Why Babies Need Full - Fat Foods

As adults, we know that we should avoid the full-fat versions of many foods -- so doesn't this rule apply to our babies, too?

Davinci Emily Crib

Well, not for the first 2 years of life. Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics place your baby in the very enviable position of being encouraged to eat foods such as full-fat cheese, yogurt and fromage frais.

Davinci Emily Crib

This is because babies grow very rapidly at this stage -- amazingly, the average baby will triple his birthweight and grow 10 inches in length during his first year alone! Unsurprisingly, his body requires an enormous amount of energy to support this growth -- and he obtains this energy from fat.

Fat is also important for the development of your baby's brain -- did you know that 60% of the brain and the sheaths around the nerves are actually made up of fat?

At first, your baby's fat requirements are met by breast milk or formula. Once you introduce him to solids, the extra fat he needs will be provided by full-fat dairy products. And, of course, dairy foods will supply your baby with additional calcium, too -- yogurt is a particularly excellent source and provides your baby with more calcium than milk!

Remember, though, that cow's milk should not be given to your baby as a main drink before his first birthday. This is because it is too low in iron to meet your baby's essential iron requirements and also because the protein in cow's milk can sometimes cause allergic reactions.

But once your baby is at least one year of age, you should give him full-fat cow's milk until the age of two. At this point, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends switching to a lower fat variety -- if you postpone the introduction of reduced fat milk much later than this, you may find that your child is unwilling to accept it!

Why Babies Need Full - Fat Foods

Davinci Emily Crib

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Infant Crib Shopping Can Be An Enjoyable Experience

As you are shopping for your infant crib bedding sets you will find many that come with 6 pieces, 4 pieces or 3 piece sets. In the 6-piece crib set, you will find a matching set that will include a quilt, fitted sheet, dust ruffle, bumper pad, diaper stacker, and a valance. In a 4-piece crib bedding set, you will find that many sets include a coverlet, fitted sheet, dust ruffle and a bumper pad. Normally a three-piece set will include a quilt, bumper pad and fitted crib sheet. You can find various types of infant crib bedding sets that have many different options available.

Davinci Emily Crib

If you know if your child is going to be a boy or girl, you will have fun deciding on which infant crib bedding sets to choose to transform their drab room into one that is special just for them. Many infant crib bedding sets come in different colors or with a variety of fun loving characters like Winnie The Pooh, Mickey Mouse, Hello Kitty, or the Little Princess.

Davinci Emily Crib

You will love shopping for infant crib bedding sets when you see all the styles available. Choosing a crib set that will enhance the décor of your baby's room will not be a problem.

There are many other accessories that can be added to your infant crib bedding sets, which can make the room even more beautiful. After you have your infant crib bedding sets you can add items like drapes with tiebacks, throw pillows to adorn the rocking chair, musical mobile, lamp and shade, wall hangings or pictures that match the infant crib bedding sets, clothing hamper, matching blankets, bookends, matching light switch plates, and even night lights.

Now, that you have decided which infant crib bedding sets you like, talk with

your mom or mother in law, they can help you decide which accessories you may need to enhance the rest of the room.

You may also wish to go online to see if you can find a theme that you would like for the nursery. If you choose a nursery theme then you should search for infant crib bedding sets to fit that theme such as animals, cowboy, flowers, or other such adorable ideas.

Some of the most popular infant crib bedding sets is Jungle Magic by Lambs & Ivy, which is out of the ordinary since it is a 9 piece crib set that includes a crib quilt, 4-sided crib bumper pad, fitted crib sheet, dust ruffle, window valance, diaper stacker, rug, and two wall borders. Jungle Magic will be perfect for either a girl or boy however; the main color scheme is blue so you may wish to use it for a boy.

For a baby girl one of the most popular infant crib bedding sets is the Ginny Fraser Floral Fantasy by Dolly. This is another unique set because it comes complete with 10 items, which includes a bumper pad, comforter, crib sheet, crib ruffle, lamp, musical mobile, two pieces of wall art, decorator door pillow, and a keepsake handprint.

