The CDC estimates that as many as 12.5% of children suffer from hearing loss from excessive noise.

I don’t know about you, but I think that’s a startling statistic. Most of the time, hearing loss is a gradual decline that just sneaks up on us. It often begins in infancy, when baby’s ears are most susceptible to loud noises.

That’s why protecting your baby’s ears from loud noises now is essential.

If you’re reading this article, you probably have a noisy event coming up and you want to make sure that your baby is completely covered. Below we’re going to talk all about infant hearing protection, including how to protect your baby’s hearing in loud noise events and the best baby noise protection to use. Even more important, we’re also going to discuss the startling considerations you need to make during everyday life.

The thing is, while parents realize that some form of noise protection is essential during loud events, it’s the household hazards that can sneak up and affect your baby’s hearing the most. Let’s dive in!

September is Baby Safety Month! Here are some other baby safety and medical posts you might like:

• The Benefits of Skin-to-Skin for Newborns
• How to Find the Perfect Pediatrician
• Our 5 Favorite (and Safest) Infant Car Seats for Under $300
• The Levana Oma Sense Review: How This Baby Movement Monitor + How It Compares to the Competition

Infant Hearing Protection: How to Protect Your Baby’s Ears Against Loud Noises

This post is sponsored by FridayBaby. It may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the links I will make a small commission at no charge to you. Blunders in Babyland does not diagnose, treat, or give out any professional advice for any medical conditions.

Infant Hearing Loss from Excessive Noise

Our babies are much more sensitive to noise than we are. The problem lies their physiology. Their ear canals are much smaller than ours, so sound creates greater pressure. When a baby’s ears are subjected to the constant pressure of loud noises, his hair cells (responsible for carrying noise vibrations) can die over time.

Loud noises can also permanently damage the nerves that carries sound to his brain.

How Loud is Too Loud?

First of all, what is uncomfortable for you is doubly so for your baby.

 Normal conversations measure at about 60 decibels. Generally, experts recommend limiting your baby’s noise exposure to under 70 decibels. 80 decibels is okay for short periods, but it can be harmful to your baby if he’s exposed continuously.

In fact, some experts think that anything over 85 decibels can cause damage after just 15 minutes.

Before we dive into infant hearing protection, let’s check out some real-world applications. 

Here are the most common excessive noises your baby is exposed to:

• Fireworks (150 decibels within 3 feet)
• Parades (Sirens, horns, etc 130 decibels)
• Concerts ( Approx. 110 decibels)
• Airplane (Up to 105 decibels, cruising 85)
• Loud Music or Television (Ranges, up to  about 110 decibels)
• Engines (Motorcycles – 90 decibels)
• Toys (Ranges, up to about 100 decibels)
• Household appliances (Washing machine, 90 decibels)
• Lawn mower (90 decibels)

Are you going through that list cringing? I know I did! Toys, lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners…these are the items I use in my own home weekly and I never once suspected that they could put my toddler in danger.

John Hopkins Children’s Hospital states that some of the most common household appliances adolescents are exposed to are blenders, hair dryers, and lawn mowers.

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Toys

We all know that loud toys can be grating on the nerves, but not many of us suspect that they can be genuinely harmful as well. The Sight and Hearing Association publishes a list of the noisiest toys every year. 

Do you know what toy made the top of 2018’s? 

Not a drum set or karaoke machine, but an infant toy, the Sing Alphabet Zoo by LeapFrog. Now, the Sing Alphabet Zoo is actually a really cool toy, but it also tested at 102dB when placed next to a baby’s ear.

If you look at our list above, that’s almost as louder than a passing motorcycle.

I’m not sharing this information to scare you away from noise-making toys, but simply to raise awareness that some, can in fact, be harmful to your baby’s hearing over time.

How to Tell if A Noise is Too Loud: The Shout Test

I don’t know about you, but I’m a little rusty measuring decibels with my mind. 

A good trick to use is the Shout Test. Basically, whenever you’re unable to hold a regular conversation, that’s a good indication that the sound level is too high for your baby.

The Best Baby Noise Protection Methods

So, now we know about the hidden hazards our baby is exposed to. Let’s get into some actual techniques and products we can use for infant hearing protection. Prevention and limited exposure is a given, so let’s dive into the most popular method.

Baby Earmuffs

Concerts, planes, fireworks, even plane rides, can all damage your baby’s hearing (and terrify them too).

Protecting your baby’s ears from loud noises with earmuffs is a great strategy. Just plan on tossing a pair into your diaper bag whenever you go to something big.

But don’t stop there! Purchasing a good pair of baby headphones will protect him for your household hazards as well. If you run your vacuum and your baby starts wailing, that could be an indication that you need to whip out the ear muffs.

Not all infant ear protection is created equal. You need to look for earmuffs with a noise reduction rating (NRR) of at least 22, but preferably around 30. 

Fit and adjustability is also an important consideration. Earmuffs should fit just right; too loose and it won’t protect your baby’s ears properly, too tight and the pressure can be damaging. 

If you’re looking for recommendations, I love the FridayBaby Noise Cancelling Headphones. They are highly adjustable (they fit babies from 0-24 months), have a 5-year warranty, and are designed for a 31 decibel rating. 

Plus, I have a 10% off coupon code ( ERINBIBL )!

Distance

Distance actually makes a huge impact on how your baby detects noise. The closer your baby is to a sound, the more pressure and damage his ears are subjected to.

Above we talked about toys being one of the most unexpected hazards for babies. It’s not necessarily that infant toys are overwhelmingly loud. Babies tend to hold these toys close to their faces, increasing their exposure. For example, the Sing Alphabet Zoo is rated at 100 decibels when placed next to a baby’s ear, and only 85 decibels when 10 inches apart.

Test the toys your baby plays with. If your baby holds his favorite ambulance next to his ears, try placing it next to yours. If it doesn’t pass the Shout Test, you’ll need to either move the toy to a safer distance or turn the sound off.

When you’re going to loud events, try to be conscientious of your location. If your baby is watching a fireworks show, experts recommend keeping your baby at least 20 meters away from the blast. The same goes for concerts, sirens, anything that measures high.

Use Decibel Measure App

Which brings us to the next method of infant hearing protection: technology.

Even if you use the Shout Test, gauging the sound level of an object is difficult. For example, if you’re going to a concert, where the noise levels fluctuate frequently, using the Shout Test is almost impossible. Even at home, when you’re enjoying a good movie, it’s easy to lose track of how high the noise level is. 

Downloading a decibel measure app can take out a lot of the guesswork. I like to use my decibel app when we’re watching a movie in our media room–a confined space with multiple speakers. I try to keep the sound level below about 70, that way if there’s a loud moment, my daughter’s ears will be perfectly safe.  

Signs Your Baby’s Hearing May Be Damaged

Unfortunately, many parents (myself included) don’t learn of these guidelines until their baby has been exposed to harmful loud noises. If you’re concerned that your baby’s hearing may be impaired, there are signs of infant hearing impairment that you can look for.

Typically, hearing loss is a gradual decline. So, if you notice these signs, all is not lost. However, it’s important that you recognize these signs so you can meet with your pediatrician.

Signs Before 6 Months:

• Baby doesn’t startle at loud noises
• Won’t turn after you say her name (only reacts to sight)
• Doesn’t turn toward sounds

After 1 Year:

• Hasn’t started to repeat words
• Will not obey simple commands
• Will not respond to whispers

Hearing loss can be a gradual decline that takes any parent by surprise. By making small accommodations to protect your baby’s ears from loud noises, you’re making great leaps to prevent years of complications. 

Using earmuffs, keeping a safe distance from loud noises, and measuring decibels to confirm your suspicions can make a world of difference.

The last, best advice I can give you is to trust your baby’s cues. Loud noises hurt. If your baby is crying during a loud noise, that can be a good indication that it’s just too much for him (even if it’s tolerable for you).

Now that you know about infant hearing protection, it’s time to spread the word! Raising awareness can help other parents end this silent epidemic. Share this post with your friends or comment below about your experiences to help our other moms. 

RELATED POSTS:

• The Benefits of Skin-to-Skin for Newborns
• How to Find the Perfect Pediatrician
• Our 5 Favorite (and Safest) Infant Car Seats for Under $300
• The Levana Oma Sense Review: How This Baby Movement Monitor + How It Compares to the Competition

No parent should lose sleep worrying about SIDS.

Yet, a recent study indicated that new parents lose as much as 44 days of sleep during the first year of their baby’s life. I don’t know about you, but that insomnia definitely wasn’t just because of a crying baby. The thought that I could be saying goodnight to my baby for the last time kept me up many nights. 

I desperately wanted to buy a baby breathing monitor, but the device that everyone ranted and raved about was well out of my budget. So, I just watched the rise and fall of her chest and prayed for the best.

How about you? Have you lost sleep worrying about your baby’s health? Is your budget keeping you from finding peace of mind?

If you’re reading about baby breathing monitors, I’m willing to bet that you’re a concerned parent looking for a safe solution for your little one. In this post, we’re going to talk about the Levana Oma Sense Baby Movement Monitor. Parents are turning to this device as an affordable alternative to popular baby breathing monitors like the Owlet Sock or the Snuza Hero.

