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The role of the Registered Nurse or Newborn Care Provider is to feed, soothe, bathe, change & provide all other gentle care to baby through the night.

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Sleep Travel Tips for Babies

Updated, November 21, 2023 – Your newborn and infant routines might get thrown out the window during travel. And that’s okay because travel is hard on adults too, and you might want to change things up to make sure everyone is happy. Here are five sleep travel tips for babies to help you minimize meltdowns from our night nanny, baby nurse and postpartum team.

Sleep Travel Tips for Babies: What to Know

Practice at home.

  • Practice at home
  • Keep the same routine if you can
  • Don’t rely on strollers or swings for safe sleep
  • Slow down by stay flexible
  • Be ready when relatives question your parenting choices!
  • Many times babies are not used to sleeping in a travel bed or pack-n-play. So, our night nanny team likes to suggest put baby in a travel bed for naps at home in the weeks leading up to the trip. Your child might think this new crib is exciting, so go ahead and get the novelty out of the way at home!
lSeep Travel Tips for Babies

Keep sleep routines as close to home as possible to help baby feel secure.

  • Dress your baby in the pajamas/sleepsack/swaddle blanket that she’s used to.
  • If renting a full-sized travel crib from a hotel, bring bedsheets from the crib at home to recreate that familiar sleep environment.
  • Do the same sleep routine you do at home. Familiarity allows baby to know what comes next is sleep.

New places and not being at home is exciting for little ones. Remember that patience is your best tool to help your child get to sleep. They need time to explore The New Place and maybe get over being a little nervous outside of home

Try to stay on baby’s time.

  • If possible, try to keep naptimes and bedtimes as close to the same schedule as at home.
  • When traveling across time zones, gradually adjust baby’s bedtime in the days leading up to the trip so baby is on the time of your destination. You can do this by adjusting bedtime in 10 minute increments.
  • Some parents like to travel at night so baby can sleep and wake up in destination refreshed. If you’re driving, partners can alternate napping and caring for baby during the first day. If you’re flying, make sure to bring pacifiers to help with ear discomfort.

Remember these Sleep Travel Tips for Babies Once You’ve Arrived…

No swings or strollers for infant safe sleep.

  • The only safe place for babies to sleep for extended periods is alone, on a firm flat mattress and flat on their backs.
  • Here are recommendations to create a safe sleep environment.

Slow it down.

  • Don’t expect to have a jam-packed site seeing schedule. All the new sights, sounds, and experiences are very stimulating and exciting for baby. Baby could get fussy if overstimulated and too exhausted.
  • Remember that sleep begets sleep. Keeping baby awake longer may work for one night or one nap, but fighting against baby’s natural rhythms leads to meltdown.
  • While it is nice to have alone time with your partner, caring for a baby can be even more exhausting than usual when traveling. Try no not stay up too late yourself!

Have Surprises Ready!

Part of travel is, well, the traveling. Extended times in the car, train or place can get a little boring so be prepared with toys, books and snacks that your baby hasn’t seen before. It can be something simple from the dollar store; the novelty of a new toy will take up time and keep little one occupied. For a little while anyway! 🙂

Don’t forget about YOU

Be ready in case you hear variations of: “But he doesn’t look tired!” “Oh come on, a little (insert allergen/unsafe food) won’t hurt!” “You slept on the bed and you turned out fine!” Be ready with your come back, deep breathes and extra patience!

Weigh the options of accepting help, especially if you’re in the postpartum phase. If a well meaning relative looks after your newborn, therefore allowing you to sleep, it might be a win/win! You’ll get in a nap to maintain your immune system and energy levels.

Sleep Travel Tips for Babies
vacation Travel Tips for Babies

Keeping Illness Away and Travel with Kids

  • Research your destination – Respiratory illness is a fact of life. Check to your destination before you go so you can be prepared and comfortable.
  • Masks and mask mandates, have stopped but it’s not a bad idea to carry masks with you to use in crowded areas.
  • Sanitizer – Handwashing is best, but if you don’t have the opportunity to properly wash your hands, sanitizer is a good second option.
newborns need sleep even when they don't look tired
breastfeeding newborns on demand is normal and should be encouraged
newborns and infant safe sleep means sleeping on their backs

10 Steps to Safe Sleep for Baby

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated its Safe Sleep Guidelines today. Here are 10 steps to safe sleep for baby with a breakdown of each guideline. The new 2022 issues and recommendations addressed by the AAP are added in pink.

list of Steps to Safe Sleep for Baby
Safe Sleep for newborns and infants

10 Steps to Safe Sleep

  1. Tummy time is recommended during awake times so that baby can exercise. This also ensures that babies don’t develop flat head syndrome from being placed on their backs too much.