Infant Crib Shopping Can Be An Enjoyable Experience

Davinci Emily Crib

Travel Crib

Teaching Babies to Read - The Benefits of Buying a Ready-Made Reading Program

Teaching babies to read is simple and easy to do especially if you purchase a ready-made reading program. With a prepackaged program you can just jump right in and begin having fun teaching your baby to read.

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Parents can certainly teach their babies to read without purchasing a kit, but since babies need to see the words in an isolated state, apart from pictures, and they need to be large so they can easily read them, they will most likely have to prepare these materials themselves.

Davinci Emily Crib

The investment of the parents' time involved in creating materials can end up being rather great. While many people enjoy creating materials for their babies, I being one of them, it is nice to have the necessary items ready to go so you can get started teaching.

Babies are small for such a short time. Parents might rather spend their time playing and interacting with their babies while teaching them to read rather than creating materials themselves. When you purchase the products in a reading kit for your baby, you can move along as slowly or as quickly as you both find enjoyable. You won't have the pressure of needing to come up with new materials for some time.

Babies are developing so rapidly from birth to 5 years old and they are able to learn so quickly. This means that if you plan to teach your baby to read, you will need materials to show your baby.

A prepackaged baby reading kit is a minimal investment for the time, energy and organization it saves you. The videos are categorized to teach things together in groups so your baby can easily understand what is being taught. The flash cards are also categorized according to body parts, colors, shapes, animals, foods, possessions, and items in the house. From there you can move on to the couplet stage where your baby begins to review the words already learned by seeing them brought back in pairs to make new words.

In this busy world we live in, if you can purchase a ready-made reading kit for you baby and save hours of time and preparation, isn't it worth it?

Teaching Babies to Read - The Benefits of Buying a Ready-Made Reading Program

Davinci Emily Crib

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DaVinci Emily Crib Review

The DaVinci Emily crib is another complete sleeping system and popular crib style from the DaVinci brand. The design is contemporary, elegant, and yet very functional as it is a 4 in 1 convertible crib, allowing growing with your baby from a crib to a toddler bed, and eventually up to a full size bed. This crib line is built with thought of mothers in mind; it is designed to reduce overreaching into the crib for their baby and is shorter than most cribs. Finally, the crib's side is static, meaning that there are no moving parts for you to worry about. Last, but definitely not least, this crib has been given a top-product rating from Consumer Reports.

Davinci Emily Crib

Here are the product specifications so you can make the necessary measurements:

Davinci Emily Crib

Product Dimensions: 56 x 38 x 36 inches; 80 pounds Shipping Weight: 80 pounds

The crib comes in Cherry, Ebony, Espresso, Natural Wood, Oak, and White finishes, so there's a style for almost every decor. Pictures can be found at the link below.

Installation:

Assembly is fairly straightforward; all screw holes have been pre-drilled or have metal inserts, so there will be no need to over tighten bolts, unless you like stripped screw threads and altogether an unsafe crib. The crib is assembled in only 5 steps, to convert to a toddler bed it will only take 4, and the necessary rails are included. To convert to a full size bed there are only 2 steps, but you need to purchase the M4799 rails first.

Product Features:

DaVinci cribs are made from New Zealand pine from sustainable forests, preserving the environment by not over-harvesting materials while delivering very sturdy cribs. Since the crib is made from natural wood, there will be some natural variations in the color of the wood which is normal and is not a defect or imperfection in craftsmanship. Also, the wood finish is non-toxic, and the crib's materials are lead free.

The DaVinci Emily Crib also has a 4 level mattress system to ensure your child's safety and to adjust to their needs throughout use and also comes with a 1 year warranty. All DaVinci cribs, meets or exceeds all U.S. standards of quality, the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association standards as well as the standards of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Cleaning:

Cleaning the DaVinci Emily crib is easy and all it takes is mild soap and a soft rag to avoid damaging the wood finish. If you ever decide to refinish the wood, make sure that the finish is non-toxic; once you do refinish the wood however, your warranty will be voided. DaVinci cribs are given the reputation for being easily scratched in the online community. However if you exercise caution around the crib, which is always recommended, then this will be a minor issue. But what do other people have to say about this crib? The answers may surprise you...

