How should a baby sleep?

Hardly any other topic is as omnipresent for expectant parents as the topic “how should a baby sleep”. The first and foremost question is how to ideally design the sleeping area for your children in order to create a quiet and healthy sleeping environment. Of course, this isn't just in the baby's best interest. It is also a blessing for the parents when the baby feels comfortable in its crib and allows mom and dad to get a few hours of sleep at a time. We have summarized a few interesting facts about babies' sleep, as well as some tips and tricks from our own experience.

Co-sleeping or extra bed

The first question you often ask yourself: Where should the baby sleep after birth? For obvious reasons, many mothers tend to let their baby sleep in their own bed. On the one hand, it is very comfortable for nighttime breastfeeding, and on the other hand, there is close contact with the child. However, this model, known as a “family bed” or “co-sleeping,” is not without controversy. In many cases, the child sleeping in the bed means that the parents no longer get a restful sleep. The conscious or unconscious fear of rolling over onto the child or injuring it through other movements while sleeping often leads to the parents sleeping in a constant state of stress and the restorative factor of the already greatly reduced sleep volume being lost.

Neither the tired parents nor the children benefit from this, because the stress of the tired and exhausted parents is also passed on to the child. A vicious circle. A good alternative is a so-called side bed. These beds, which are open to one side, are hooked onto the side of the parents' bed and thus firmly connected. A suitable mattress, which is included with many extra beds, ensures that there is a seamless connection to the parents' bed. An extra bed combines the advantages of co-sleeping with the restful sleep that is so important for parents. The child lies directly next to the mother and can be breastfed at night without getting up, but at the same time the baby has its own space and mother and father can sleep peacefully and relaxed.

What does a safe and comfortable place to sleep look like?

The ideal sleeping temperature for babies recommended by experts is between 16°C and 18°C. As you can see, the sleeping temperature is relatively “fresh”. Many parents think that the child needs to be wrapped up as warmly as possible so that the baby doesn't freeze. Although it is true that babies have very limited ability to regulate their own temperature, the risk of the child overheating is significantly greater than that of freezing. As a rule, there is no room where the temperatures are so icy that the baby is at risk of hypothermia. Since your parents sleep in the same room, it would be unbearably cold for you too. However, protection against overheating is even more important. Of course, the clothing also depends on the outside temperature, but in general it is sufficient for the baby to wear a bodysuit and pajamas to sleep. By the way: The baby's hands can be cool.

This does not indicate that the baby is cold. But how do I know if my baby is cold or too cold? There is a simple trick for this: put a finger on the back of your baby's neck. If it's warm, everything is fine. Is it sweating? Then you have to take off a layer. If the neck is cool, you should put something on your baby. Pillows or blankets are generally not recommended in the first few months of life. There is too great a risk that the baby will pull the blanket or pillow over their face, which poses a risk of suffocation. Therefore, midwives and pediatricians now recommend using a baby sleeping bag that is breathable and whose good cut prevents slipping in. Nordic coast company has spent a lot of time developing the ideal baby sleeping bag that meets all baby safety requirements.

Difference between a summer sleeping bag, winter sleeping bag, all-season sleeping bag and a four-season sleeping bag? - Which sleeping bag is best for my baby?

Many expectant parents are unsure which baby sleeping bag they should choose for their baby. When it comes to choosing the right baby sleeping bag, the season and your home country are crucial. If you live in southern countries, it rarely gets really cold. In the north, such as Scandinavia, the climate is often icy in winter. In Germany and neighboring countries, lightly to thickly lined sleeping bags with a TOG value of 1.0-2.5 are ideal. The TOG value indicates the type of padding or lining and provides information about the degree of warmth of a sleeping bag. There is no lining in a summer sleeping bag; it is particularly thick in winter. The TOG value of 0.5 refers to an unlined sleeping bag, for example made of cotton fabric. It is suitable for temperatures over 24 degrees at night in the bedroom. The TOG value of 1.0 is one Baby sleepingbag with light lining, e.g. made of terry cloth, and ideal for temperatures of 18-24 degrees in the bedroom.

All-season sleeping bags have a TOG value of 2.5 and are therefore suitable for nighttime temperatures of 16-21 degrees in the bedroom. Winter sleeping bags are thickly lined with a TOG value of 3.5, usually with sleeves and suitable for room temperatures below 18 degrees. Since you usually need 2 sleeping bags at the beginning (because the babies often spit up milk and the diaper leaks), we recommend one All-season sleeping bag , also called four-season sleeping bag. This can be used almost all year round, except in midsummer or when it is freezing cold.