2. Flat, clear surface: Place baby on a firm, flat surface clear of toys, crib bumpers, blankets  & other items. This also means no crib wedges, sleep positioners or other items marketed to help infants sleep more soundly. Keep baby’s airways clear without any risk of the head lowering and restricting airflow by placing them in the supine position.

3. Room Sharing: Keep baby in the same room as you, but not the same bed for NEW – at least 6 months. Previous advice was to stay in the same room for at least the first year of baby’s life. We certainly acknowledge that millions of families happily co-sleep with no problem and it’s often a cultural norm. But in terms of minimizing SIDS, the only safe space for baby is alone, in a crib free of sheets and pillows.

4. Avoid Smoking: in the home and around baby. There’s no risk-free amount of smoke for your baby. This includes secondhand smoke. NEW -The AAP has addressed other substances besides smoking stating simply: Avoid parent and infant exposure to nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, opioids, and illicit drugs.

5. Use a fan: Air circulation minimizes the risk of SIDS by 72%. You can use a ceiling fan or a portable oscillating fan. Both will work to keep the air flowing and reduce the risk of re-breathing air that has already been exhaled with carbon dioxide

6. Breastfeeding: If you can, nursing your newborn for at least 2 months has been shown to reduce the risk by 50%. This counts for milk given from a bottle as well as from the breast. The reason breastmilk helps is because it promotes brain growth, builds up the immune system and reduces instances of reflux. Lowered instances of reflux keep airways clear.

7. Vaccinate: Immunizations are proven to reduce to risk of SIDS.

8. Don’t let baby overheat: Dress appropriately for the temperature.

9. Give a pacifier: As the AAP has noted sucking on a pacifier requires forward positioning of the tongue, thus decreasing this risk of oropharyngeal obstruction. Be sure not to use a string or other attachment device when using a paci.

10. Avoid products that go against safe sleep guidelines: While they can still be found at many resellers, inclined sleepers have been banned for sale. The Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) ban affects rockers, pillows, nappers, wedges and sleep positioners. This ban took effect in 2022. Infants should not be put in these for sleep.

NEW– The AAP addresses weighted sleep sacs and swaddles stating that Weighted swaddles, weighted clothing or weighted objects on or near the baby are not safe and not recommended.  As far as swaddling goes, it is still recommended to help newborns stay comfortable but there is no evidence that swaddling is a SIDS deterrent.

NEW – The AAP specifically calls out cardiorespiratory monitors and other commercial devices that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS or other sleep-related deaths. Not only is there no evidence to support these product claims but the use of products claiming to increase sleep safety may provide a false sense of security and complacency.  

In other words, monitors and cribs that claim they will buzz or ring if baby’s breathing stops or heart rate lowers should be avoided.

babies will not choke sleeping on their backs
back sleeping is safest
back sleeping is safest for baby, trachea and esophagus are unblocked
unblocked
baby sleeping on stomach shows how trachea blocks the esophagus
blocked

This list was created using the AAP’s latest recommendations.  To learn more we recommend visiting the National Institute for Health for an interactive virtual safe sleep environment.

10 Steps to Safe Sleep for Baby
cribs for kids Safe Sleep demo

Alexa, Help With the Baby!

updated June 11, 2022 – Smart home devices are hands-free which is already a huge value to new parents! But how can Google and Alexa specifically help with newborns and infants? Alexa, Help With the Baby! contains Amazon Echo skills for new and expecting parents.

We all know we can order food, set a timer and check the weather…so here are 6 skills you may not have known about to help with newborns, infants and toddlers.

Alexa, Help With the Baby!
happy family

“Alexa, Help With the Baby!”

Integrate with Amazon Prime:

Order diapers, groceries and other essentials for 2-hour or same day delivery.  With delivery, you’ll never be without diapers, wipes, groceries and other home essentials. This means convenience, but also safety because you won’t have to bring your newborn out into crowds. This can be even more of a time-saver for parents with newborn twins and triplets.

Expecting parents can also sign up for discounts and coupons before baby arrives. 

Play white noise…safely: 

White noise, or reproducing the gentle “shhhh” sound baby is used to hearing in the womb, is a well known way to calm babies and help them get to and stay asleep. There are concerns however that white noise that’s too loud or too close to babies’ ears can harm hearing and speech development.  Playing white noise via the Echo means parents can control the volume and duration of white noise.

Secure baby monitor:

The Echo Dot (audio only) or Echo Show (for audio and visual) can be purchased as companions to the main device and can moved from room to room for safe monitoring of baby’s nursery and other areas.  Because the Echo is typically tied into your home wifi, hacking is rare, but for extra protection, families can password protect or even use fingerprint authentication to secure Alexa. 

Just say, “Alexa, drop in on the nursery” to check in on your baby anytime!

Play music, jokes and stories of course! 