DaVinci Emily Crib Review

Davinci Emily Crib

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Smart Babies: 20 Easy Ways to Make Your Baby Smart

Some babies are naturally prone to be smart by genetics, while others are less apt to get the 'genius gene'. Of course, every parent hopes for the latter. However, as parents it is our duty to nurture and harness the full potential of our children from birth.

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There are many misconceptions and old wives' tales when it comes to raising babies, but speaking from first-hand experience, there are a number of development milestones that a baby can reach much earlier than any expert's predictions. Most of these benchmarks are the result of positive and patient parenting, which is the underlying requirement for having a smart baby.

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Yet, parents are often too busy, too tired and just too lazy (no offense) to take the time that is needed for a baby's early development. As a result, kids these days have a tough time at school compared to kids of only a generation or two ago. They use less of their imaginations and more technological stimulants, which have been proven in studies to make people less smart than those who read books or spend no time in front of the TV.

Other external culprits could include one or both parents being gone a lot, or having undesirable family environments such as homes where fighting, bickering or negatively yelling and reprimanding children takes place. Such an atmosphere is upsetting to a child; therefore they may become withdrawn and less excited about learning. They get less attention than a child who has both parents; or one who lives in a home that is emotionally happy.

Assuming the baby has none of these obstacles, there is no reason why he or she should be hindered by early intelligence growth. Babies as early as a few days old can begin learning and can understand words much sooner than they can speak.

Here are 20 ways to encourage early learning development for your baby:

1. Talk out everything you do or see with your baby. As you take the baby for a walk, point to flowers, birds and cars and say the word as you show the baby what you are saying. The baby learns what these things are, as well as becoming more alert and aware of his environment.

2. Read books from day one. People laughed that I read books to my newborn, but by 6 - 7 months old, he was already able to turn the pages in anticipation of the rest of the book and could understand much of what the books were about based on the pictures and my daily explanations. He often dragged his favorite books to be read again, and again!

3. Index Cards. I cannot stress the value of these great 'toys'. Choose index cards that have a front and back - with the letter or number on one side and pictures that accompany that letter on the back. The baby will play with them and look forward to them. Don't worry about reading them in order, just pick one up occasionally and read it. Soon your baby will be doing the same. Make these cards fun and your baby will learn letters before you know it. Make fun games with the cards, such as spelling out his name.

4. Bring the baby everywhere. I know, getting bundled up and dressed can be a pain, but your baby soaks up these experiences and will look forward to it. He gets to meet people, see the world and watch others instead of just staring at his own living room every day. As well, some parents balk at the idea of traveling far away with an infant, but these experiences can be very mentally stimulating for him. We brought our baby to two NFL games already with thousands of people. He loved it! Getting used to crowds will help him develop socially.

5. Do things with the baby that you would normally do. Let him watch you brush your teeth, hair and get dressed. Although it may take longer for you to do these simple tasks, the baby will learn and watch everything you do. It makes teaching him easier and faster.

6. Avoid using TV (even kid's shows) as a babysitter. Some parents stick their kids in front of the TV because they are too tired or lazy to interact with them. The only programs your child should watch are specific educational DVDs, preferably one to accompany the index cards. My baby has been using them since approx. 2 months old and already says many words from this video. Parents who chime in and interact as the baby is watching will aid in his interest and learning.

7. Listen to music and sing and dance with baby. Our baby loves electronic and house music. Strange, yes. But the upbeat tempo and energetic style puts him in a great mood, as well as stimulating his mind. He has been interested in music since day one and we often choose low tempo techno songs to dance him to sleep. Babies love music, and just as versatile as the parents. Some may love Country music, house music, classical, orchestra or whatever the mother liked to listen to as the baby was growing in the womb.

8. Give your baby choices. Teach him colors by saying what color things are as you give it to him. "Yellow banana. Blue Ball. Which one do you want?" As the baby grabs the item, repeat the one he chooses back to him.

9. While pregnant, take prenatal vitamins. Intelligence begins in the womb, so take all-natural prenatal vitamins instead of prescribed or over-the-counter remedies from pharmacies. These can be stacked throughout the day. Your baby has a stronger chance of being smart from birth if he's had the proper supplementation throughout the duration of your pregnancy.

