffed toys 🧸
• Sleep bumpers
• Pillows
  
  

It’s also good to remember that for sleep safety, place your baby down on their back, not on their side or front.

Just as you might struggle to sleep under bright lights, your baby may too 💡

Newborn babies aren’t able to understand the day-night, light-dark cycle for the first few months of their life, but you should still keep their sleep spot nice and dim. Low light reduces your baby’s stimulation levels, keeping the environment nice and peaceful for them. The flickering of a TV screen can disrupt your baby’s sleep, try to keep both light and sound as consistent as possible.

Dimming lights can eventually become a cue for your baby to start winding down for sleep, you can start building that cue even if they don't understand day and night just yet.

When it comes to sound, avoiding loud or sudden sounds is important. However, your baby’s sleep spot doesn’t need to be silent. As you can imagine, there’s not really a household in the whole of Australia that is perfectly quiet all of the time.

Just as a consistent light state is helpful, keeping a consistent level of sound is also a good idea. Low-level sound can even help to cover up sudden door slams or traffic outside. When it comes to providing that steady level of noise, there are plenty of options for you. Some families choose to use a sound machine, but there’s no need to go out and buy one if you haven’t got one, most families find the sound from a fan works just as well for masking other sounds.

So many families struggle with sleep and settling, you’re not alone! Our Day Stay program is designed specifically to help families with settling their child, from newborn until the child’s first birthday. We also offer overnight residential support for families with children aged from newborn until their 4^th birthday. Both of these programs are held at our Noble Park location, however we also provide support through telehealth for families who can’t make it in person or would prefer their home environment, support is here if you need it! 🤍

Weather in Australia can get pretty extreme, so it only makes sense that a lot of families have questions about how to keep their baby’s sleep environment at the right temperature ☀️❄️

There’s no golden number when it comes to the temperature in a baby’s room.

You definitely don’t have to fork out for an expensive climate control system for your baby’s sleep environment, as long as you are aware of some key points to help control your baby’s temperature.

Keeping blinds drawn in your baby’s sleep environment is a great way to keep it cool during those summer months, and to keep that lighting state consistent, too.

Clothing has a role to play, too. The number one piece of advice – in both Summer and Winter – is to keep your baby’s head uncovered, no hats, beanies, or hoods for bedtime. Babies lose heat through their heads, so keeping it uncovered prevents overheating. And, of course, a covering so close to their face can be a suffocation risk.

Aside from this, there are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to dressing babies for sleep.

In Summer, you might choose to dress your baby in something like this:

• Short sleeved onesies
• A singlet and a nappy
• A sleeping bag or sleep suit
  
  

In Winter, your baby could wear:

• A long-sleeved sleep suit
• A warm sleeping bag
• A onesie with legs and arm covered
  
  

If you’re unsure, if your baby is too hot or too cold, the best place to check their temperature is by touching the skin on their back or tummy. It should feel warm, but not hot. Don’t worry too much if their hands seem a little cold, this is normal. Keep an eye out for signs of overheating like flushed or clammy skin.

For more information about safe sleep, please visit Red Nose.