Ask Alexa to play gentle chimes, dance-party music, kid-friendly jokes or even tell a story to help engage the whole family. We personally like this better than kids TV programming -or worse yet, the news!- droning on in the background of a home. No commercials and families can get moving, laugh and talk together without having to sit around the television.

Enable “Baby Stats“

Baby Stats is Amazon’s skill to track diaper changes, feedings, weight, pumping sessions and sleep.  Breastfeeding moms never have to worry about forgetting which side baby last nursed on, and parents have all baby’s vital information ready for the pediatrician. This is another great one for parents of multiples! Baby Stats also stores this information so it can be shared by babysitters, nannies and anyone else caring for baby. Baby Stats can also provide a daily “kick count” and due date countdown during pregnancy! 

Enable Alexa Routines

As it says on Amazon, Alexa routines “consist of a single trigger, which is the event which starts the Routine, followed by actions which are the things Alexa does during the Routine.” You can create Routine for Baby’s Bedtime for example. One way this could work is to say “Bedtime” and then Alexa will dim the lights and play soft music while you put on your infant’s pajamas and transition to the quiet of nighttime. When your child is older Alexa can be a bedtime countdown timer.

Do you have older kids? Read about keeping them safe while using iPads and other devices.

As with all electronic devices, experts warn that usage should be limited.  In an NPR interview, Solace Shen a psychologist at Cornell University who studies how children interact with robots, said: “These devices offer more engagement and interaction than just passively watching TV, but that interaction is still impoverished compared to talking to a parent or teacher.”  Shen says to treat Alexa as you would a tablet, with strict limits. If you have more Alexa tips, let us know!  

Alexa Skills for Parents of Newborns

Swim Safety, Sun Safety and Drowning Prevention: The Essential Summer Guide

Pools, the ocean, rivers and lakes can all be fun places for a family swim. What’s more, swimming is healthy for us in many ways! Before heading out though, take time to learn or refresh yourself on the basics with swim safety, sun safety and drowning prevention: The Essential Guide.

Swim Safety, Sun Safety and Drowning Prevention

Actively Supervise Children

  • Give children your undivided attention around water; this means no phones!
  • Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm’s reach to provide active supervision. Small children can drown in as little as one inch of water.
  • As SafeKids.org says, using the Water Watcher strategy if there’s more than 1 adult watching the children is an excellent idea. This means each adult has a scheduled amount of time to prevent lapses in supervision, ensuring adults know when it’s “their time.” Adults can decide to hold the card for any amount of time, let’s say 15 minutes each. The cardholder is IN CHARGE of supervision when they have the card; no phone, no other distractions. After 15 minutes simply pass it on to whoever is next. You can download a water watcher card below or even just print this one out.
water watcher card from safekids.org keeps infants safe
Download a Water Watcher Card

Swimming Pool Safety

  • Backyard pools should be fenced at a minimum of 4 feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates, therefore preventing a child from getting in without an adult.
  • When using inflatable or portable pools, remember to empty them after use. Store them upside down and out of children’s reach.
  • Install an alarm so you’ll be alerted if a child wanders into the pool area.

Be Aware of Drains

  • Teach kids never to play or swim near drains or suction outlets. Public wading pools, in-ground hot tubs, or pools that have flat drain grates or a single main drain system are especially dangerous due to the intensity of the suction.
  • Replace flat drain covers with dome-shaped ones
  • If a pool or hot tub has a broken, loose or missing drain cover, err on the side of caution and don’t use it.

Swim Safety and Drowning Prevention: Teaching Kids

  • Teach children that swimming in open water is not the same as swimming in a pool. Sudden drop-offs, currents and undertow are factors they need to understand.
  • Educate children to never go near or in water without an adult actively supervising.
  • Whether in a pool or natural body of water, make sure kids swim only in areas designated as safe because there are likely unseen dangers in those spots.
  • Everyone needs to know that water wings or pool noodles should never be used in place of a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD).

Drowning

Drowning continues to be a leading cause of death for children. Despite what we see in the movies and television, it is actually very subtle.  The struggle to breathe is quiet, quick and several of the signs happen underwater, where we may not be able to observe swimmers distress. Children should *never* be unsupervised while swimming but knowing the physical signs of struggle in the water and drowning can help save lives. 

These are the signs that someone is struggling in water:

  • Head tilted back in a position to try to get air
  • Mouth is at water level
  • Vertical Body – upright instead of horizontal
  • Facing Land – a drowning person is usually facing land
  • “Ladder climbing” – a drowning person looks like they are climbing a ladder
Know The Signs of Drowning in babies, kids and adults
Source: Orange County Register, Surf Riders Foundation

Swim Safety, Sun Safety and Drowning Prevention – Tips for Infants in the Sun

Newborn and infant skin is very tender and should be protected from the sun, but sunblock shouldn’t be used. Little ones often react poorly to the chemicals in sunscreen and can develop a rash or irritation. If your baby is younger than six months, it’s important to follow these essential sun safety tips for infants.