10. Let other people hold your baby. As long as the person is safe, doing this will help your baby learn about individuality. There is nothing more precious than a baby's assessment of another human. Babies do not have any prejudice, judgments or concern over whether someone is fat or thin, what they look like, or anything other than if the person is 'fun' or not. Let people hold your baby and he will learn about the characteristics of human beings.

11. Stay happy, no matter what. Even when you have a bad day. As a parent, babies pick up on your energy. If you're in a bad mood, distressed, upset or angry, the baby will also become distressed. Always smile and make your baby feel good. Happier babies are smarter babies.

12. Use positive reinforcement. As soon as your baby does something you have taught him - no matter how insignificant it may be - make a big deal about it! Yell, "Good boy!" and repeatedly encourage your baby to make these efforts for your approval. Your baby will become more determined and happy to please you.

13. Let baby look in the mirror. Allow him to study his reflection and praise him while he does. "What a handsome boy... smart boy... cute boy...etc." Tell your baby he is great and that he can be anything he wants in life!

14. Let him touch things. Of course, there are some things you don't want your baby to play with. But all too often, we are trained as parents to freak out over a baby touching or holding something (like dirt). By making a big deal out of it, you will actually pique his curiosity to do it even more. Let him feel the textures, shapes or even dig his hands in the mud if he must. This is how he learns about his world. Just make sure he doesn't eat it or put something in his mouth that is unsafe.

15. Stimulating toys. Of course every baby loves toys. Choose toys that stimulate their minds. You can also play with your baby by making tunnels to crawl through out of blankets, playing peek-a-boo; getting a walker and other homemade ideas that will mentally stimulate your baby.

16. Make funny faces and act silly, using variable voice inflections, tones and noises. Mix it up. Talk to him sometimes as if he were an adult, but then other times in baby talk. Make funny faces and touch your baby. These things create a bond and will make your baby aware of the fact there are hundreds of ranges that can be expressed through one voice - yours!

17. Introduce your baby to more than one language. You may think it will confuse your baby, when in fact this is the best time to make your child bi-lingual.

18. Healthy eating. Although it may be tempting to give the baby chocolate, cookies and French fries, these offerings can lead to poor consequences, including slowing his mental development or inhibiting his physical attributes. Small pieces of fish, peas, blueberries and turkey are okay as your baby begins eating more solid foods. Your baby will learn to make healthy choices if that is what he is used to eating all along.

19. Keep your baby on breast milk or formula as long as possible. Doctors say you can begin weaning your baby as he nears the year mark, but milk has a ton of hormones and antibiotics that are injected by the dairy farmers. There are hundreds of studies now that prove the probiotics found in baby formula and in breast milk provide the much-needed nutrition for optimum development. Formula may be expensive, and milking is a hassle, but these are very valuable when it comes to your baby's early foundation for immunity.

20. If at all possible, try to get in-home care or a part time nanny instead of daycare. Kids these days pick up too many bad habits at daycare centers (not all, but a greater majority). Some are deprived of the one-on-one attention provided by adult stimulation because there are so many kids to take care of. Having a one-on-one provider for your baby means he will have all the attention to himself. Subsequently, he will have more adult interaction and individual attention.

Yes, making your baby smarter takes work and is a never-ending task that you signed up for on the day the baby was born. However, now that life is no longer just about you and is instead about the life you created, now is the time to commit to and empower your baby while his mind is fresh; literally like a blank book with all of the pages just waiting to be filled to the brim!

Smart Babies: 20 Easy Ways to Make Your Baby Smart

Davinci Emily Crib

Cyber Monday Emily 4-in-1 Convertible Crib with Toddler Rail in Honey Oak 2011 Deals

Dec 02, 2011 00:33:49

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Cyber Monday Emily 4-in-1 Convertible Crib with Toddler Rail in Honey Oak Overview