If you’re totally new to this device, don’t worry. In this Oma Sense review, I’m going to go over exactly what it is, how it works, how well it works, and most importantly, how it compares to other breathing monitors like the Owlet Sock and the Snuza Hero. 

From one concerned parent to another, my ultimate goal is to help you decide which monitor is best for your little one. Let’s get started!

Levana Oma Sense Review: At-a-Glance

This post is sponsored by Levana. It may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the links I will make a small commission at no charge to you. Blunders in Babyland does not diagnose, treat, or give out any professional advice for any medical conditions.

Use Code SAFETYMONTH to Save $40 on the Oma Sense.

What is the Oma Sense by Levana

Just in case you’re new to Blunders in Babyland, you should know that one of my passions is writing thorough reviews for baby gear. As a first-time mom, I understand how challenging it can be to find baby gear that you actually trust. So, whenever I come across a product or company that I think is top-notch, I love giving them a review. 

When Levana approached me about their new Oma Sense Baby Movement Monitor, I was delighted. I’ve tried out baby breathing monitors before, but those devices were dependent on WiFi and, therefore, not always reliable.

Levana’s Oma Sense is a self-contained device that clips on to the front of your baby’s diaper, pants, or button-up footies. Its primary function is to monitor your baby’s breathing movement, or simply the rise and fall of his diaphragm. If the Oma Sense can’t detect your baby’s breathing movements after 15 seconds, it’ll set off an alarm and produce gentle vibrations. 5 seconds later, if the device still doesn’t detect movement, it will produce a very loud alarm to alert you of the situation. 

Levana

Before we dive into the functionality and features of the device, I think you should at least become familiar with Levana. 

Founded by Raj Jain, Levana is a Canadian-based company that has been producing baby monitors since 2001. They were actually the first company to manufacture a color-screen baby monitor in North America. 

Talk about innovation!

The company also has unique qualities that should provide some peace of mind for you, including a minimum 12-month manufacturer’s warranty, lifetime monitor support, and a solid 30-day refund policy. Also, keep in mind that if you purchase the Oma Sense from Levana’s website, your warranty actually extends to 2 years. Talk about peace of mind!

How It Works

I love the premise of the Oma Sense. It’s new parent budget-friendly, doesn’t depend on sketchy internet for functionality, and it has the patented Wake-Up Technology (more on that in a minute). 

But, the real question is, does it actually work?

Since Lil’ C is now a spunky toddler, I joined forces with my mommy friend who conveniently just gave birth. We’ve tested the device for 7 days and nights at the time I’m writing this review. We’re very excited to share our findings. 

Installation and Ease-of-Use

Set-Up 

To set up the Oma Sense, you simply place one of the two batteries it comes with (plus side up!) into the proper spot. 

The button on the left is “on”, the button on the right is “off”. Once you turn the device on, the blue indicator light will flash once and give a little vibration. Once you hook the device onto your baby, this blue indicator light will flash every 30 seconds so you’ll know that it is detecting your baby’s movement. 

Placement

Proper placement of the device is essential. During our entire testing period, we had zero false alarms. I believe that’s because my mama carefully placed the device correctly with every use. 

The Oma Sense must clip on either a diaper, pants, or button-up pajamas (basically anything that allows the device to stay just under your baby’s belly button). For the purpose of this Oma Sense review, I must tell you that the device is only meant to accurately read your baby’s movements when he is lying flat on his back.

Having said that, my tester did clip the device onto her son’s little bum when he laid on his stomach and it accurately detected his movement. So, that’s some food for thought, but once again, the device is only guaranteed to work when properly placed on a baby in the back position. 

Design and Comfort

Design and Materials

I was a little apprehensive when viewing pictures of the Oma Sense on Levana’s website. The device looked a little bulky and I wondered how comfortable it would actually be for babies.

If you’re wondering the same, let me reassure you: it’s actually compact! 

The Oma Sense is very thin and very, very lightweight. My fingers are kind of stumpy, but hopefully the picture above gives you a good idea of exactly how small the device is. 

The Oma Sense also feels extremely durable. It’s made of hospital-grade materials, so this isn’t necessarily surprising.

Comfort

When I asked my tester how her baby liked the device, her report was very positive. Her son didn’t seem to notice it at all and had no kinds of rashes or reactions.

The one-handed clip design is also an extremely convenient feature. It’s so easy to remove the Oma Sense with one hand (if you’re not sure why a one-handed design is important, you’re probably not a parent yet!) and it’s also extremely stable. During our testing time, it never slipped off.

Device Care

So, how do you maintain the Oma Sense? 

It’s extremely easy, actually. Simply wipe it off with a damp washcloth (using only mild soap, no harsh chemicals) or a baby wipe. The Oma Sense is only splash-resistant, so it shouldn’t be submerged at any point. 

Unlike the Snuza Hero, there isn’t a little silicone guard installed on the tip, so you don’t have to worry about any caked dirt under the edges.

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Functionality

The beauty of this device is its simplicity. The Oma Sense monitors your baby’s breathing movements and, when it can’t feel any, it sets off an alarm for you and baby. In the meantime, a blue indicator light flashes every 30 seconds to show you that the device is working and detecting your baby’s movements.

“I love that the light blinks because I can look at the video monitor and I can actually see it working.”

Legitimate Alerts

We really wanted to test out this WakeUp Technology Levana mentioned. Some experts believe that SIDS may stem from a baby simply “forgetting” to breathe during deep sleep. The WakeUp Technology stimulates your baby when this happens and, ideally, kickstarts his breathing pattern again.* 

During our testing period, my tester was able to stimulate this function. True to Levana’s promise, the Oma Sense produced an alarm and vibrations after 15 seconds of no movement. After another 5 seconds, the device went ballistic and produced a loud alarm. 

The first alarm was not atrociously loud, which is a relief. So, even if the device does have a false alarm, it won’t wake the entire house. The second alarm, meant to alert the parents, is VERY loud. I actually tested this alarm out myself by holding my breath and can attest to this.

This is actually one feature of the Oma Sense that I really appreciate over other baby breathing monitors. You can actually test out the device yourself, which increases your peace of mind.

*I should note that Levana does not and cannot claim that this device prevents SIDS.

“I did get the alarm to go off so I could hear it. The first one that startles the baby is not loud, but the actual alarm is AMAZINGLY loud. It’s also loud enough to hear through the baby monitor.”

False Alarms

If you’re anything like me, your main concern with a baby movement monitor is false alarms. The last thing you want to deal with after you’ve finally convinced your baby to go to sleep, is a head-splitting false alarm. During my research of the device, I did find that a couple users that complained of a false alarm. However, during our entire 7-day testing period, we didn’t have a single one. I’m not sure what the story is behind those negative reviews, but I’m willing to bet that placement may have been the issue.

Battery Life

I’m sure this is your next biggest concern: how long does the battery last? 

The downside to avoiding dangerous cords is that you become dependent on batteries. Having to worry about the device dying when your baby is sleeping is a real concern, so we made sure to keep an eye on the battery usage while testing.

The device runs off a Panasonic 3V battery. Ideally, this battery will last for 30 days, but it really depends on your usage.

For this Oma Sense review, my tester turned off the device after every use. We still haven’t received a low battery indication. When it comes time to replace the battery, you can use the spare Levana provided.

I think this is where the Oma Sense could improve though. In the future, I would love to see it equipped with a rechargeable battery or possibly have an additional indicator that represents how much battery life is left.

How Does the Oma Sense Compare to Its Competitors?

OMA SENSE	SNUZA HERO	OWLET SOCK 2
Detects Breathing Movement: YES	Detects Breathing Movement: YES	Detects Breathing Movement: YES
Detects Heart Rate: NO	Detects Heart Rate: NO	Detects Heart Rate: YES
Detects Oxygen Levels: NO	Detects Oxygen Levels: NO	Detects Oxygen Levels: YES
Skin Required: NO	Skin Required: YES	Skin Required: YES
Wifi Required: NO	Wifi Required: NO	Wifi Required: YES
Price: $	Price: $	Price: $$$
Age Requirements: Up to 6 months	Age Requirements: Up to 6 months	Age Requirements: Up to 12 months

Hopefully, by now you have a decent idea of what to expect from the Oma Sense.

But how does it compare to the competition? 

As a new parent, you might be having difficulty choosing which baby breathing monitor to buy. That’s completely understandable! There are so many to choose from and the differences are very, very subtle. 

I would say that the Oma Sense’s main competitors are the Owlet Sock 2 and the Snuza Hero. Both devices monitor your baby’s breathing movements and both are manufactured from reputable companies. Let’s dig in to some of the differences!

The Owlet Sock 2

The Owlet Sock 2 is comprised of three components: the sock that wraps around your baby’s foot, the base that reads the signal from the sock, and your phone. In addition to breathing movement, the Owlet also detects your baby’s oxygen levels and heart rate via pulse oximetry. 

The Owlet Sock 2 requires WiFi in order to access your baby’s breathing data and receive notifications, while the base relies on bluetooth frequencies to communicate with the sock. 

All of these features come with a hefty price. Right now, the Owlet Sock 2 is listed at $299.

The Snuza Hero 

The Snuza Hero is the most comparable competitor to the Oma Sense. Like the Oma Sense, the Snuza Hero clips onto your baby’s diaper or pants, and monitors his breathing movement. When the Snuza does not detect movement after 15 seconds, it vibrates and lets out a little tone. 5 seconds later, it will emit an alert for the parents. 

