Welcoming a newborn into your home brings a whirlwind of excitement, joy, and a fair share of anxiety. As first-time parents, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the numerous things to prepare, especially when it comes to ensuring your baby's comfort and safety during sleep. A peaceful, restful sleep is vital for your baby’s growth and well-being, and it directly impacts your own ability to rest. This short guide focuses on all the essential sleep-related items that will create a better, safe, comfortable, and nurturing environment for your baby.
1. Baby Cot
The most important gear for better baby sleep is the cot. As a new parent, sleep is the part of your life that will be most affected. Every parent will swear that a happy baby is one who sleeps enough and has quality sleep. Baby will grow up healthy and fuss-free too. And when baby sleeps well, the parents sleep well too!
A baby safety standard baby cot is always more important than the physical look or style. Always check on this before making the purchase. It’s important to pay attention to the bar gap's width. This is to protect babies from trapping their limbs between the slats. EU standards recommend cribs with slats no bigger than 4.5 cm to 6 cm to prevent babies from slipping through. ANZ standards allow bars to be 50 mm and 95 mm apart. If the spaces are too large use a fabric bumper to block the gaps.
Buying Tips
Most Singaporeans prefer a cot with a drop gate and wheels. Wheels on cots are not allowed in certain countries for safety reasons. We also don't recommend rolling cots around too much. It will loosen screws and compromise the structural integrity.
Pay attention to following when choosing your cots.
- Buy from a proper furniture company and not a baby retailer. Such retailers cannot provide proper support and services.
- Buy a convertible cot to improve the longevity and help reduce landfills.
- Buy a cot that does not use absorbent materials such as untreated pine or fir.
- Buy solid wood or formaldehyde free products.
- Buy a leg push single hand drop gate model without wheels if you can afford it. The extra cost buys you convenience and safety. Frees one of your hands up to handle baby better. Remember such models need to be placed against a wall be to effective.
- the base slat height can be adjusted to fit baby's growth.
2. Baby Mattress
A cot is only as good as the mattress that accompanies it. Baby needs a better safe mattress for sleep. So what constitutes a safe baby mattress?
Many experts believe that a firm baby mattress is better and safer. Especially when we take SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) into consideration. So, even if a baby mattress feels quite stiff to you, don’t worry – it will be great for your baby.
The best mattress however is one that has a soft thin layer above a firm base. Thin enough so as not to suffocate baby but thick enough to provide comfort and a deeper sleep for baby. The soft top layer also reduces rolling.
Things to look out for when choosing a baby mattress:
- Mattress cover uses a double knitted fabric. This material is soft, cool and comfortable. Does not stiffen up after washing. A removable washable cover is preferred.
- Foam feels heavy. Light foam tends to collapse after a few months of use. Heavy density foam is much more resilient and is able to retain its shape much longer.
- Mattress is dual use. It can be used for baby till he/she grows up to be a toddler. A longer use or lifespan mean less landfills and a healthier planet.
3. Waterproof Bedsheets
Mattresses are susceptible to spills and soils if not protected properly. Effective mattress protection leads to healthier baby and extends mattress life as well. A waterproof bedsheet will help tremendously and spare the frustrations of an unusable mattress due to excessive spills.
Bedsheets are the first layer that comes in contact with baby’s tender skin. Choose bedsheets that keeps the surface dry to avoid skin rashes.
The following features are a must for baby bedsheets:
- Must be cool and soft. Tencel is the best. For cotton bedsheets you have to use softener. Babies can get cotton burns when start to learn to kick and wiggling. So if you choose cotton, go for high threadcounts.
- Must be waterproof. There very few bedsheets that are cool and comfortable but yet waterproof. Only the high tech brands have this feature.
- Get fitted sheets for easy changes.
4. Baby Cot Convertible Companion Cabinet
The baby cot is where most of the changing of diapers and clothes take place. Having the necessary "stuff" around is a fantastic convenience. What's more space in today's homes can be sparse. Squeezing baby into the master bedroom can be a challenge.
Our baby sleep convertible companion cabinet is the ultimate lifesaver for mummy and daddy. Changing baby diapers all day long can make a parent go mad or worse. You want diapers, creams, wet ones, clean clothes, spray bottle, tissues, cotton balls, earbuds, overhead mobile, towels, changing mat, portable fan and many other accessories readily available.
Our companion cabinet has the following features and provided services
- Can be totally customized
- Inexpensive. Prices range from $799 onwards
- Depth can be customized. Standard depth is 30cm.
- Height can be from 1.6 to 2.4m
- Width can be customised to fit 1.2 to 1.4m cots
- Option for overhead undershelf LED lights. Can change or attend to baby without switching on the room lights.
- Option for a double powerpoint to be fitted. Allow appliances such as baby monitoring cameras, humidifiers and soothing lights and sound devices to be connected and placed on the shelf.
- Scratch, Moisture and Heat resistant panels. Super safe for baby.
- Special pre-tensioned non bending shelves. No danger of shelves collapsing on baby.
- Comes in 40 different colors and textures.
- Can be converted into a study table or bookshelf and headboard to increase lifespan and reduce landfills.
- Free assembly and delivery
- Secured to the wall with metal angle for total safety. No danger of toppling over.
