How’s a baby supposed to sleep?

Hardly any other topic is as omnipresent to expectant parents as the topic “how should a baby sleep”. First and foremost, the question arises how to design the ideal sleeping place for the offspring in order to create a calm and healthy sleeping climate. Of course this isn’t only in the interest of the baby. It is also a blessing for the parents if the baby feels comfortable in its crib and allows mum and dad a few hours of sleep at a time. We have summarized some interesting facts about babies’ sleep, as well as some tips and tricks from our own experience.

Co-sleeping or additional bed

The first question one often asks oneself: Where will the baby sleep after birth? For obvious reasons, many mothers tend to let the baby sleep in their own crib. On the one hand it is very comfortable for breastfeeding at night, on the other hand the close contact to the baby is added. However, this model known as “family bed” or “co-sleeping” is not without controversy. In many cases, the fact that the child sleeps in the bed with the baby means that the parents no longer have a restful sleep. The conscious or even unconscious fear of turning over on the child or of injuring him or her by other movements during sleep often leads to the parents sleeping in a constant state of stress and the recovering factor of the already greatly reduced sleep volume is lost.

Neither the exhausted parents nor the children benefit from this, because the stress of the tired and exhausted parents is also transferred to the child. A vicious circle. A good alternative is a so-called additional bed. These beds are open to one side and are hooked onto the side of the parents’ bed and thus firmly connected. A suitable mattress, which is included in many side beds, ensures that there is a gap-free 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 baby lies directly with the mother and can be breastfed at night without getting up, but at the same time the baby has its own room and mother and father can sleep peacefully and relaxed.

What does a safe and pleasant sleeping place 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 baby should be wrapped as warm as possible so that the baby does not freeze. Although it is true that babies can only regulate their own temperature to a very limited extent, the risk of overheating for the child is much greater than freezing. As a rule, no room has such icy temperatures that the baby is in danger of getting hypothermia. Since the parents sleep in the same room, it would be unbearably cold for you as well. However, protection against overheating is all the more important. Of course, the clothing also depends on the outside temperature, but generally it is sufficient for the baby to wear a body and pyjamas when sleeping. By the way: the baby’s hands may be cool.

This doesn’t indicate that the baby is freezing. But how do I know if my baby is freezing or too cold? There is a simple trick to do this: put a finger in the back of your baby’s neck. If it is warm, everything is fine. Is he sweating? Then you have to take off a layer. If the neck is cool, you should put some clothes on your baby. Pillows or blankets are generally not recommended in the first months of life. There is too great a risk that the baby will pull the blanket or pillow over its face, which can cause suffocation. That is why midwives and paediatricians today advise the use of a baby sleeping bag that is breathable and whose good cut prevents the baby from slipping in. Nordic coast company has spent a lot of time developing the ideal baby sleeping bag that meets all safety requirements for babies.

What is the difference between a summer sleeping bag, winter sleeping bag, year-round sleeping bag and a four-season sleeping bag – which sleeping bag is the best for my baby?

Many parents-to-be are unsure which baby sleeping bag to choose for their baby. The season and the home country are decisive for choosing the right baby sleeping bag. If you live in southern countries, it rarely gets really cold. In the north, as in Scandinavia, the climate is often icy in winter. In Germany and neighbouring countries, light to thickly lined sleeping bags with a TOG value of 1.0-2.5 are ideal. The TOG-value indicates the type of wadding or lining and provides information about the degree of warmth of a sleeping bag. A summer sleeping bag has no lining, in winter it is especially thick. The TOG value of 0.5 indicates an unlined sleeping bag, e.g. made of cotton fabric.

It is suitable for temperatures of over 24 degrees at night in the bedroom. The TOG value of 1.0 is found on a baby sleeping bag with a light lining, e.g. terry cloth, and is ideal for temperatures of 18-24 degrees in the bedroom.