There are a few key differences between the Snuza Hero and Levana’s Oma Sense.

First, you’ll notice the difference in size and shape. The Snuza Hero is oblong, with a silicone tip, while the Oma Sense is closer to a circle and flat. Personally, I favor the Oma Sense’s shape, simply because it doesn’t touch the baby as much. Because the Snuza Hero requires constant contact with baby’s tummy, some parents have complained about rashes or sores developing over time.

The Snuza Hero’s clip design is also different from the Oma Sense’s. Parents seem to have two main issues with the plastic clip design. The first, and most popular, is that the clip fails to latch correctly to the baby’s diaper, resulting in shifting and even falling off. This can lead to several irritating false alarms. Secondly, some parents have noticed that the clip’s plastic edges are jagged, resulting in skin irritation.

Aside from design differences, the Snuza Hero boasts a couple additional features, such as an audible tick, a separate alarm for less than 8 breaths a minute, and the ability to blink with every breath.

The Snuza Hero is manufactured in South Africa, whereas the Oma Sense was created and built in Canada. 

The Snuza Hero is considered the Oma Sense’s direct competitor and is priced slightly lower before you factor in my $20 coupon code.

The Oma Sense by Levana Review: Is the Oma Sense Right for You?

Who the Oma Sense is Best For

If you’re a new parent on a budget and you desperately want some peace of mind, the Oma Sense is perfect for you. It will accurately read your baby’s breath movement and may even help prevent terrible situations.

The Oma Sense is also perfect for parents that have sketchy internet and are even a little leery about letting these frequencies surround their baby.

Who the Oma Sense Isn’t For

You’ll notice that my tester and I have very little negative comments in this review. That’s because the Oma Sense is supposed to do one thing and it does it very well. 

Still, it’s not for everyone. 

If you think you meet any of the criteria below, then please keep searching. You won’t be happy with the Oma Sense and you’ll be mad at me for recommending it.

• You’re a techy: The Oma Sense does not offer a phone app or any data at all. It’s completely self-contained.
• Your baby is older than 6 months: It will not read properly on a mobile child.
• Tummy sleepers or side sleepers: While my tester did get the Oma Sense to work when her baby was on her tummy, this does dramatically increase the likelihood of false alarms.
• You bed-share: The device may pick up your movement, rendering it useless.

My Final Thoughts on Levana’s Oma Sense

Before you purchase the Oma Sense (or any baby monitor, for that matter), try to take a good, hard look at the features that matter the most to you. If your main concern is finding a reliable baby movement monitor, I can’t recommend the Oma Sense enough. 

My tester and I were very impressed with the Oma Sense’s capabilities. We’d recommend it to any parents looking for a straight-forward baby movement monitor, especially those with a limited budget. 

So, are you ready to purchase the Oma Sense? You have great timing. September is actually Baby Safety Month and Levana is running a promotion all month! Use the code, SAFETYMONTH, to save a total of $40 if you’re a US customer (retail $79.99), or $50 if you’re purchasing in Canada (retail $99.99).

In the meantime, I really hope this review helps you understand some of the Oma Sense’s features and how it compares to the competition. If you have any experience with the Oma Sense, Owlet Sock, or the Snuza, I know our readers would love to hear from you! Let us know your thoughts and questions in the comments below.

Good luck and get some rest!

There’s no doubt, the meet and greet with your potential pediatrician is an important appointment. During this time, you’ll be assessing everything that makes your doctor a viable candidate: his philosophies, qualifications, staff, location, and even his personality. 

There’s a lot of factors to consider when you’re looking for a pediatrician, so coming prepared is the best move you can make. 

In last week’s post, we talked about how to find a pediatrician, including the most important factors to consider during your search and how to find one in your network. I also launched a free medical binder printables to help streamline the process (you can download that below).

In this post, we’re going to take a deeper look into the interview process, namely what questions to ask a pediatrician, what questions to ask before the meet and greet, and how you can inevitably choose the best candidate.

Speaking as a first time parent who’s been exactly in your shoes, let me reassure you: by interviewing your pediatrician you are saving yourself a lot of grief. While there may not be a perfect pediatrician, there is an excellent one waiting for your family. 

And guess what? You’re already on the right path to finding her.

RELATED POSTS: 

• How to Choose A Pediatrician Perfect for Your Baby
• The Ultimate Breastfeeding Class by Milkology Review (The Only Online Breastfeeding Class I Recommend!)
• How Skin-to-Skin Can Boost Your Newborn’s Development

The Best Questions to Ask a Pediatrician at an Interview

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the links I will make a small commission at no charge to you. I only recommend what I trust. Blunders in Babyland does not diagnose, treat, or give out any professional advice for any medical conditions.

What is a Pediatrician 

If you’ve made it to the interview process, I’m willing to bet that you’re already familiar with what a pediatrician is. Having said that, before you walk into the interview, it’s important to note that you can actually choose three different types of practitioners to serve as your child’s primary care provider. 

Pediatricians

The first, and most common, is an actual pediatrician. Pediatricians are doctors that specialize in infant, adolescent, and teenager care. They will have the most experience with child-related illnesses and injuries. Ideally, they’ll have the best bedside manner as well.

Family Doctor

Family doctors focus on all age groups and possess a very diverse knowledge-base. Choosing a family doctor can be extremely convenient (less paperwork and you can schedule your checkups together), but they are less focused on children by default. When choosing a family doctor, you will want to make sure that he actually takes on young, new patients.

Nurse Practitioner

You can choose a pediatric nurse practitioner (or even an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner). Like pediatricians, pediatric nurse practitioners focus solely on infants, adolescents, and teenagers. They are qualified to perform most functions of family doctors or pediatricians, but may need to consult for complex conditions or illnesses.

Personally, I had a pediatric nurse practitioner and I loved her. I enjoyed the personal care she gave my daughter and she was very knowledgeable. 

When to Interview Pediatrician

If You’re Pregnant

If you’re expecting a new bundle of joy, the best time frame seems to be between 28-34 weeks. That gives you enough time to schedule a meet-and-greet with your top three professionals, if necessary, and avoid any early delivery scenarios. 

If You Have a Newborn

If you’re the proud new parent of a newborn, you need to find a pediatrician ASAP. It’s very important to meet with your baby’s pediatrician about a week after he is released from the hospital to check his growth.

Signs You Should Find a New Pediatrician

Now, let’s say you’ve been going to the same family doctor for years, but you’re not really getting the vibe that he is the best choice for your child. Don’t second-guess yourself.  Here are a few signs that you need to look for a new pediatrician:

• Doctor dismisses your concerns
• High wait times, long wait lists
• Unfriendly staff
• Inconvenient hours or location
• Doctor doesn’t seem to keep up with current practices
• He makes your child uncomfortable (this is different than stranger danger!)
• He disagrees with your philosophies in a disrespectful way.

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How to Find a Pediatrician

If you haven’t already asked your friends, family, and OB-GYN for recommendations, that should be your first move. Word of mouth is seriously valuable as long as you ensure that the pediatrician is still taking clients and is covered under your insurance network. Alternatively, you can use your insurance company’s “Find a Doctor” tool or the AAP’s search tool.

What to Look for in a Pediatrician

One last thing to consider before we get into what questions to ask a pediatrician: what exactly to look for in a pediatrician. We go over how to find a pediatrician and what exactly to look for in much more detail in this post, The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Perfect Pediatrician, but here’s some of the basics:

Convenience

Sometimes, it’s worth the 45 minutes drive for a great pediatrician. However, generally speaking, you’ll want to find one nearby. 

You should also check the practice’s availability, including their regular hours of operation, available nurse lines, and after-hours consultations. During the first 3 years of your baby’s life, you’ll visit the doctor a minimum of nine times (and trust me, this is the minimum).

Friendliness and Professionalism

Your doctor doesn’t have to be outrageously outgoing, but you should at least feel comfortable with him. If he’s not overly friendly, at least make sure that he’s courteous and listens to your concerns.

A pediatrician’s level of professionalism often trickles down to his staff. If the staff is rude over the phone or in person, you may want to consider a different pediatrician. 

Credentials and Services

Though not required, it is helpful to find an ABP or AAFP board-certified physician. This certification goes above and beyond the minimum requirements of practicing medicine, and ensures that your pediatrician is informed. 

If your child has a special condition, make sure that your pediatrician is not only trained, but experienced in that field.
Also, you may want to look at the services offered at the practice, such as same-day sick appointments, walk-ins, what tests are offered, and any special requirements needed for your child. 

Medical coverage and/or Payment System

You don’t want to break the bank every time you visit the doctor’s office. Make sure that your candidates are a part of your insurance network before making the interview with the pediatrician.

If you don’t have an insurance plan, ask the staff about their payment plan options or any uninsured patient discounts.

Philosophy and personality

At the heart of it all, the interview questions for a pediatrician should determine how well you jive together. If you don’t get along with your pediatrician or have zero commonality, you’ll both be miserable. 

Make sure you feel comfortable expressing your concerns and opinions with your pediatrician. Even if he doesn’t agree, he should listen and respectfully say his peace. However, if you disagree on several important issues (for example, your doctor pushes formula when you’ve decided to breastfeed), it may be time to move on.