M4791O The Emily Convertible Crib is perfect for your child. With the ability to be converted into a daybed and a full bed, it grows as your child does. Suitable for newborns, toddlers, and youth, the Emly Convertible Crib can convert from a crib to a toddler bed to a daybed to a full-sized bed. The mattress spring system adjusts to four different levels, allowing the crib to last through your infant's growth. The Daybed Conversion Rail Kit is a very simple and cost effective solution to transition your child's crib to youth bed. Crib Features: -4 level mattress spring system that allows you to adjust the mattress height as your infant grows -Toddler Bed conversion kit included (Full size headboard and footboard) -Optional Wooden Bed Rails for Full Size Bed conversion -Meets and exceeds all US safety standards -Actual color may vary slightly from shown -Constructed from New Zealand Radiata Pine Wood -Ready to assemble -Linens not included -This is a NON-Drop Side crib. Emily Convertible Crib Assembly Instructions Dimensions: -Crib: 42'' H x 54'' W x 34'' D About New Zealand Radiata Pine Wood: Radiata Pine, better known as 'New Zealand Pine' is a softwood tree that contains many properties that make it very suitable for furniture and furniture making. It has a density equal to that of hardwoods like poplar, mahogany and oak. Its uniform density ensures a smooth and consistent texture and confers its excellent machining, painting and staining properties; there is almost no variation in color between pieces. DaVinci's pine wood originates from forests maintained by managers that enforce environmental responsibility and the conservation of forest wildlife. ***Please note that these products cannot be shipped to Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico. We apologize for the inconvenience - feel free to call us regarding alternatives! This Crib is approved for use in the United States.

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The Joy of &quot;BabyWearing&quot;

Have you ever heard of babywearing? I know, it sounds like some rite of passage for a secret society, but it's really a wonderful nurturing way for new parents to bond with their child and give the little one an emotional and physical head-start on life. Whether you are a first-time parent or you already have children of your own, if you don't already know about the benefits of babywearing then you will want to continue reading this article.

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What is Babywearing?

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Babywearing is in its most basic form a means of baby transportation. It is the practice of carrying your child in a sling or a cloth baby carrier. The technique is far from new; in fact it has been practiced for thousands of years around the world. It is the most natural thing to do, and unfortunately modern society has lost the instinct to do this. Fortunately, we are learning it back.

Practicality and ease.

Babywearing offers a practical solution for mothers who need to juggle between taking care of a newborn baby and many of the other activities one has to do in the day. Additionally, nursing mothers who want to breastfeed their child in public can do so discreetly by using a baby sling.

Strengthened emotional bond between parent and child.

Wearing your baby provides a deeper emotional bond between child and parent because it satisfies the baby's natural need for closeness, touch and affection. Furthermore it has been found to help improve the condition of premature babies, who need the extra attention most. After all, they should still be safe inside a warm womb, feeling an intimate connection to their parents, so why not give them what nature had intended?.

Reduction of post-partum depression.

Babywearing helps reduce the risk of post-partum depression because it helps create an emotional connection and provides physical stimulation with the baby. Physically, it also creates lesser strain on your back and spine since the right baby carrier will provide adequate support for both.

Babywearing for child nurturing.

Babywearing makes for calmer babies because all of their basic needs are already being met. The specific health benefits include better respiratory health, muscle tone and inner ear development. Also, since the baby is always staying close to the parent, he or she would be more exposed to the language being used, as well as the facial expressions. Children at a young age absorb new information very quickly; so the more that they are exposed to the real world while they are babies, the quicker they will develop.

Additional health benefits of babywearing.

Aside from providing a more convenient lifestyle with your baby, there are a lot of additional health benefits for children who are carried. There is a dramatic decrease in crying - babies who are carried cry 43% less than those who are left alone on their cribs.

Babywearing is also a factor contributed to better and easier discipline for a child. Babies, who instantly bonded with their parents when they were carried, as infants are much easier to discipline, more secure with themselves, more trusting, sociable, considerate, affectionate and sensitive to others.

One final note about babywearing, you must remain very attentive to the baby's interaction with the environment. You will need a little more space to turn around to avoid bumping the baby into counters and doorways. Also babies are now in prime position to grab things that they may not have been able to reach before, such as a coffee mug. Also babies being worn on the back may be able to reach things that you cannot see, so pay extra attention to your environment.

Happy parenting and happy babywearing.

The Joy of "BabyWearing"

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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

* What is SIDS?
* Cigarette Smoke is linked to SIDS
* Safe Sleeping
* Safe Places to Sleep
* Safe Bedding
* Sleep Dangers
* Common Questions

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What is SIDS?

