Here’s 3 things you shouldn’t to do!
1 – Panic
Infants’ heads are moldable. They’re designed that way so that they can pass through the birth canal. Moldable skulls allow for the rapid brain growth that occurs early in their lives.
What this means is that as your baby grows and gets stronger neck muscles their head shape is likely to improve. Some infants need a little help with this, especially if they have started to get tight neck muscles. If you are concerned, you can talk with your GP or nurse at your local Early Childhood Centre. A paediatric physiotherapist is a specially trained physiotherapist who can assess your baby and prescribe safe and gentle stretches and exercises, carry holds and play activities to help.
2 – Ignore it
Your baby’s head undergoes its most growth in the early months. This is the time that your baby’s head shape is most vulnerable. If your baby spends too much of their awake play time lying on their back, they are at risk of getting a flat head. The good news? That head is equally moldable back into a more normal shape during these months. Don’t ignore a flat spot as this is the time to act. Make awake tummy time a priority. If your bub has difficulty with tummy time talk to a paediatric physiotherapist.
3 – Use sleeping aids
Cots that meet Australian standards are the safest place for your baby to sleep. While you might think a very soft mattress that cocoons your baby is best, it is actually much safer and more comfortable for your baby to sleep on a firm mattress. Why? Because babies are not born strong. A firm mattress makes it easier for your baby to freely move their arms, legs and most importantly their head in all directions. Think back to how much effort it took to get out of a soft lounge when you were pregnant!
Sleeping aids which aim to restrict the movement of your baby should be avoided at all costs.
Pillows are for older children
Marketed to help keep your bubs head in the middle. These can move over your bubs head and place them at risk. Some health professionals will recommend a pillow be used when your baby is awake and supervised. However, if your bub has a flat head, they should be supported in positions other than lying on their back when they are awake.
Complicated swaddles are a waste of money
While swaddling is a great strategy to settle infants in the newborn period, there are so many products on the market that it can be confusing as to what you should be doing.
There is very limited evidence that wrapping helps to keep infants on their backs. And there is no evidence that any of these products reduces the risk of infant death. Equally important to know? There is no evidence that it is harmful if the principles of safe wrapping are applied (Safe wrapping or swaddling, when to stop and how to select a safe sleep bag | Red Nose Australia).
So, swaddle if you feel it helps your bub to settle, but minimal is the key here. A simple lightweight wrap that helps keeps your bubs hands toward their chest or near their face is best. Swaddles that keep little hands away from their face do not promote development. Look back on your ultrasounds, how many times did your baby have their hands up near their face? And if your baby is showing signs of rolling? Don’t go shopping for a swaddle that stops from doing this. Instead, pack away the swaddle and allow them the opportunity to enjoy their new found skill!
Mechanical sleepers are designed for parents not babies
Mechanical rocking bassinets and cots are becoming more popular in Australia.
Marketed as a second set of hands, a way to increase parents sleep time, and to instantly attend to the needs of your bub.
But…
Automating the care giving role of parents may interfere with bonding. Yes, that’s right. Those sleep-deprived zombie moments where you are providing love and attention to your bub in the middle of the night is called bonding. It’s what your baby wants and needs. A mechanical device which jostles and rocks your baby back to sleep reduces the opportunities for your bub to learn that when they cry, mum or dad come to comfort me.
Then there’s the harnesses. Recommended to reduce the risk of your baby from rolling because of all that rocking and jostling. What the harness actually does is restrain your bubs normal nocturnal movements. A sleeping baby does not stay completely still. They move their head, shoulders, trunk, hips, arms, and legs when they are asleep. This provides them with strengthening and learning opportunities. Let’s not restrict them from doing this.
Your baby will cry for lots of different reasons. And mechanical sleepers initiate the same response regardless of your baby’s actual needs. Wet nappy? gets a jostle. Vomited? gets a jostle. Fever? gets a jostle. Hungry? Yep, another jostle.
That’s 3 strikes. So, until they can emulate your voice, your touch, your smell, your warmth and your decision making at a time when your baby is in need, then save your money or donate it to a good cause like rednose.org.au.
Cathy Molloy and Alice Crisp at Just for Kids Physiotherapy are experienced in assessing and providing intervention for a wide range of conditions affecting children from birth.