Questions to Ask Before Interviewing Pediatrician

You will want to do your homework before you even set up the interview. A parent-pediatrician relationship should be one of mutual respect. Pediatricians are very busy, so figuring out the minute details beforehand will show her that you’re respectful of her time. 

Before the interview, you should know:

• Office hours ( you may need to ask the pediatrician about after-hours care or consultations)
• How they handle billing and insurance
• Doctor’s credentials, including any disciplinary actions (Google {State} medical disciplinary actions). Most of the time, your doctor’s credentials can be found on Vitals.com, Healthgrades.com, or her healthcare network’s website. 

Hey, Mama. Are you pregnant and on a budget? Don’t let that keep you from taking a childbirth course! I highly recommend checking out the Birth It Up Online Class from Mommy Labor Nurse. Whether you’re planning on giving birth naturally or with an epidural, you can learn everything you need to know for under $40! Check it out!

How to Set up the Meet and Greet 

I highly recommend calling the office to set up the meet and greet, rather than using any online appointment system. When you think about it, this is the first time you’ll get a gauge on the office staff. It’s an important call!

Stumped on what to say?

Simply explain that your are a parent/future parent and you’re interested in setting up a consultation to get to the know the pediatrician. Most of the time, the staff is completely understand. However, if they balk at the idea of a meet-and-greet or claim that you need to set up a first patient visit, you may want to keep looking.

Keep in mind that most offices do charge for this consultation, which may or may not be covered under your insurance policy. 

Personally, I would set up three interviews. You may not attend all three, but if the first interview is a flop, you won’t be scrambling to schedule another one. Most of the time, the office will let you cancel with 24 hours notice.

The Best Questions to Ask a Pediatrician at a Meet and Greet

Okay, you’ve made it this far!

 Now it’s time to get into the good stuff: questions to ask a pediatrician at a meet and greet. Some of these questions are pretty straight-forward, but there are a few that have a little more nuance.

1. Tell me about your practice. 

This is an open-ended question designed to gauge what’s most important to your pediatrician and get a feel for his personality. Don’t try to fill the silence, let him talk about his practice and what matters most to him.

2. If you’re unavailable, who can I see or talk to about my child’s illness?

Urgent care clinics are expensive and you have no idea what you’re walking into. You want to make sure that if your pediatrician is on vacation for two weeks, you can take your child to someone that your pediatrician trusts.

3. Does your practice provide after-hours consulting? 

It’s 2AM and your baby has a raging fever. Should you take him to the ER or wait it out until morning? 

An after-hours nurse line or consultation line can answer that question fairly quickly. If your pediatrician doesn’t have this service, you should ask how long it will be before you can expect a call-back. 

4. Do you offer walk-ins or same-day sick appointments?

Most practices offer same-day appointments for infants or children with acute illnesses. Double-check this fact before making your decision. If the clinic doesn’t offer that service, they should refer you to a good nearby walk-in clinic. 

5. What’s your philosophy on {vaccines, infant antibiotics, circumcision, baby weaning, breastfeeding, sleep training, etc}.

Hands down, one of the most important questions to ask a pediatrician: what’s your opinion on…

Don’t go crazy here, but do focus on the controversial issues that are most important to you. 

If you’re looking for extreme and disrespectful opinions. For example, if your doctor is adamantly against sleep training and criticizes you for practicing it, this is an indication you should move on. However, if he states his opinion professionally and respectfully, you may not have any issues.

You really need to use your discretion here. Your pediatrician will be your greatest ally and source of information for a long time. 

6. Why did you choose pediatrics?

When I first became a mom, I saw another blogger recommend this question. I chickened out of asking it because it felt a little too personal. Now, I wish I had. 

The answer to this question is an excellent indication of how committed this pediatrician is to her practice and how passionate she will be with your child.

7. Are your imaging or testing centers in our network as well?

Ideally, the practice will be able to do x-rays, urine samples, and blood tests in-house. However, if this isn’t the case, it’s a good idea to check out the locations the pediatrician requires you to use. 

8. Do you have children?

Just like question 6, this is one of the more awkward questions to ask a pediatrician.

The point isn’t necessarily that your doctor has children of his own and is qualified to make diagnoses of children. You’re just trying to get a gauge on his personality and passion. Try to ask it as organically as possible.

9. Do you have any experience with {insert your baby’s special circumstances}.

If your child has special needs, you want to make sure that you find the professional most qualified to care for them. This is a non-negotiable. 

10. If pregnant, ask the newborn checkup at the hospital. 

If your doctor isn’t able to provide this service, most of the time it’s not a deal-breaker. Many hospitals have pediatricians on-call that can perform this checkup. However, do make sure that you can bring your baby in within 5 days of leaving the hospital.

SHORT ON TIME? PIN IT FOR LATER!

Questions to Ask Yourself

Cleanliness

Does the facility offer sanitation stations? Are the parking lots, rooms, and lobbies well-kept? What about the play area? Your kid will spend a lot of time in those play areas, sharing germs with other children. Make sure that the facility is up to snuff.

Friendliness

Look at the supporting staff. Were the nurses and office admin friendly? Did they get you in on time? Don’t forget that this place seriously affects your child as well. If the vibe is cold and unfriendly, your child may pick up on it. 

Knowledge

On paper, many doctors share the same qualifications. However, that doesn’t mean they share the same experiences. How did your doctor do answering your questions? Was he confident and informative or did he balk at the interview process? 

Also consider if he seemed up-to-date on his practices.

Comfort

How comfortable did you feel asking these questions? Did you feel rushed? If you were respectful of the doctor’s time, you should not have felt pressured. Mostly, you want to feel heard. If your doctor seemed bored, unresponsive, or belittling, this is probably not a good fit.

Don’t Forget the Purpose of the Meet and Greet

Are you noticing a common theme here?

The interview isn’t so much for assessing the pediatrician’s professional qualifications but making sure she’s a great fit for you. On paper, most pediatricians can do the job, but you want to do more than find a qualified pediatrician. You want to find the best one for your family, right?

That requires some of the box questions that dive into who your doctor is as a person and a professional.

What Are Some of Your Favorite Questions to Ask a Pediatrician?

I sincerely hope this list helps your interview with a pediatrician go smoothly. This is an important decision, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a big deal. You’ve got this! 

If you haven’t already checked out my post on How to Find a Perfect Pediatrician and downloaded your FREE Baby Medical Binder Printables, please do! I think it’ll really make the process so much easier. 

And, if you’re reading through this and you have a few of your own questions you’d like to add, I’d love to hear from you! Let’s support each other!

Good luck!

RELATED POSTS:

• How to Choose A Pediatrician Perfect for Your Baby
• The Ultimate Breastfeeding Class by Milkology Review (The Only Online Breastfeeding Class I Recommend!)
• How Skin-to-Skin Can Boost Your Newborn’s Development

During your baby’s first year of life, you will visit the doctor’s office at least six times.

In many ways, your baby’s pediatrician will become an integral part of your new parenting life. You’ll discuss your baby’s medical concerns (and there will be concerns), you’ll trust them with your baby’s health, and they’ll have a direct influence on your most important choices.

As new parents, my husband and I struggled to find the right provider for our daughter. We actually switched providers when she was 3 months old just to begin the search again when we moved across the country. Finally, I think we’ve finally hammered out this meticulous process.

If you’re struggling to find the right pediatrician for your newborn or unborn baby, I get it. Choosing a pediatrician is hard. It’s one of the first difficult decisions you’ll make as a new parent and there’s so much riding on it.

And that, my friend, is where this ultimate guide comes in. I compiled this guide so you can easily learn how to choose a pediatrician for your baby. 

We’ll unpack the entire process of finding a great pediatrician, including how to search for one, when to search for one, what qualities to look for, and the extremely important questions to ask a pediatrician at a meet and greet.

I also created some handy Baby Medical Binder Printables that you can download for free!

By the end of this post, I hope you’ll feel much more comfortable and confident about this process. We both know how important your choice is, so let’s get right to it.

RELATED POSTS: 

• How to Get Your Baby on the Perfect Sleep Schedule
• What to Do When Your Baby Has the Flu
• The Ultimate Breastfeeding Class by Milkology Review (The Only Online Breastfeeding Class I Recommend!)
• How Skin-to-Skin Can Boost Your Newborn’s Development

The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Perfect Pediatrician

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the links I will make a small commission at no charge to you. I only recommend what I trust. Blunders in Babyland does not diagnose, treat, or give out any professional advice for any medical conditions.

What Are Pediatricians?

If you’re anything like I was before coming a mom, all of the medical jargon might sound a little confusing. Let’s break it down.

Simply put, pediatricians are doctors that specialize in children’s health. They only treat babies, adolescents, and teenagers. 

Because of this specialization, they are considered the experts in the field. 

From here, pediatricians can focus on sub-specialties. Most likely, you are looking for a primary care pediatrician. However, if you have a newborn with special needs, you might search for a pediatrician that sub-specializes in your baby’s ailments or conditions (we’ll get into that in a minute).

ABP Board-Certified

Ideally, your pediatrician will be ABP (American Board of Pediatrics) board certified. In order to gain this certification, they will need to pass the ABP’s extensive exam and continue passing every 7 years.

