Last week saw the return of Safer Sleep Week, run by The Lullaby Trust. They aim to promote safe practices when it comes to how and where your baby sleeps and dedicate a week each year to discussing this hot topic. With British Baby Box’s aim to give every baby the best start in life, understanding the guidance around baby sleep safety is fundamental to what we do.
Some of the recommendations from The Lullaby Trust include:
- Always placing your baby on their back to sleep
- Placing your baby to sleep in a separate cot or Moses basket, in the same room as you for the first 6 months
- Using a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition
A baby box offers a great alternative to a Moses basket, with a bespoke mattress that also has a waterproof cover. They are portable so can be moved around the home according to where you are putting baby down and can be taken on holiday too. At British Baby Box we are also in the process of working with the British Standards Institution to develop the first ever baby box standard: so you know our box and mattress are of the highest quality. It also ensures that all baby boxes in future will continue this standard and are safe for your baby to sleep in.
The Lullaby Trust also suggests an ABC of safer sleep, making sure you:
They explain that “following the ABCs for every sleep day and night will help to protect your baby from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)”. It also gives some pretty worrying stats surrounding sleeping with your baby on a sofa, telling us that doing so “increases the risk of SIDS by up to 50 times”. While we can appreciate that getting your baby to sleep can sometimes be as much of a challenge as giving birth itself, it is so important to follow guidance on how your baby should sleep safely. Here at British Baby Box we are always striving to align the products we sell and produce with recommended safety guidance and fully support the Safer Sleep Week initiative from The Lullaby Trust.
Interestingly, although not a proven stat, Finland – where the baby box concept originates – has one of the lowest levels of infant mortality in the world. We think this highlights the importance of giving baby the best start in life, as they do with their baby box. Part of our on-going involvement with the British Standards Institution will look at this, alongside the standards a baby box should have, ensuring quality, comfort and safety.
After all, babies are precious, so let’s keep them safe!