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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, formerly known as 'cot death', refers to the sudden unexpected death of a baby from no known cause. I have put together this fact sheet on SIDS to help prevent other families experiencing the grief my family did, when I lost my brother to SIDS. The number of babies dying of SIDS is dropping and this is due to the SIDS researchers all over the world educating parents and carers to always place a baby on her back to sleep with her face and head uncovered and keeping her in a smoke free environment. To give you an example of the help the education is doing the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that 500 babies died of SIDS in 1989 and in 2003 the number had reduced to 73 babies. So please read the information given in this fact sheet and let's help the number decrease even further.

SIDS is the most common cause of death in babies between one month and one year of age but the majority of babies who die of SIDS are under six months of age. More babies die of SIDS in winter than summer. To this day, the cause of SIDS remains unknown and there is no way of predicting which babies it will affect. However, what has been discovered is that some factors are thought to reduce the risk of SIDS. Since parents were first made aware of these factors through the various educational programs introduced by SIDS researchers, SIDS deaths have dropped and continue to drop.

Babies and young children spend a lot of their time sleeping, so you need to be aware that some sleeping arrangements are not safe and can increase the risk of SIDS or cause fatal sleeping accidents. Research has found some important ways to reduce the risk of SIDS and create a safe sleeping environment for babies and young children. This fact sheet provides you with information to help you create such an environment for your baby or child.

Cigarette Smoke is linked to SIDS
Cigarette smoke harms babies before and after they are born. Parents who smoke during pregnancy and after the birth of their baby increase the risk of SIDS for their baby. In fact, if a mother smokes then the risk of SIDS doubles, and if the father smokes too it doubles again. There is still an increased risk of SIDS if parents smoke outside, away from the baby, and if smoking parents co-sleep with their babies the risk of SIDS is increased again. The reasons for this are not clear. However, we do know that being a non-smoker or smoking less will reduce the risk for your baby. Try not to let anyone smoke near your baby and try not to let anyone smoke in your house, your car or anywhere else your baby spends time.

If you want to quit smoking and you're not finding it easy, ask for help. Call the local Quitline or ask your doctor, midwife or child health nurse for information and advice.

Safe Sleeping
Sleeping a baby on her back reduces the risk of SIDS. The chance of babies dying of SIDS is greater if they sleep on their tum mies or sides. Healthy babies placed to sleep on their backs are also less likely to choke if they vomit than babies placed on their tum -mies to sleep.

Babysitters, nannies, staff at day care centres and other people who care for your baby may not know that tummy- and side-sleeping increase the risk of SIDS. Explain this to them before you leave your baby in their care.

Older babies who can turn over and move around the cot should be put to bed on their backs but then let them find their own sleeping position. The risk of SIDS in babies over six months is extremely low but still there so please keep practicing safe sleeping habits.

Make sure your baby's face and head stay uncovered while your baby is sleeping. A good way to ensure this is to put your baby's feet at the bottom of the cot so that she can't slip down underneath the bedclothes. Tuck in bedclothes securely so they can't become loose. Never put quilts, doonas, duvets, pillows, lambskins or cot bumpers in a cot or under the sheet covering the mattress. All these are thought to increase the risk of SIDS. You might decide to use a safe sleeping bag to help keep your baby's bedding in place but these should be used with bedding and not as an alternative to bedding. (To read more about this please read my safe bedding guide) If you do, use a safe sleeping bag make sure it has a fitted neck and arm-holes like the ones I recommend.

Taking a baby into an adult bed may be unsafe as the baby could get caught under the adult bedding or pillows. The baby could also get trapped between the bed and the wall, or fall out of the bed, or an adult could roll onto the baby if they are sleeping very deeply or have taken any drugs or alcohol.

Tips:

* Make sure your baby's head remains uncovered during sleep.
* Do not put your baby to sleep on a waterbed or beanbag.
* Tummy play is safe and good for babies when they are awake and an adult is present, but never put your baby on her tummy to sleep.
* Put your baby on her back to sleep.
* Use a firm, clean, well-fitting mattress. That passes the safe hand test. Place you hand on the mattress and press down firmly. If you remove your hand and you can see its imprint then this mattress is not safe for a baby to sleep on.
* Tuck in your baby's bedclothes securely.