Why is this so important?

Technically, obtaining an ABP board certification goes above and beyond normal licensing requirements. It shows that your pediatrician is passionate about his work and committed to learning about the most current medical recommendations and treatment. 

Pediatricians vs. Family Physicians

Before we dive into how to choose a pediatrician, let’s talk about the practitioners you can select. The biggest question is, should you use a pediatrician or family physician?

Honestly, family doctors and pediatricians are both excellent choices for primary care. 

So, what’s the difference? Why would you seek out the aid of a pediatrician if you have a family physician that you’ve been seeing since you were in diapers?

Family Physicians

Family doctors  see a host of patients at varying ages. They are well-rounded professionals that deal with acute illnesses as well as chronic conditions. However, this need for diversity and flexibility may not allow them to specialize in infant care.

They may or may not be up with the times on current pediatric trends. They may not even enjoy working with small children.

Having said that, you absolutely can find a family physician that loves working with small children and is completely up-to-date. Many of these physicians take their own board-certification exam from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Once again, this is a voluntary certification that clues you in to your doctor’s level of commitment and passion for the field. 

 If you do select a family practitioner, you’ll enjoy the convenience of scheduling appointments together, simplified billing and paperwork, and having a doctor that is intimately acquainted with your entire family. 

Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

Let me throw one more medical professional at you: pediatric nurse practitioners.

This professional is a registered nurse that specializes in pediatric care. At minimum, a pediatric nurse practitioner must obtain a master’s degree in nursing and must be board certified for pediatric care. Nurse practitioners are trained to perform most of the primary functions as pediatricians, such as wellness visits, diagnosing some illnesses, administering vaccines, and other medical consultations. Some may even sub-specialize in breastfeeding consultation.

There are many benefits to choosing a nurse practitioner; typically, they are allowed to spend more time with their clients, can be less expensive, and provide wholesome, individualized care. A nurse practitioner’s availability can also be more open. 

During my own quest to learn how to choose a pediatrician, a pediatric nurse practitioner wasn’t even on my radar.

Then, my daughter was diagnosed with a tongue tie and our search for someone to perform the frenectomy led us to our nurse practitioner. We loved her and switched from our current pediatrician immediately. We never regretted our choice!

Having said that, if your baby does have special needs or is a high-risk infant, you will need the care of a pediatrician or family physician. A nurse practitioner can consult or refer to a specialized doctor, but may not be qualified to help patients with severe or complex medical disorders.

SHORT ON TIME? PIN IT FOR LATER

When to Find a Pediatrician

Should You Find a Pediatrician While You’re Pregnant or After the Baby is Born?

Finding a pediatrician for a newborn is a lot more difficult than finding a pediatrician for an unborn baby. 

Once you give birth, you’re going to be bone-tired. During the first couple weeks, your sole focus should be recovery and caring for your new baby. 

The trouble is, your newborn needs to visit a pediatrician 3-5 days after leaving the hospital. The last thing you want to do is begin the arduous search for your first pediatrician immediately after giving birth.

Begin your search around 28-30 weeks. That should give you a few weeks to conduct any research or interviews. That will also give you ample time to update your birth plan with your new pediatrician’s information.

RELATED POST: The Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy Classes

How to Find a Pediatrician: Step-by-Step

Referrals

If you’re still pregnant, your first go-to should be your OB-GYN. If you like your OB-GYN’s bedside manner and personality, chances are she’ll be able to direct you to someone similar. Best of all, her referral may be in the same provider network, which can eliminate insurance or paperwork complications.

Your friends can also point you in the direction towards excellent providers, just be aware that their doctors may not be accepting new patients.

Search Engines

Personally, I love using my insurance provider’s “Find a Doctor” tool. Most insurance providers offer this tool on their website.

My insurance provider’s tool allows me to specifically search for pediatricians that are “in-network” within a 10 mile radius of my house. My insurance provider even shows a cost and quality rating associated with the practice.

If your insurance doesn’t provide this tool or their customer service won’t refer you to a provider, the AAP offers a similar (albeit less expansive) tool.

Screen Your Candidates

Once you find a pediatrician, cross reference with Google to research their client satisfaction, practice hours, and education history.

Many healthcare networks publish bios or interview videos of their doctors on their website. Check it out to get a feel for your doctor’s personality. 

Healthgrades.com and Vitals.com are also great resources for checking out reviews from current and former patients. Many times, the pediatrician’s education background and credentials will be listed on these websites as well.

Finally, take a peek at your state medical board disciplinary action website to ensure that there aren’t any current or previous cases against your candidates.

Choose Three Candidates

Most likely, you will not to meet with all three. The first interview might be a slam dunk. Still, you’ll want to have a couple secondary choices in case things don’t click with your first.

Set Up a Meet and Greet

Call your top three candidates’ offices to set up a meet and greet. Similar to a job interview, a meet and greet will allow you to analyze the pediatrician and his office to determine if he’s truly a good fit for your family. 

Some of you might be tempted to skip this step, but I think it’s one of the most important things to know about how to choose a pediatrician. If you’re pregnant, I highly recommend scheduling a meet and greet. It will solve so many problems in the long run. 

If you’re already the parent of a newborn, and time is of the essence, I do understand why you might want to skip this step. Still, at least speak with an office staff member to ask some of the interview questions below. 

Keep in mind, you may need to pay upfront for a meet and greet. 

What to Consider When Choosing a Pediatrician

Geographic Location

On those days when your baby can’t stand his car seat, when your toddler is wailing from a nasty fever, or you’re just dealing with dangerous weather, you will be so thankful that your pediatrician is located close to home.

If you can, try to find a facility within 20 minutes of home. That way, if there’s traffic or bad weather, you won’t be committed to a terrible drive. 

Also keep in mind other influences, such as additional county taxes, parking, and seedy parts of town.

Availability 

Appointments

You may have found the perfect pediatrician, but if she’s not available when your baby needs her, what’s the point? 

Before even setting up your meet and greet, I recommend asking the scheduler or office staff what their typical lead time is for appointments. Keep in mind that most wellness visits can and do book a couple weeks out. However, make sure that the office offers same-day or even next day appointments for sick babies.

Also consider your pediatrician’s office hours. Many pediatricians are now available until 6 or 7pm a few days a week and are even open on Saturdays.

You’ll likely visit the doctor’s office once a month for the first few months, so try to find an office with convenient hours.

Calls, Nurse Lines, and After-Hours Support

If it’s one thing you can trust, its that your baby will not adhere to a pediatrician’s office hours. 

A consultation line allows you to determine if an emergency room visit is necessary and save you from making unnecessary trips to the doctor’s office. Not to mention, after-hours support offers peace of mind. 

Also consider calls for general questions. Sometimes you can leave a doctor a message without hearing back for days. During your interview, ask about the lead time for general communication, like messages or emails. 

Hospital Network

Before deciding on your pediatrician, check out the hospital or healthcare association he’s affiliated with. This will tell you what hospital or other practitioners you will be recommended to. It can also give you an idea of the general beliefs and philosophies you can expect from your pediatrician’s office.

You may gain other advantages as well, such as health record and history availability and simplified billing.

Credentials and Specializations 

We already talked quite a bit about AAP or AAFP certification. Keep in mind your pediatrician’s sub-specializations as well. A few subcategories you might consider are:

• Neonatal-Perinatal Pediatrics
• Child abuse 
• Critical care
• Gastroenterology

A pediatrician’s educational background isn’t incredibly important (as long as they are truly a pediatrician!), but it can give you an idea of their experience, possible philosophies, and even years of practice.

Services Provided

Take a look at the services provided by your pediatrician’s office. Anything in-house will reduce inconvenient visits and minimize additional bills. 

 The main services you’ll want to look for are:

• Vaccinations
• Blood tests
• Breastfeeding consultations
• Physical and mental developmental monitoring
• Wellness visits
• Diagnosis of illnesses and diseases
• Sports physicals 
• Allergy care
• Urgent care or walk-in hours

Medical Coverage

Before you even schedule your meet and greet, ask the office staff if your insurance is accepted, what your upfront cost is, and get a general idea of their billing policies. Using your insurance provider’s “Find a Doctor” tool is a great way to take the guesswork out of the equation.

I’ve noticed that many people recommend asking the pediatrician about insurance and payments.

I do not think this is a question worthy of your meet and greet. Your pediatrician might have an idea about how the billing goes, but it’s a question better left to the staff that specializes in it.

Personality

At the end of the day, if you and your potential pediatrician aren’t vibing well, it should be a no-go. Even if the practitioner isn’t outgoing or overly friendly, he should at least be professional and open to answering your questions. 

Think about it; a pediatrician-parent relationship is long-term. In the first three years alone, you’re going to have at least nine checkups plus a myriad of phone calls and seemingly stupid requests. You should feel comfortable and confident voicing your concerns to this person.

Office Staff and Facility

A pediatrician is only as good as his staff and facility. If you’ve found the best pediatrician in the world, but you have to go through an army of rude employees to get to her, you’re going to walk away sooner rather than later.

Office Staff

The office staff should be helpful, friendly, and engaging. 

When you call to schedule your meet and greet, ask a few preliminary questions about the practice. This will be your first tell of the staff’s mentality. As long as you’re respectful with their time, the staff should have no problem answering your questions.

