I recently gave birth to a preemie baby and need to know what accessories are safe for her crib/what to avoid?
newpreemiemommy asked:
I just gave birth to my first daughter on July 9th. She is still in the hospital and I’m diligently working on her nursery to pass the time until she comes home. I need to know what is safe to put in her crib and what I should avoid. Is is safe to put a bumper in her crib? I know that I should avoid stuffed animals and pillows and things of that nature, but what about blankets and bumpers. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I just gave birth to my first daughter on July 9th. She is still in the hospital and I’m diligently working on her nursery to pass the time until she comes home. I need to know what is safe to put in her crib and what I should avoid. Is is safe to put a bumper in her crib? I know that I should avoid stuffed animals and pillows and things of that nature, but what about blankets and bumpers. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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I agree with Sonnyc- check with the NICU. They gave us great advice about almost everything with my daughter- she was two months early. The problem with bumpers is that they reduce air flow in the crib- if you want to use one though we just put it down the sides of the crib so only about three inches sticks up the rails. We have had no issue and have found it great now that she is 7 months, she always puts her top of her head right up against it. For me we tried the bassinet in our room when she first came home and were able to do it until almost three months. It was hard because she was use to sound and light from the hospital. When we turned out the lights and stopped talking she became restless. We had to keep a night light and soft music on. Finally we moved her in her own room at three months- with a tv playing nature sounds and pictures, she slept the best ever. Slowly we weaned her down off needing this using the sleep timer and then switching to classical music with less and less time, now she likes it dark and fairly quiet! For bedding just put a tight fitted sheet on a firm Matress and swaddle her- you may need a blanket over her but because of the swaddling she will still be safe like that. Also be aware depending on how early your girl is she may not wake for feedings- the hospital will tell you- and you will have to set your alarm at night. My girl would softly make noises but never fully woke so we kept her in our room. By a month it was better- I could here her noises from the begining though and found I tuned them in. Good Luck. Congrats
Also a mobile is good too, one that plays music is soothing
We have 2 sets of twins that were preemies, one thing to remember with preemies is that they are generally smaller than normal babies so the dangers are greater.
We kept them in bassents at 1st..it was just easier for us. But if you put them in a crib, just the fitted sheet and the swaddling blanket is all you need. Unless you are have issues with tempature regulation and then a blanket can be used over the swaddle. These are things that are different for preemies!! Term babies do not generally have issues with heat regulation.
We had a bumper, and it wasn’t an issue (they actually had a simular bumper on their crib in the NICU). We also had a cute mobile over the crib, mirrors over the crib, and a soothing night sounds thingy attached to the outside of their crib.
You can also ask the NICU or PICU (not sure which she is in) how to prepare her bed and the do’s and don’t that they recommend for your little preemie.
Congrats on your little bundle and hang in there, having a preemie can be an emotional roller coaster!!
Make sure your crib has a firm mattress, and only use a fitted sheet as bedding. They have soft flannel ones that will be more comfortable for your baby instead of the stiff cloth ones.
Also, when you put her to bed tightly swaddle her in a blanket or put her in a blanket sleeper, don’t put her to bed with any loose blankets, even one to cover her up with.
No toys, stuffed animals, extra blankets, etc. A bumper is usually fine because at that age they can’t move while they sleep so that would not suffocate them.
According to many magazines (parents, american baby, etc) they say not to put in anything in the crib or bassinet for risk of suffocation. In my opinion, a bumper isn’t really going to hurt your baby girl. They don’t start rolling around for a while. Just be careful and make sure that there is nothing lose that they could cover their face with (blankets, stuffed animals, etc.) I am sure that you will be fine. Just make sure that they are warm enough in a good outfit and you wont need a blanket.
Good luck with your daughter and I hope she comes home soon!!!
All you need is a tight, fitted sheet. Bumpers are okay if they are thin (not pillow-like). They make breathable bumpers, that would be your best bet. No blankets needed, unless you want to swaddle her with one early on.
You shouldn’t put blankets in ANY baby’s bed, especially a premie. They could easily get caught in the blanket and suffocate. A premie would have an even harder time trying to breathe, as their lungs aren’t quite as strong as they should be. The rules for premies are pretty much the same as any newborn. By the time she comes home she should be on track with a typical newborn coming home from the hospital. Congrats, and good luck!
No blankets. Not till she can totally roll over on her own.
Bumpers are iffy. They say that bumpers can cause SIDS, but a lot of people still use them.
But i suggest you don’t. She isn’t going to be rolling on her own anytime soon, so she won’t bang her head or get a arm or leg caught. So i wouldn’t. You can make that choice later on when she does get mobile.
just a sheet in her crib thats it. All you need to to is swaddle her at night and she is good to go…to sleep.
Nothing but a fitted sheet. You can get a breathable bumper(they sell them at Babies R Us) if you’re worried about her being able to stick arms and legs through the railings as she gets older, and it’s not a suffocation hazard.
No blankets, stuffed animals, etc.