What do I have to pay attention to with my baby sleeping bag? What is important when choosing a sleeping bag?

At first glance, one baby sleeping bag looks like another and initially only differs visually in the design. There is a lot to consider in order to choose the right baby sleeping bag and thus ensure a safe baby's sleep and enjoy the sleeping bag for a long time. Nordic coast company has specialized in the needs of babies and parents and has developed a well-thought-out sleeping bag.

The right cut

The most important thing in a baby sleeping bag is the correct ratio of neckline, chest and arm width to prevent the baby from slipping in. These are often far too wide by default. Make sure that the neck is not restricted but that the heads cannot slip in either. The sleeping bag should sit tighter on the chest, meaning it should leave around 2 cm of air on the left and right.

The padding

Added to this is the right choice of padding. We love cotton, but polyester fleece is the better choice when it comes to filling. Breathable fleece is antibacterial, does not retain odors and does not clump when washed (like cotton does). Hospitals also choose fleece for the reasons mentioned. In addition, the sleeping bags dry faster.

Easy to care for in everyday life

The baby sleeping bags from nordic coast company are washable at 40 degrees, can be tumble dried and come out of the wash almost wrinkle-free. An important point, because with a baby there is little time for household chores and you do laundry much more often than before.

Beautiful design, functionally well thought out

When it comes to baby cot equipment, safety and comfort are the top priority. But outfitting and dressing a baby is fun and so the design should not only be beautiful but also functional. Our sleeping bags are lined with soft jersey - ideal for sensitive baby skin! Each of our baby sleeping bags opens with an all-round zipper that intentionally ends under the arm. This means that the baby cannot be injured when opening and closing it. Changing at night becomes child's play and the four buttons on the shoulders make it easy to put on and take off. Compared to Velcro or other solutions, they are safe and do not come apart on their own after regular use. The baby sleeping bag has no seams or stitching on the front and back, giving the baby a lot of mobility.

Advantages of a baby sleeping bag versus a baby blanket

A baby sleeping bag gives the baby a slight confinement, which usually has a calming effect on the babies as it reminds them of the tightness of mom's tummy. Parents don't have to worry about the child not being covered, as is the case with a Baby blanket / Baby Merino blanket the case is. Because in addition to “pulling over the face”, kicking free is also not desired.

How should I design a safe baby sleeping space? Do I need a baby bed canopy and a nest?

As with adults, fresh air (definitely smoke-free!) is important for good, healthy sleep. The bedroom should also be well ventilated. You can let your child sleep without worrying even with the window open, but it is important to make sure that the cot is not exposed to a draft. To protect it from this, there is one Bed canopy Made from breathable, lightweight cotton. It also provides ideal protection against sunlight and mosquitoes and has another positive side effect: in baby's new, noisy world, it prevents restless looking back and forth. A sky calms the gaze and thus the baby through its limitations. Even later, children love sleeping in a “cave” because they feel safer. It is important for a baby bed nest that it has an opening at the top so that air can circulate. We have also implemented this chimney effect for the Nordic Coast bed canopy.

Baby bed nest, yes or no?

A controversial point is the bed border in the baby cot. Some say it provides security, others warn against pulling people in the face. That one bed bumper It is usually the result of a lack of knowledge about how to use it and how to buy the right model. Nests calm a baby and its gaze and provide the usual boundaries that remind them of mom's tummy. (It is often seen that babies who are only a few days old move up in search of the usual boundary.) Both important factors in making it easier to fall asleep and counteracting crying in restless babies who have a lot to process from the day. If a baby bed nest is padded too thinly (approx. 1-2 cm), it will quickly sag and can be pulled down even by small (weak) babies. If the fastening straps are too loose or too long, they can be dangerous. There are clear guidelines in the EU, but not all manufacturers adhere to them.

Nordic coast company has developed a baby bed nest and paid strict attention to the points mentioned above and consciously decided to produce bed nests.
Unlike other baby bed nests, the bed bumpers from the nordic coast company can also be securely attached to baby beds with a closed back wall. Our model is therefore fundamentally different from other models: they are functional, safe and well thought out. The breathable, stable filling prevents the bed frame from collapsing. The special construction of three individual cushions with connecting loops allows the nest to be tied particularly securely and firmly to all bed heights.

The extra thick straps ensure a secure hold. Zippers at the ends make it easy to clean the cover and inlet. For safety reasons, there should be no objects such as toys or similar in the baby bed. Since many babies are placed in their crib during the day when their parents briefly leave the room, nordic coast company has installed special loops for baby toys with which baby toys, i.e. toys for babies under three years of age, can be securely attached without this Baby can pull the toy in his face.