However, if they treat the conversation with impatience, this could be a red flag (though not a deal-breaker yet). Every office has a Debbie Downer.

During your visit, watch how the staff interacts with the rest of the patients. Are they rude and robotic or empathetic and friendly? A grumpy crowd in the reception room can be a dead giveaway that something isn’t right with the practice.

The Facility

I despise taking my daughter to urgent care clinics. I feel like we walk out sicker than when we came in.

With that said, a clean facility can ensure your baby’s continued health. Sanitation stations, separate waiting areas for the sick, and general cleanliness are all tells of the care that the practice puts into their patients.

When you choose a pediatrician, you also gain the advantage of a kid-friendly environment. So, check out the general vibe of the practice. Is it decorated with kid-friendly pictures and colors? Are there toys and other forms of entertainment available? Or is it drab and barely maintained?

A happy, engaging facility can minimize your baby or toddler’s anxiety.

Philosophy 

If there is one thing that could (and sometimes should) axe a pediatrician-parent relationship, it’s a difference in philosophies. 

During your interview, you do not want to skirt around the issues that you strongly believe in. Ask about the pediatrician’s views on vaccinations, sleep training, co-sleeping, breastfeeding, developmental milestones, etc. 

However, keep in mind that a difference in opinion may not make or break your decision. 

You’re really looking for how they respect and respond to your opinion. I once had a pediatrician that was perfect in all ways, but she despised sleep training. She respectfully told me her opinion and, because this difference wouldn’t affect how we worked together, it never became an issue.

How your pediatrician explains her philosophies is just as important as what she believes.

RELATED POST: Sleep Training 101: The Sleep Training Methods Explained

Technology 

I might be the minority here, but the technological aspect of a pediatric practice is extremely important to me. I don’t have time to send checks or wait for two weeks for test results to arrive by snail mail. 

Accessing records, results, and bills online is not only incredibly convenient, but it’s essential to keeping everything organized. 

Do you think this will be a priority for your family? Check out your pediatrician’s website. His online system may not be essential when you consider how to choose a pediatrician, but it should at least be a consideration. 

Interviewing Pediatricians: Questions to Ask

I think the interview process is one of the most important aspect’s of learning how to choose a pediatrician. The questions you ask a pediatrician should be direct, insightful, and not waste anyone’s time. This shows the pediatrician that you respect his time and have already done your due diligence. 

This approach will require you to do a little bit of research before the meet and greet.

Before you schedule the meet and greet, call the pediatrician’s office, even if you have the option to make an appointment online. Explain that you are choosing a pediatrician and would like to ask a few questions about his office before setting up the consultation.

Questions to Ask the Office Staff Before the Interview

• Are you accepting new patients?
• Do you accept X insurance?
• If so, what’s your upfront cost? If not, do you have a payment plan?
• What is your lead time on general appointments?
• Do you offer same-day or walk-in care?

Once you’ve googled and questioned the staff to gain basic information, you can focus on the questions you would ask during the meet and greet. 

These questions are focused on uncovering the passion behind your pediatrician, making sure his philosophies are in line with yours, and ensuring that his services will be enough for your family.

Questions to Ask a Pediatrician

1. Tell me about your practice.
2. Why did you choose pediatrics?
3. If you’re unavailable, who can I see or talk to about my baby’s illness? 
4. Does your practice provide after-hours consulting? (If not, how long does it take to get a call-back?)
5. Do you offer walk-ins or same-day sick appointments?
6. What’s your philosophy on (insert hot topic: vaccines, antibiotics, circumcision, baby weaning, breastfeeding, sleep training…)
7. Are your imaging or testing centers in our network as well? (If the doctor doesn’t know, it might be a good idea to ask where you would be sent to.)
8. Do you have children?
9. Do you have any experience with (insert your baby’s special circumstances)
10. If pregnant, ask about seeing your newborn at the hospital. If your doctor isn’t able to provide this service, it may not be a deal-breaker. Many hospitals have pediatricians that can perform this checkup.

Learning How to Choose a Pediatrician Doesn’t Have to Be Difficult

I promise, it doesn’t!

Once you find that spectacular pediatrician, you’ll feel like a load has been lifted from your shoulders. You’ll be confident that your baby is in good hands and that you’re receiving the best advice possible.

Learning how to choose a pediatrician requires a little bit of homework, but the results are so worth it. 

Now that you’ve gone through the guide, I’d love to hear your opinions and experiences about choosing a pediatrician. This is such an important topic and I know our other readers would love to hear from you. Let us know in the comments below.

Finally, If you’re searching for more new mom tips, I hope you’ll take a look around the blog and join us on Instagram and Pinterest as well. On Instagram especially, I post super quick, helpful new mom tips that you don’t want to miss. 

Good luck with your search!

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• How to Get Your Baby on the Perfect Sleep Schedule
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What if I told you that with one hour a day, you can dramatically improve your baby’s mental and physical development?

As the benefits of skin-to-skin are uncovered, more and more parents and medical professionals are implementing this easy, natural strategy. Although you’ve probably heard about kangaroo care at some point, the actual concept and technique might seem a little confusing.

Welcome to the Ultimate Guide to Skin-to-Skin with Baby. I wrote this article for parents just like you that want to learn everything they can about this miracle technique. Here you’ll learn exactly what kangaroo care is, its benefits, and how you can safely and effectively implement skin-to-skin with your premature or full-term baby.

By the end of this article, I hope you’ll feel prepared and excited to use this unique bonding experience in your own life.

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• The Mama Natural Birth Course Review
• 7 Mistakes to Avoid if You Want to Go Natural
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Kangaroo Care 101: Benefits of Skin-to-Skin and How to Do It

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the links I will make a small commission at no charge to you. I only recommend what I trust. Blunders in Babyland does not diagnose, treat, or give out any professional advice for any medical conditions.

What is Skin-to-Skin or Kangaroo Care

Skin-to-skin refers to the practice of laying your infant on your chest, uninterrupted and without any barriers, for about an hour.

Ideally, this would happen immediately after birth, within the first hour (AKA the Sacred Hour, Golden Hour, or Magical Hour). The goal is to practice skin-to-skin for at least an hour, but moms have experienced benefits with as little as 20 minutes.

Kangaroo mother care, or kangaroo care for short, is considered an interchangeable term for skin-to-skin. However, kangaroo care often refers to the intensive, round-the-clock version used for premature or sick babies.

Dr. Edgar Rey, a pediatrician from a under-equipped, overcrowded hospital in Bogota, Columbia, researched the technique in a desperate attempt to lower infant mortality rates. Essentially, he developed kangaroo care as an alternative to using an incubator.

Dr. Rey found that when the mother or father laid their baby on their bare chest for an uninterrupted amount of time, the baby would not only stay warm, but be much more likely to survive and grow.

In fact, using this practice, Dr. Rey was able to send his preemies home sooner and eliminate much of the overflow in his hospital.

If you haven’t read Dr. Rey’s story , it truly is an inspiring tale worthy of your time.

When is the Best Time to Do It

Ideally, you’ll want to practice skin-to-skin during continuously during the first hour of your baby’s life, “the Sacred Hour”. As long as you and baby is stable, he should be placed on your chest the moment he’s born. For the most part, providers are willing to check his vitals while he’s on your chest and perform the measurements at a later time.

There’s some debate whether your baby should be dried before skin-to-skin. When your baby receives skin-to-skin directly from the birth canal, he will still be covered in the creamy biofilm, vernix.

Vernix has numerous benefits, including added protection from potentially harmful bacteria and increased colonization of good bacteria from your vagina and skin. 

Having said that, studies have found that washing your baby before skin-to-skin is more beneficial if you’ve been tested positive for Strep B.

Is it Too Late to Start Skin to Skin with Baby?

What if you didn’t get any skin-to-skin with baby during that Sacred Hour? Is it still worth it?

Absolutely!

Studies show that kangaroo care is still beneficial if it’s practiced any time during your baby’s first 24 hours of life. Many of the benefits we’ll go over below aren’t just from derived from the first hour of life. They stem from continuous skin-to-skin throughout your baby’s first three months of life. 

When to Stop Skin-to-Skin

The next big question: kangaroo care until what age?

Most experts believe preemies benefit from kangaroo care the most for the first 20 weeks of life. Full-term babies should receive regular skin-to-skin until about 3 months.

Really, it depends on you and your baby. By 3 months, your baby will most likely be mobile and very uninterested in snuggling.

Skin-to-Skin and C-Sections

By default, skin-to-skin after a c-section is shockingly low, so it’s important to have a discussion about it.

According to Evidence Based Birth, only 70% of uncomplicated c-sections result in skin-to-skin with baby within the first two hours of life. In these situations, the hospital staff will take the baby to a warmer, wipe him down, assess his vitals and measurements, and attend to you in a separate space.

However, in many situations, you can request to have immediate skin-to-skin even after a c-section.

In fact, without the flora from your vaginal canal encasing baby in a cover of good bacteria, skin-to-skin is more important than ever. Studies have actually proven that immediate skin-to-skin after a c-section can reduce complications for baby and you.

What do you do if you’re unable to provide skin-to-skin? 

That’s where dad or another family member can take over. As long as your baby is healthy, you can request that dad provides kangaroo care for your baby.