Year-round sleeping bags have a TOG value of 2.5 and are therefore suitable for night-time temperatures of 16-21 degrees in the bedroom. Winter sleeping bags have a TOG value of 3.5 and are thickly lined, usually with sleeves and are suitable for room temperatures below 18 degrees. Since you usually need 2 sleeping bags in the beginning (because babies often spit milk and the diaper leaks), we recommend a year-round sleeping bag, also called a four-season sleeping bag. This can be used almost all year round, except in midsummer or in icy 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 design. There is a lot to consider in order to choose the right baby sleeping bag and thus to ensure a safe baby sleep and to enjoy the sleeping bag for a long time. Nordic coast company has specialised in the needs of babies and parents and has developed a sleeping bag that is well thought out.

The right cut:
The most important thing with the baby sleeping bag is the right proportion of neckline, chest and arm width to prevent the baby from slipping in. Often these are much too wide by default. Make sure that the neck is not constricted but that the head cannot slip in either. The sleeping bag may be tighter at the chest, i.e. keep about 2 cm of air left and right.

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

Easy care in everyday life:
The baby sleeping bags from nordic coast company can be washed at 40 degrees, can be tumble dried and come out of the wash almost wrinkle-free. An important point, because with baby there is little time for household and you wash much more often than before.

Beautiful design, functionally well thought out

Safety and comfort are the top priorities when it comes to baby bedding. But equipping 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 can be opened with an all-round zipper that deliberately ends under the arm. This prevents the baby from hurting itself when opening and closing. Changing nappies at night is child’s play and the four buttons on the shoulders also make it easy to put on and take off. Compared to Velcro or other solutions, they are safe and do not open by themselves after skin use. The front and back of the baby sleeping bag is made without any seams or topstitching, giving the baby extra mobility.

Advantages baby sleeping bag versus baby blanket

A baby sleeping bag gives the baby a slight limit, which usually has a calming effect on babies as it reminds them of the tightness in mum’s tummy. Parents do not need to worry that the baby is not covered, as is the case with a baby blanket / baby merino blanket. Because besides “pulling over the face”, kicking free is not desired either.

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

As with adults, fresh air (in any case smoke-free!) is important for a good and healthy sleep. Furthermore, the bedroom should be well ventilated. Even with the window open, you can let your child sleep peacefully, but it is important to make sure that the cot is not in a draught. A canopy made of breathable, light cotton is the best way to protect your child from draughts. It also provides ideal protection from sunlight and mosquitoes and has another positive side effect: in babies’ new, noisy world, it prevents restless looking back and forth. A little heaven soothes the eyes and thus the baby by its limitation. Even later, children love to sleep in a “cave” because they feel safer. It is important for a baby cot nest to have an opening at the top so that the air can circulate. We have also created this chimney effect for the nordic coast canopies.

Crib nest, yes or no?

A controversial point is the bed frame in the cot nest. Some say it gives security, others warn against pulling in the face. The fact that such a bed nest can be pulled into the face at all is usually the result of ignorance about the use and purchase of the right model. Nests calm a baby and its gaze and give the familiar limitation that reminds them of mummy’s tummy. (It is often seen that even babies that are only a few days old slide up to look for the accustomed limitation). Both important factors to help babies fall asleep and to counteract the crying of restless babies who have a lot to process during the day. If a baby bed nest is too thinly padded (approx. 1-2 cm), it will sag quickly and can be pulled down even by small (weak) babies. If the straps are too loose or too long, they can be dangerous. There are clear guidelines in the EU, but not all manufacturers follow them.

Nordic coast company has developed a baby cot nest, paying strict attention to the above mentioned points and deliberately decided to produce bed nests.

Unlike other baby bed nests, the bed borders of nordic coast company can also be securely attached to baby beds with a closed back wall. Our model therefore differs fundamentally 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 pillows 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 allow easy cleaning of the cover and inlet. For safety reasons there should be no objects such as toys or similar in the baby bed. As many babies are also put into their crib during the day, when the parents leave the room for a short time, nordic coast company has made special loops for baby toys, with which baby toys, i.e. toys for babies under three years of age, can be securely attached without the baby being able to pull the toy into its face.