Most experts do not recommend putting sunscreen on babies younger than six months. When compared to older babies and children, younger infants have a higher surface area to body weight ratio, putting them at greater risk when exposed to the chemicals. Plus, infants have immature, sensitive skin that can easily break out in rashes.

Essential Sun Safety Tips for Infants

  • Avoid peak sunlight hours (typically between 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) to minimize exposure to harmful UV rays.
  • Keep baby in the shade by using an umbrella, beach tent or shaded stroller.
  • Dress baby in clothes that covers his/her skin and a brimmed hat. Tight weaves are the best. If baby’s clothing is sheer or see-through, it will not do a good job protecting the skin. Hats should have a wide brim to protect the face, ears, and neck.
  • Since younger babies have not fully developed sweat glands, be sure to constantly monitor your infant for signs of overheating.
  • Keep baby hydrated by offering breast milk or formula. Bring a cooler and follow safety instructions when storing liquids.
  • Watch baby’s urine for signs of dehydration. If urine appears darker or less than usual, baby could be at risk for dehydration and should be moved to a cooler location.
  • For additional sun safety tips for babies, follow these recommendations by the FDA.

For children age 6 months or older, the Environmental Working Group’s 2022 list of safest sunscreens for children lists 73 products that meet its safety standards. This means these sunscreens provide adequate sun protection while avoiding ingredients linked to known health harms. The ingredients of concern are homosalate, avobenzone and oxybenzone. These chemicals have endocrine-disrupting effects. These means they interfere with normal functioning of the endocrine system and the reproductive and other biological processes regulated by it.

The good news is that it’s very easy to find safe sunscreens. Common brands which the EWG ranks a Number 1 in safety include: Adorable Baby, ATTITUDE, California Baby, Earth Mama and more.

Safest Sunscreens for infants and toddlers
Swim Safety, Sun Safety and Drowning Prevention

Hospital Bag Checklist: Our Nurses Favorites

You have everything for your newborn…but what about you?! Hospital Bag Checklist: Our Nurses Favorites includes comfort items to bring to the hospital or birthing center.

Hospital Bag Checklist: Our Nurses Favorites
Hospital Bag Checklist Our Nurses Favorites

Hospital Bag Checklist: Our Nurses Favorites

Bag for Hospital Freebies: A bag for your bags is essential! You’ll have lots of hospital freebies such as diapers and parenting hand-outs to bring home.  This one might be a little on the nose for some, but a foldable duffel bag can be helpful too! Something to bring your discharge orders, pamphlets, formula and giant water bottle home will be helpful.

Extra Long Phone Chargers: You and your partner will be fielding LOTS of phone calls and taking millions of photos…don’t forget that extra long phone charger so the phone will always be within arms reach.

Your Postpartum Outfit: The newborn coming home outfit and carseat are all ready but don’t forget your own clothes.  Loose clothing that won’t rub against your tender mid-section and has a bit of give while your body is in the postpartum phase is a must. For this reason, plenty of new moms choose to keep their maternity clothes for a while.  If you’re breastfeeding, your new go-to clothing options are those that make nursing easy. Nursing tanks and loose shirts are perfect and this nursing dress is easy to pack, functional and -if you’re into being stylish- pretty cute.

Nursing Pillow – Take advantage of the lactation counselors in the hospital by using the same breastfeeding pillow you plan to use at home. If you’re formula feeding, you’ll likely still use a nursing pillow to hold baby. Bringing your nursing pillow with you can help you feel confident at home.

Non-Skid Slippers: Just like our team does in the family home, be sure to have non-slip footwear for walking on those slippery hospital floors. This is for your safety and the safety of your precious newborn when being held. 

Lip Balm: We all know that giving birth means staying hydrated! Remember to keep your lips hydrated after baby arrives as well. It’s a small comfort your body might really appreciate.

Car Seat: A car seat won’t be in your bag of course but we like to remind parents that you won’t be able to leave the hospital without a properly installed, height/weight and age appropriate car seat. If baby is born at 37 weeks or before, s/he will have the pass the “Infant Car Seat Challenge” before leaving. Because pre-term babies’ airways can become constricted, hospital staff will perform the Challenge. Your baby is secured into a car seat, which is reclined to the appropriate angle for travel, and nurses will monitor the respiration and oxygen levels of the baby for 90 to 120 minutes. Babies who pass the test are cleared to leave the hospital. 

For the full list of Hospital Bag suggestions, visit our Amazon Store, amazon.com/shop/letmommysleep.  And if we should add or takeaway any items, let us know on Facebook! 

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