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 Ask Dr. Jana
Nervous about Baby Sleeping with Blanket | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Jana,
I am a new dad with a 5-month-old son. Fox is just starting to roll from back to front in his (nice firm) crib. My concern is that Fox likes to pull his blanket up to his face and suck on it with his thumb. We often find him sleeping with the blanket over his head. I worry about him flipping over in bed and wrapping the blanket around his neck or putting his face into the soft material. Is this a concern or are my "new dad" nerves showing?— Nervous Dad in Stamford, CT | | | ANSWER |
March 12, 2001 | | | Dear Nervous Dad,
While you may feel like your "new dad" nerves are showing, I think that you are very wise in your concern, and you should know that you are by no means the first new dad (or mom) to worry about baby blankets. At five months, your son is able to roll and potentially tangle himself in a blanket. However, he is not as likely to be able to untangle himself. For this reason, it is a good idea to use smaller-sized baby blankets and to tuck at least one side in between the side of the crib and the mattress so that it can't easily be pulled loose.
Many parents still find themselves nervous when putting their infants to sleep with any size blanket and opt to dress their infants in slightly warmer pajamas and forego the blanket altogether. In this case, it is important to make sure the pajamas are not too warm, as overheating is thought to increase the risk of SIDS (see our article on preventing SIDS). Many babies enjoy holding on to a blanket and become quite unhappy when it is taken away. A cloth diaper sized "blanket" will often serve quite well as a safe replacement.
As you look to insure your son's safety, you may also be interested in reading our articles on choosing a crib, baby bedding, and crib safety. — by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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