Why You Should Use Sleep Props And When To Introduce Them
Sleep props: do we really need to use them and, if so, why and when should we introduce them to our little one’s? This is a question that I am sure many parents have - I know it was one I had when I first became a parent. A sleep prop is something that we use to assist our little one while they are sleeping. It can be used to comfort and soothe them or to improve their sleep quality. There are some sleep props that shouldn’t be used until your little one is a toddler and there are some that can be used basically from birth. In this blog, I want to go over 4 common sleep props that can be used to do these things, why you should use them and when it is best to introduce them.
According to the AAP guidelines, there shouldn’t be any soft objects such as blankets, pillows, toys, quilts, comforters, sheep skins or anything similar in your little one’s crib as this can obstruct their airway and this can pose a suffocation, entrapment or SIDS risk. So basically, there shouldn’t be anything in your little one’s crib until after they are 12 months old. That being said, there are definitely some safe sleep props that you can use from newborn age and onwards that can not only improve their sleep quality, but can also reduce the risk of SIDS.
4 Common Sleep Props: Why They’re Helpful and When to Introduce Them
Soother/Pacifier: A soother is a great way to help improve your little one’s sleep quality as this can satisfy any sucking need that they may use to calm themselves. This is especially helpful to a newborn who more often than not likes to suck to soothe themselves. Not only can a soother improve the quality of your little one’s sleep, but it can also reduce the risk of SIDS and that is surely something every parent can get comfort from knowing. You can introduce a soother to your little one when they are a newborn, even from birth in some cases, but I strongly recommend waiting until after breastfeeding has been established and is going well before introducing one to eliminate any chance of nipple confusion happening. I made the mistake of introducing a soother to my daughter before I had established breastfeeding with her and it greatly affected her ability to latch on to my nipple to breastfeed and created an uphill battle for our breastfeeding journey. I am not saying that will be the case with every single mother, but I am saying it’s not worth the risk, in my opinion.
Swaddle/Sleep Sack: Again, I recommend following the AAP guidelines when it comes to not having any soft objects in the bed - this includes a blanket. A great alternative to a blanket is a swaddle and/or a sleep sack and these can also improve your little one’s sleep quality and are much safer than a blanket. A swaddle and/or sleep sack can be very helpful for a variety of reasons, one being that until around the age of 3 your little one won’t know how to pull a blanket back on them if they kick it off and this can result in them becoming cold and cause wakings. When you are using a swaddle and/or sleep sack, this won’t happen because your little one actually wears it so they can’t kick it off of their body. A swaddle can be used from birth until your little one starts to roll over, usually around the age of 4 months old. A swaddle can be very soothing to your little one because it can create a womblike experience and can help them to sleep longer and better. Once your little one has started to roll over, you can switch them from a swaddle to a sleep sack, which is basically the exact same thing as a swaddle but their arms will be free.
A lovey/stuffed animal: Once your little one has hit the age of 12 months, you can introduce a small lovey - or stuffed animal - to them to help comfort them during sleep. Introducing a lovey can improve your little one’s sleep, especially if they are experiencing separation anxiety - because they can be comforted by the fact that even if they don’t have mom or dad with them, they have their lovey and this can help them ease into sleep. They can become very attached to their lovey and for this reason you will want to make sure it is a small one so that it is easy to pack and so that it can be carried places with your little one (because they will want to bring it everywhere). Another reason you want to make sure it is a small one is because you don’t want it to take up too much of the bed - after all, the point of it is to help them feel more comforted during bedtime and if it’s taking up too much space on the bed, that won’t be comfortable.
A pillow: A pillow is something that we humans use when we sleep to help keep us comfortable and to improve our sleep quality, but we really don’t need one until around the age of 3 years old - sometimes older, dependent on the child. Some children may want to get a pillow when they turn 3, while others may be totally fine not using one until they are 4 or 5. This is totally fine! We do want to make sure that their neck alignment is okay and that the pillow isn’t going to jeopardize that at all, so I do recommend getting a thin pillow if you are going to use one. I also recommend an organic one as some pillows can contain harmful chemicals that really don’t need to be touching your little one’s delicate skin and be absorbed into their body.
So there you have it! There are certain sleep props you can use that can actually be quite beneficial to your little one and their sleep quality, not to mention some of them can reduce the SIDS risk that infants have and this is something that any parent would want to get behind. Choosing whether or not to use these sleep props is completely up to you as a parent and you have to determine if you think your child would benefit from them or not and make a decision based on that. No one knows your little one better than you do - so you need to be the judge of whether or not to introduce these sleep props when it is recommended and safe to do so!
If you liked this blog, please share it with other parents who could benefit from it also! If you want more advice like this, you can join my Facebook group called Sleep Little One where I give weekly sleep tips to exhausted parents looking to improve their little one’s sleep. I hope to see you there!
If you would like a more individualized, 1:1 plan that pertains strictly to your little one’s needs and to your family then go check out the packages I offer and contact me to get started on the road back to better sleep!
Thanks for reading!