- Cutout at the bottom to cater for skirtings.
- 10 Year structural warranty
- Designed by Qualified Structural Engineer
- Certified to be formaldehyde free. Baby can grow up healthy.
- Cabinet will secured to the wall with a metal angle
- Free delivery and assembly
5. Baby Cocoon
When baby arrives to this world he/she is tiny, exposed to a world full of light and un-surrounded by the warmth and dark of mummy's womb. A cocoon combined with a swaddle replicates the experience of a womb. Baby will sleep better when it feels safe and protected.
The cocoon can be used with a baby cot or placed on the parents bed.
When getting a cocoon be sure to look out for the following features:
- A waterproof but breathable material.
- Low cost not exceeding a $100. This item is a must have for for the first 3 months.
- The foam should be of medium firmness to allow baby at different stages of growth to have a snug fit. Babies can double in weight in 3 months.
- If used have purchased a bassinet, make sure the cocoon can fit the bassinet.
6. Mosquito Canopies
Symptoms of dengue in an infant may be difficult to recognize and are similar to other common childhood infections. See a healthcare provider immediately if your infant develops a fever with any of the following symptoms:
- Fever or a low temperature (less than 36°C or 96.8°F) with any of the following:
- Sleepiness, lack of energy, or irritability
- Rash
- Unusual bleeding (gums, nose, bruising)
- Vomiting (at least 3 times in 24 hours).
Symptoms of dengue can quickly become severe, requiring immediate medical attention or hospitalization.
With dengue on the rise, mosquito canopies are a must. Be sure that the canopy you purchase has these features:
- The canopy pole is strong and the clamp fits the cot frame tightly.
- Even if the room is air conditioned at night, mosquitoes are still around during the day.
- The length of the canopy goes right to the floor.
- The canopy must surround the entire cot and the side edges must overlap.
7. Baby Cot Bedding
Every baby cot need bedding. Pillows, bolsters, bumpers and more. Be sure to use bumpers when baby starts to roll. This prevents limbs from getting trapped between the bars of the cot.
Make sure your baby bedding meet the following requirements
- Made from soft and cooling material such as Jersey Cotton,
- A reputable brand that has been around for many years,
- The foam is of the right firmness and quality,
- The bedding has been designed to fix the mattress and cot.
8. Swings, Bouncers and Rockers
A newborn sleeps for almost 20 hours a day. As they grow older, their sleep can be between 12-17 hours with in between naps of 2 to 5 hours. Sometimes baby needs a different ambience to play and fall asleep. In baby’s waking hours, child development experts will encourage to interact and play with baby. The baby cot may not be the most conducive place. It is static. A more dynamic environment such as a baby swing or rocker would serve this purpose better.
Newborn babies often struggle with anxiety. They are suddenly exposed to more noise, temperature fluctuations. Waiting for food is also stressful. Over stimulation can cause nightmares and crying bouts.
Especially in the first 3 months, babies are more prone to crying for long periods of time. This crying stage usually happens in the late afternoon or evening or even late at night and may happen over extended hours.
Often the only solace is holding and rocking. Rocking baby on your own all day long can be tiring and stressful. Swings and rockers mimic your rocking arms. This equipment can allow you time to rest and helps baby fall asleep.
Buying Tips
Things to note when purchasing a swing, rocker or bouncer.
- A swing is usually battery powered and is the best choice over a bouncer or rocker if putting baby to sleep is your priority.
- Rockers have to be rocked manually. If the rocker is placed on the floor you can use your feet to rock it. Most rockers today have vibration functions to help baby sleep.
- Get rechargeable batteries to be more environmentally friendly.
- Electronic features allow parents more opportunities to carry out other chores while baby is occupied or asleep.
- Bouncers are not for sleeping but more for playing with baby.
- Visit us to get the right gear for the right purpose.
9. Bassinets & Co-sleeper
You might want to consider what space you have available to you for your baby. Traditionally, cots/crib are larger than bassinets, so a bassinet may be more appropriate for a smaller living and sleeping area. Baby may like the cosy feel in a smaller space like a bassinet can provide.
Co-sleepers are a kind of bassinet that allows the side to be lowered. They need to be placed next to the parents' bed. The open side allows easy access to baby. Better co-sleepers even allow the bassinet cage to be moved laterally and close the gap between the adult mattress.
10. Baby Nursing Pillow
For newborn babies sleeping, feeding and changing is synonymous. In other words it eats, sleeps and shits.
Have a good nursing pillow is important for positioning baby for breastfeeding. Its recommended that baby be breastfed for the first six months of life. Baby can literally fall asleep comfortably on the nursing pillow immediately after feeding. This reduces stress on mummy's arms.
This pillow can also be used to aid bottle feeding as well. Grandparents who are older can use the pillow to support baby's weight.
Conclusion
Preparing your baby’s sleep environment requires careful thought, but by focusing on safety, comfort, and convenience, you can create a restful space that will support your baby’s development and your peace of mind. From choosing the right cot to picking the perfect mattress and bedding, each decision plays a critical role in ensuring quality sleep. The right gear will not only help your baby rest easier but also make parenting a smoother experience. As you prepare for this new chapter, remember that a well-rested baby means a well-rested family.