He may not be able to give baby the benefits of breastfeeding or vaginal bacteria colonization, but there are several benefits of skin-to-skin with dad that you don’t want to miss out on (we’ll go over those benefits in a minute).

If you’re planning a c-section and want to learn more about the benefits of skin-to-skin with baby, I highly recommend reading this article by Evidence Based Birth. The statistics surrounding c-sections and kangaroo care are absolutely astounding.

Skin-to-Skin with Premature Babies

Now we’re finally coming back full-circle: skin-to-skin with preemies. 

Kangaroo care is a powerful technique that is still used in overcrowded hospitals in South Africa and South America today. Practicing skin-to-skin allows mothers leave the hospital sooner, reduces infant mortality rates, and can regulate baby’s vitals more efficiently than an incubator. 

In addition, numerous studies have concluded that premature babies gain weight faster and even show stronger mental development even into adulthood. 

Having said that, it’s important to trust the medical advice of your doctor’s too. Skin-to-skin contact is absolutely important, but it should only be practiced once your baby’s life is no longer in danger.

Skin-to-Skin With Dad

If mom isn’t around to experience skin-to-skin with baby, your child can still reap these benefits with dad. 

Kangaroo care with dad not only allows baby to experience the benefits of skin-to-skin when mom needs to rest, but it’s an incredible bonding experience for new fathers. A study in Taiwan found that fathers who practiced skin-to-skin reported more of an emotional bond with their child and experienced less anxiety with handling their new babies. 

Skin-to-skin with fathers is actually linked with more parental confidence and increased involvement!

The Benefits of Skin-to-Skin

Regulates Baby’s Body Temperature

Research has found that skin-to-skin not only adequately regulates baby’s body temperature, but it actually works better than an incubator. Believe it or not, your breasts regulate your baby’s body temperature.

A study in Uganda found that mother’s exhibit “maternal autonomic nerve‐mediated skin vasodilatation.” Basically, the mother’s skin reacts to the presence of her baby and adjusts temperature accordingly.

Vernix can also assist with insulating and regulating your baby’s temperature. Remember, that’s the creamy biofilm that covers your baby when he’s born.

Improves Lung and Heart Function

Once your baby lays on your chest, his body starts taking its cues from yours. Studies have found that your baby’s heart rate stabilizes and oxygen levels increase dramatically during skin-to-skin contact. 

This phenomenon increases brain development and decreases infant mortality rates. In fact, there’s actually one miraculous tale of a mother who was able to revive her baby simply by using skin-to-skin. 

Improves Breastfeeding

This is one of those benefits of skin-to-skin that you and your baby will continue to reap for the first year of his life.  Research has shown that babies who have early skin-to-skin breastfeed around 3 weeks longer than babies without regular skin- to-skin. 

There’s a couple reasons for this:

When your baby is first born and laid on your chest, he’ll instinctively begin the breast crawl. The breast crawl is exactly like it sounds; your baby will gradually scoot and slide up your chest, instinctively nuzzling and feeling for your nipples. This process stimulates your colostrum production, increases the likelihood of your baby’s ability to latch, and even helps you expel your placenta quicker.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Continued skin-to-skin will increase your milk supply and can even improve your baby’s latch.  One Swedish study concluded that latching problems are much more likely to resolve with consistent skin-to-skin contact. 

Note: If all of this breastfeeding terminology is confusing, I highly recommend taking the Ultimate Breastfeeding Class. It’s an online breastfeeding class that teaches you everything you need to know for under $20. I took it, loved it, and can’t recommend it enough!

Transfers Good Bacteria

During baby’s first few months of life, his immune system will be severely compromised. Your body is capable of giving him the essential immunities and “good bacteria” he needs to survive. One study showed that while most of the beneficial bacteria in a breastfed baby’s digestive tract comes from his mother’s breast milk, 10% actually came from the skin on mom’s breast.

Your skin contains helps good bacteria colonize, which helps with the decolonization of any bad bacteria festering in your baby. 

Your baby can also receive good bacteria from your vaginal canal, which is why some experts recommend practicing skin-to-skin before washing.

(That is, unless you’ve been tested positive for Strep B).

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Reduces Stress and Crying

When baby is contentedly snuggling with your breasts or chest, he’s producing oxytocin (the love hormone). This hormone, in turn, reduces the production of cortisol (the stress hormone). Babies that receive the benefits of skin-to-skin are usually found to deal with stress better, cope with pain easier, and cry less overall. 

Blood Sugar Regulation

This benefit of skin-to-skin leads to the next: stabilizing blood sugar. Because skin-to-skin increases your baby’s oxygen saturation rate, his glucose levels are increased as well. Glucose is an essential component to regulating your baby’s blood sugar. Studies have also found that newborns that experience skin-to-skin are less likely to be obese or develop Type-2 diabetes, possibly due to this process.

Secures Bonding for Baby and Mom

You’ve probably heard about this benefit time and time again: kangaroo care helps you form a beautiful bond with your baby. 

During the Sacred or Golden hour, something primal happens. Not only does your body begin to produce oxytocin, but your baby connects with you for the first time. He goes into this state of awareness where he looks deeply into your eyes. You’re the first face that he becomes familiar with and that is a powerful association. 

This bond is not only stronger during the newborn phase, but also into toddlerhood as well.

Increase Weight Gain

Kangaroo care has been found as an effective treatment for a preemie’s low weight gain. There are actually a few reasons for this: 

1. Regulation: When your baby is burning precious calories trying to maintain his body temperature, he’s not conserving those calories for growth.
2. Increased Interest in Breastfeeding: As we already discussed, a baby’s sense of smell is heightened. He will be able to smell your milk and naturally grow hungry, increasing the amount of feeds. Not only that, but during skin-to-skin you become much more aware of baby’s needs and will have the ability to offer more milk.  

Reduced Risk of Anxiety and Postpartum Depression

We’ve talked a lot about baby, so this skin-to-skin benefit is for mom.

Snuggling up to your baby is literally the cure for a bad day. One study found that moms practicing 6 hours of consistent skin-to-skin during baby’s first week of life and two hours a week over the next month reported fewer postpartum depression symptoms. 

That’s because, just like for your baby, skin-to-skin produces increased levels of oxytocin, which lowers the stress hormone, cortisol. Not only that, but parents that practice kangaroo care are often more confident and aware of their baby’s needs, which can make anyone happy.

Supports Brain Development

Preemies that received the benefits of skin-to-skin not only had increased levels of brain development during infancy, but as far as 10 years down the road.

In fact, an Israeli study performed by Bar Ilan University found that infants that received skin-to-skin contact showed better cognitive problem-solving skills. Not only that, but some studies have found that these babies possess more gray brain matter!

Scientists are still trying to discern exactly the cause of this phenomenon, but they believe that the increased circulation, oxygenation, improved sleep, and more positive tactile experiences. 

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How to Do Skin-to-Skin

Hopefully by now you’re all fired up to try some skin-to-skin with your baby. Let’s get into how to do it!

Practicing skin-to-skin contact with baby is a natural process and very easy to do, but you will need to prepare beforehand to make sure you’re doing it safely and effectively.

Some parents prefer to use kangaroo care shirts. Basically, these are stretchy shirts with a built in pouch for your baby to lay in. They allow you to be more mobile and/or hold your baby more securely. However, even if you do use a kangaroo care shirt, you’ll want to follow the guidelines and steps listed below.

Preparation

Ideally, skin-to-skin sessions will last for about an hour. Make sure that you’re fully prepared to sit for that hour. Make sure that you’ve used the bathroom, eaten, and taken care of all other business before you begin. Here are just a couple things to consider:

• Avoid harsh chemicals or perfumes- Babies are particularly sensitive to scents. Plus, part of skin-to-skin involves letting your baby get used to your scent and increasing his appetite for breastmilk. Perfumes or harsh soaps seriously hinder this process.
• Shower- If you’re doing skin-to-skin with a premature baby, shower first and ensure that there are no wounds open on your chest.
• Wear loose-fitting or easily accessible clothing- There should be no barriers between you and baby (except for a diaper).
• Set the mood- Finally, more for your sake than baby’s, set the mood of the room. A calming space will help you relax and truly enjoy the experience. 

Undress Baby and Lay Him on Your Bare Chest

If your baby is just arriving, you can obviously skip the undressing part of this step!

Otherwise, undress baby down to his diaper. Rememberm, you can wear clothes as long as they don’t hinder the skin-to-skin contact between you and baby. Any layer of clothing between you and baby will hinder this process. 

Once baby is undressed, lay him on your chest or between your breasts. You can put a blanket on baby’s back to keep him warm or use a cap as well.

What to do During Kangaroo Care

Bonding is sweet and all, but sometimes kangaroo care can get a little boring. Just keep in mind that this is relaxation time for you and baby. Try not to engage in any activity that is too stimulating, such as watching tv, playing with your phone, or chatting it up with your visitors. Focus on restful, quiet activities, like reading a book or talking softly to your baby. 

Some experts say that it’s okay to fall asleep while doing skin-to-skin, as long as you’re supervised. I would check with your practitioner first to see what she thinks. 

Safety tips for Skin-to-Skin

Get Supervision

If you think there’s any chance that you’ll fall asleep while practicing skin-to-skin, you should have someone else with you.

