Introducing the Moms on Call Sleep and Grow Crib Mattress

A Guide by Moms on Call As parents, we all want to provide the best and safest sleeping environment for our babies. Safe sleep practices are important not only for your baby’s well-being but also for your peace of mind. To help you create a safe sleep environment for your baby, we’ve put together some tips and recommendations: Lay your baby on their back for all sleep times. The safest position for your baby to sleep in is on their back until they are rolling over on their own.  Use a firm and flat sleep surface Your baby should sleep on a firm and flat surface, such as a crib, bassinet, portable crib, or play yard, that meets safety standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you’re using a portable crib or play yard, only use the mattress that comes with it. NO loose bedding. So make sure that you have a firm fitting sheet.  Make sure that your baby’s crib meets safety standards and is free of any loose or broken parts.  Your baby’s crib should be less than 5 years old. Use a firm and tight-fitting mattress.  We recommend a dual-firmness crib mattress like the Sleep & Grow Crib Mattress. It features extra-firm support that infants need on one side and less firmness on the other side to provide the comfort that toddlers prefer so that it will grow with your baby and their nursery! Swaddle correctly for infants under 12 weeks of age and NOT rolling. Swaddling can help your baby feel secure and calm, but it’s important to do it correctly. Only use non-weighted swaddles and avoid any type of weighted swaddle or sleep sack. We recommend the Moms on Call Swaddle and Swaddle Technique, which provides the essential elements for safe and comfortable rest. The best time to remove the swaddle is between 10 to 12 weeks of age. Your MOC consultant can help you create a plan and walk it out with you as you navigate this transition.  Keep the sleep environment free of soft objects and toys To reduce the risk of suffocation, keep blankets, soft objects, toys, pillows, and other items out of your baby’s sleep environment. Dress your baby in light clothing appropriate for the room temperature. Maintain a cool temperature in the room Babies sleep best in cool temperatures, around 68-72ºF. Avoid overheating your baby, and make sure the room is at a comfortable temperature for sleeping. Avoid using baby products that aren’t intended for infant sleep Some baby products, such as loungers, sleepers, and nappers, are not intended for infant sleep and can pose a risk to your baby’s safety.  Follow safe sleep guidelines for naps, too Safe sleep guidelines apply to naps as well as nighttime sleep. Be sure to provide a safe sleep environment for your baby during naps. By following these safe sleep practices, you can help ensure your baby is sleeping soundly and safely. At Moms on Call, we believe that establishing a consistent sleep routine and prioritizing safe sleep practices from the beginning can help your baby develop healthy, safe sleep habits for a lifetime. 

You’ve just experienced one of the most rewarding and exciting times of your life, welcoming your newborn into this world! It can also be exhausting, especially when you are sleep deprived. “How can I help my newborn baby fall asleep?” is likely one of the most Googled phrases by parents of newborns. The options are endless and often overwhelming.  We know how exhausting those first few weeks can be! You are being overwhelmed with advice (well-meaning, of course), options, appointments, other kids, and day-to-day activities. When did the term “sleep like a baby” come to mean a “good” thing? When in reality, during those first few weeks, newborn babies only sleep 2-3 hours between feedings. Here is the thing, our little ones know how to sleep. We don’t have to “sleep train” them to do it. It’s just a matter of tapping into their natural and normal process. But how do we do that? By putting a few things in place, like consistency and routine, and allowing those good habits to take root!  Here Are 5 Things You Can Implement Today To Help Your Newborn Baby Fall Asleep Feed Well That may be every 2-3 hours around the clock for the first couple of weeks. Once the baby is 2 weeks of age and past birthweight, you can move to 3-hour stretches during the day and on-demand at night.  Safe Sleep Surface (Crib or Bassinet)  The bassinet can be placed in your room several feet away from your bed (this will hopefully keep you from scooping your baby up, pulling them into your bed, and falling asleep). Set the crib up in the baby’s nursery or your room (several feet away from your bed).  We recommend the crib is less than 5 years old and has a new snug fit, firm mattress, and a tightly fitted crib sheet. We recommend a dual-firmness crib mattress like the Sleep & Grow Crib Mattress. It features extra-firm support that infants need on one side and less firmness on the other side to provide the comfort that toddlers prefer so that it will grow with your baby and their nursery! Both the crib and bassinet are bare and free of all stimulation. There should not be any pillows, stuffed animals, loose blankets, or interactive toys (including mobiles) in or near the crib. Routine Moms on Call’s books and online courses include typical day schedules from newborn up to toddler years that provide great routines to follow. Grace Period: Within The Moms on Call Typical Day Schedules, you have a 15-minute grace period on either side of the times listed that does not shift the rest of the routine. So if needed, we can feed 15 mins early/late from the listed time and still keep the rest of the day intact! The goal is to hit your feed times when you can and focus on 2 naps a day at minimum in the crib. Prior to sleep times, have some sweet time with the baby. Naptime routine: This can consist of changing diapers, snuggles, baby massages, and some sweet floor time in the nursery with music playing. Then swaddle, sway, kiss, and go down for a nap. Nighttime routine: Bath time, tender time (even if not so tender, i.e., your baby may be fussier at this time of day) that consists of prayers, singing, rocking, and then feed, swaddle, kisses, and down. Swaddle (Under 3 Months of Age) Swaddling is a huge piece of the puzzle! Not all swaddles are the same. At Moms on Call, we’ve developed a swaddle and swaddle technique to get it right, and tight, tight, tight, in all the right places, imitating the snug environment of the womb. Be sure to watch our swaddling video (found in our Free Basic Videos, accompanied by our top tips for baby), and get those little hands tucked slightly under their bottoms and away from their face, a bit snug at the elbow level, allowing baby’s legs to move freely, so their hip joints mature properly. Large square blankets that are not too stretchy (like the Moms on Call swaddle blanket) are best to achieve this specific swaddle. Sound Machine White noise helps with transitional sleep cycles and allows them to go to sleep and get back to sleep (after waking) easily. We recommend a high-quality white noise machine placed 2 ft from the head of the crib, level with the mattress. We are shooting for a white noise sound that is pure without varying frequencies. Here is our favorite! You can use this for all naps that are in the crib and all night long.  Putting these few things in place can help create a foundation that will move you and your family from the normal “survival mode” of those first few weeks to something that is more sustainable. This results in establishing healthy sleep habits that are beneficial for the entire household! You’ve got this, and so do they!