Safe Places to Sleep
Cots
Every country has their own standards for baby products and cots so please look into what they are in your country before you purchase a cot. All new and secondhand cots sold in Australia must meet the Australian/ New Zealand Standard for cots (AS/NZ 2172) and will carry a label to say so. If you cannot find the label, do not risk buying the cot.

Read my advice on purchasing a safe cot.

If you are using an old or secondhand cot in particular, check for the following problems:

* Wobbly or broken parts that make the cot less stable.
* Bars a toddler or baby could get caught between (shouldn't be less than 50 mm or more than 85 mm).
* Knobs, corner posts or exposed bolts that could hook onto a toddler's or baby's clothing, especially around the neck.
* Too much space (more than 25 mm) between mattress and cot edge.
* Sides that are too low and can be climbed over by active little toddlers.
* Sharp catches or holes in the wood that can hurt curious fingers.
* Old paint that might contain poisonous lead.

Babies can become trapped in a tilted rocking cot or cradle. If you have a rocking cradle or cot with a locking pin, make sure you secure the pin firmly in place whenever you leave your baby and check to make sure the cradle cannot move in your absence.

Portable Travel Cots
These are sometimes called portacots. Always use the firm mattress that is supplied with the cot and don't add additional padding under or over the mattress as your baby may become trapped face-down in the gaps created between the mattress and the cot wall. Also adding padded fitted sheets or foam mattresses normally results in the mattress failing the safe hand test. Also please avoid inflatable cot mattresses because the mattress might pass the test initially but fail later in the night. There is a separate standard that is used for all portable cots and all cots that reach this standard will carry a label to say so.

Sleeping dangers
The following are dangerous things to look out for and avoid wherever your toddler or baby sleeps - both during the night and for any daytime sleep or naps. Check both your own home and anywhere else your child is cared for, including day care, childcare centres and the homes of family and friends.

Safe Bedding
An unsupervised adult bed may be unsafe for babies or toddlers because they could get caught under bedding or pillows, become trapped between the wall and the bed or fall out. The risk of accident is increased if you leave the baby or toddler alone on an adult bed or bunk bed.

Never put your baby or toddler in a soft place to sleep because her face may become covered. If you fall asleep with your baby while on a couch or sofa, there is a very high risk of a sleeping accident. Babies don't need pillows, cushions or tri-pillows as they are too soft and can cover baby's face. Don't ever put your baby or toddler on a waterbed or beanbag.

Dangling cords or string
Keep your baby's cot away from any cords hanging from blinds, curtains or electrical appliances because they could get caught around your baby's neck. You will also need to keep hanging mobiles out of the reach of your baby's curious little hands and mouths.

Heaters and electrical appliances
Keep heaters or any electrical appliances well away from the cot to avoid the risk of overheating, burns and electrocution. Don't use electric blankets, hot-water bottles or wheat bags for babies or young children. Remember that your toddler or baby cannot escape from a bed or cot to cool down and does not know how to remove bedclothes.

A baby that becomes too hot or cold is at an increased risk of SIDS.
Common Questions

1. Is it safe to put my newborn baby on his back to sleep and what happens if he vomits?

Yes, healthy newborn babies can be safely placed on the back to sleep. Healthy babies sleeping on the back are less likely to choke on vomit than tummy sleeping infants. Some babies, with rare medical conditions, might have to sleep on the side or the tummy. If you are unsure about the best way to sleep your baby, speak with your doctor or nurse.

Is it safe to put my newborn baby on his back to sleep?
What happens if he vomits? Yes, healthy newborn babies can be safely placed on the back to sleep. Healthy babies sleeping on their back are less likely to choke on vomit than tummy-sleeping infants. Some babies with rare medical conditions might have to sleep on the side or the tummy.

Can babies be put on the tummy to play?
Yes, tummy play is safe and very good for babies when they are awake and an adult is present. Tummy play helps muscle development in the arms, neck and back and prepares babies for crawling.

Is side-sleeping safe?
Side-sleeping can increase the risk of SIDS, possibly because a young baby can roll onto her tummy from her side. A baby sleeping on her back cannot roll onto her tummy until about five or six months of age, when most of the risk for SIDS has passed.

Will formula-feeding increase the risk of SIDS?
There is no consistent evidence that bottle-feeding increases the risk of SIDS or that breastfeeding reduces the risk.

If I sleep my baby in the same room as me will it reduce the risk of SIDS?
Research in New Zealand and the United Kingdom indicates that sleeping a baby in the same room, but not in the same bed, as the parents in the first six to twelve months of life may be protective. This is thought to be because parents can easily see the baby and check she is safe. This protective effect does not transfer if a baby sleeps in a room with other children, probably because children do not know if an infant is safe or not.

Is it okay to fall asleep on the couch with my baby?
Some research into SIDS has shown that an adult sleeping on a couch with a baby can be dangerous because the baby may accidentally become wedged between cushions or the back of the sofa. Put your baby into her own bed before you doze off if you feel yourself getting sleepy.

Will bed-sharing increase the risk of SIDS?
Bed-sharing does not appear to increase the risk of SIDS for any of the following groups:

* When you bed-share to feed and cuddle your baby then put her back in her cot.
* When the baby is older than four months.
* If you and your partner are non-smokers.

If you or your partner smokes, sleeping with your baby in the first four months may increase the risk of SIDS. Particular circumstances that may increase the risk for all parents include when you or your partner have consumed alcohol or have taken drugs, which make you sleep more heavily.

If you sleep with your baby, make sure the bedding cannot cover her head and keep her away from the pillows. Use lightweight blankets rather than doonas or duvets and place your baby in a position where there is no risk of her falling out of the bed or becoming wedged in.

I am not sure what to dress my baby in at bedtime. What do you suggest?
A useful guide is to dress baby as you would dress yourself - to be comfortably warm, not hot. Conversely, some parents underdress their baby, worrying she will get too hot. Babies mainly keep themselves cool through their head, in particular their face, so make sure baby's face and head remains uncovered and she will stay comfortably warm.

Remove hats or bonnets from a baby as soon as you come indoors or enter a warm car, bus or train, even if it means waking your baby up. Babies regulate their temperature through their head.

How should we sleep our baby?
Current research suggests that if your baby becomes either too hot or too cold, the risk of SIDS is increased. To prevent this I have put together a safe bedding guide for you. Clink here to read more about the safe bedding guide .

Does dummy use reduce the risk of SIDS?
Some research indicates an apparent decrease in the incidence of SIDS with dummy use, however the evidence is not overwhelming and the other effects of using a dummy outweigh this fact. One major reason not to use one is that babies who suck on dum mies tend to have an increased risk of ear infections, which in turn may bring on high fevers and the use of antibiotics (both of which have side effects of their own).

What do we do now that our baby has started to roll over onto her tummy?
Most SIDS cases occur when babies are under six months of age and generally babies who are placed on their back to sleep cannot roll onto their tum mies until about five or six months of age, when most of the risk has passed. Try not to let your baby sleep on her tummy before six months of age. You could put your baby in a safe baby sleeping bag as these delay babies rolling over and keep them warmer. My research shows a cold baby will roll to their tummy to warm up as explained in Rylen's case study. Click here to read Rylen's case study.

Older babies who can turn over and move around the cot should be put on their backs to sleep and allowed to find their own sleeping position. The risk of SIDS in babies over six months is extremely low.

Remember to reduce the risk in other ways: make sure that baby is on a firm, well-fitting mattress and don't tuck the bed covers in firmly if baby is on her tummy. Make sure her face and head remain uncovered during sleep and keep baby smoke-free. Make sure she has supervised tummy time when awake to strengthen her upper body muscles.

My grandmother says I should put a hat on my five-week-old baby to make him sleep better. What do you think?

I have heard this a few times and believe it to be a very dangerous old wives' tale. You should most definitely not put a hat on your baby to help him sleep as this could cause your baby to overheat and will increase the risk of SIDS. If your baby is too hot and needs to cool down, he will need to be able to lose that heat through his head. You may put a hat on your baby if you are outdoors in cold weather, but take it off once inside.
Tips:

* Never tuck a sleeping bag in under the mattress because this will restrict your little one's movement and is dangerous.
* The most important rules to remember to protect your little one from SIDS are to have a totally smoke-free pregnancy and environment for your baby, and always place a baby in the safe sleeping position on their back to sleep.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

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