If you’re doing skin-to-skin right after giving birth, you’re going to be a little tired. Falling asleep unsupervised can put your baby at risk for falling or getting crushed. Participation with your spouse, family member, or even a nurse in the room with you allows you to safely enjoy skin-to-skin to its fullest without endangering your baby.

Skin-to-skin with baby with a breathing tube will most likely need to professional supervision as well.

Protect Baby’s Airway

The best way to ensure this position is for you to sit in a reclining chair or with some pillows propped behind you. Make sure your baby’s head is turned sideways, flat on your chest, not facing upward or into your skin. If you plan on practicing skin-to-skin, it’s a good idea to check out the AAP guidelines.

The Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Are Still Being Discovered

Harvard recently conducted a meta-study of 124 skin-to-skin studies. They found that there was a 36% decrease in mortality rates and 47% decrease for getting a sepsis infection. These results surpassed varying income levels and different standards of care. The validation for skin-to-skin care is only growing.

As providers in our own country learn about the medical benefits of this practice, kangaroo care is becoming more and more mainstream. Having said that, it’s important that you become your own advocate for skin-to-skin.

Here are just a few ways you can become your own skin-to-skin advocate:

• Speak with your provider now about implementing immediate skin-to-skin contact.
• Request immediate skin-to-skin in your birth plan
• If planning a c-section, speak to your surgeon about a “gentle c-section”.
• Share this article with your partner so you’re both in the loop

Skin-to-Skin reaps Lifelong Benefits

In this post, we’ve looked at the scientific side of skin-to-skin quite a bit. Let’s not forget the emotional aspect. These small moments with your newborn are precious. I hope you’re excited to try skin-to-skin with your little one. It truly is an amazing experience that you’ll treasure for years to come.

In the meantime, if you have any comments or questions about kangaroo care, we’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below.

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A positive baby sleep environment is an important cornerstone of sleep training that’s often overlooked. When we think about infant sleep, it’s easy to get distracted by books, schedules, and training methods.

Not to mention, if your baby is unhappy with his current accommodations, it’s totally easy to miss. Our babies can’t tell us that they’re hot or cold or can’t stand the incessant hum of the TV downstairs. The only clue we have is continuous crying and disrupted sleep.

In this post, I’m going to help you create the perfect sleep environment your baby wishes he had. We’re going to talk about why positive sleep environments for babies improve their sleep habits and how you can (easily) create one in your home.

Are you ready to finally get more sleep? Let’s get started!

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• How to Get Your Breastfed Baby to Sleep Through the Night
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The New Mom’s Guide to Creating the Best Sleep Environment for Babies

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the links I will make a small commission at no charge to you. I only recommend what I trust. Blunders in Babyland does not diagnose, treat, or give out any professional advice for any medical conditions. 

What is a “Positive” Baby Sleep Environment?

Chances are, your nursery already contains the beginnings of a great sleep environment. If not, it’s so easy to create one.

A positive baby sleep environment is simply a quiet, cozy place that encourages your baby to fall asleep, stay asleep, and achieve restorative rest.

Location doesn’t matter so much as consistency and environmental factors.  Meaning, even if your newborn sleeps in your walk-in closet, as long as he sleeps there consistently, and it meets the recommendations below, it can totally be a great sleep environment.

An ideal baby sleep environment usually focuses around five factors: temperature, sound, lighting, sleep surface, and safety. Below we’re going to go over easy ways you can optimize these factors to help your baby sleep.

Why Your Baby Needs a Positive Sleep Environment

There’s a lot of misconceptions to how and where your baby should sleep. You’ve probably already heard the advice, “your baby should be able to sleep anywhere.”

The idea behind this concept is to discourage touchy sleepers. Unfortunately, laying your baby down in any old place can actually hinder his sleep. 

Just think about it. How do you, as an adult, sleep when you’re surrounded by bright light, distracting noises, and uncomfortable surroundings? You might eventually fall asleep, yes, but that kind of environment doesn’t promote the restorative rest you need to rejuvenate. 

A baby is just getting used to life outside the womb. During this terrifying new stage of life, consistency and structure will help him adapt better. Laying your baby down in a dark, comfortable place allows him to predict this new routine and fall asleep easier. 

RELATED POST: 7 Things that are Ruining Your Baby’s Sleep

A Bad Sleep Environment Can Cause Disruptions to Sleep

Just like adults, babies tend to sleep fitfully when they’re uncomfortable. So, not only can a poor baby sleep environment prevent him from falling asleep, but it can cause him to wake up more often and feel less rested.

Cue the cranky baby. 

Here are just a few signs that your baby’s sleep space could use some improvement:

• Baby is overheated or cold
• He wakes up every hour or two but not hungry
• Wakes too early in the morning
• Can’t fall asleep

5 Simple Ways to Create the Perfect Baby Sleep Environment

Temperature

Your baby’s room and body temperature should be monitored to reduce the risk of SIDS. Not only is the wrong temperature dangerous, but it can be very detrimental to your baby’s sleep. 

Just think about how impossible it can be to fall asleep in an uncomfortable climate. Adults can simply turn on a fan or move their foot out from under the covers. Babies don’t have this option.

If they’re bundled up too much, their only chance of a reprieve lies in crying. It’s up to us to ensure that baby is in a comfortable climate that promotes the best sleep.

You’ll need to do a little bit of detective work to see if your baby is overheating or cold. 

Many babies have cold fingers and toes. The most accurate way to check is to feel baby’s chest. If his chest is chilly, that’s a sure sign that you need to adjust the thermostat or add some layers. 

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Signs of overheating are a little more obvious. Keep an eye out for the most common symptoms:

• Sweaty palms and pits
• Heavy breathing
• Heat rash
• Flushed face
• Damp hair

Now that you’ve established whether your baby is hot or cold, you need to adjust either his clothing or the room temperature to optimal baby sleep environment standards.

RELATED POST: How to Swaddle a Baby That Hates Being Swaddled

Room Temperature

Ideally, your baby’s room should fall between 68-72 degrees.

Speaking from personal experience, constantly monitoring the temperature in your baby’s room is downright exhausting. If you have the capability of installing a smart thermostat like the Nest, I would highly recommend it. Otherwise, a digital thermostat that is either synced with your phone or in sight of your baby monitor is a great alternative. 

Clothing

Figuring out the exact combination your baby needs can require a little experimentation. Some babies are very sensitive to warm materials, such as flannel or fleece. Others need their feet uncovered during the night. 

Below is just an example of what worked with my own daughter. My daughter ran a bit on the overheated spectrum, so light layers and a cool room temperature worked best for her. You need to experience a little trial and error before you find out what’s right for your baby.

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Lighting

As your baby develops, his circadian rhythm will too. A baby’s circadian rhythm is essentially the biological clock that regulates his sleep cycle. This cycle is stimulated by different environmental factors, but namely sunlight and temperature.

You can help your baby develop his circadian rhythm by simulating a dark environment for his naps and nighttime sleep. 

Figuring out the degree of darkness you need to invest in can take some trial and error. For some babies, a pair of curtains or shades is more than enough to create a peaceful baby sleep environment. However, other babies are very reactive to sunlight.

My daughter, for example, wakes up at the first hint of sunlight. I’m convinced that if I didn’t have two levels of light blockage in place, she’d still be a 6AM waker. 

If you throw up some shades and your baby is still waking up or having trouble falling asleep, try investing in some blackout curtains. They are very inexpensive on Amazon (or Costco) and they work great. If you don’t have the money for faux blinds or blackout curtains, you can also tape opaque construction paper to your window. 

RELATED POST: What to Do When Your Baby Wakes Up Too Early

Nightlights

A fear of the dark doesn’t generally develop until the toddler years. So, if you don’t need a nightlight in your nursery, it’s totally okay to skip out on one. 

Many moms use a nightlight for those late-night feeding sessions. When you select a nightlight, try to avoid blue-tinted bulbs. Blue light waves actually suppress melatonin production and can hinder your baby’s sleep.

A Final Note on Melatonin

You’ve probably heard about melatonin, the miracle hormone that helps your baby fall asleep.  Some parents believe that you should let your baby nap in sunlight to help him produce melatonin during the day.

This technique has a major flaw: your baby’s main priority during nap-time is to rest. Day time rest is essential to your baby’s mental and physical development.  Sunlight actively suppresses melatonin production, which can disrupt this rest.

As long as your baby is safely exposed to sunlight during the day, his circadian rhythm will develop with time. 

Sound

Sound is another essential player in the development of your baby’s circadian rhythm.

To fall asleep, your baby’s sleep environment should be quiet and peaceful. This tells his little developing circadian rhythm that it’s time to go to bed. 

A quiet space will also help your baby stay asleep. Your newborn may be able to sleep through anything and everything now, but once the 4 month sleep regression hits, you will probably have quite the opposite experience.

This sleep regression marks the permanent transformation of your baby’s sleep cycles. Approximately 45 minutes after your baby falls asleep, he’ll transition into deep restorative sleep. During this transition period, he is much more susceptible to waking up. If there’s a fair amount of noise surrounding your baby’s nursery, he may not be able to continue napping.

Now, if you’re starting to worry that your home requires absolute silence, don’t!

I’m talking about disruptive, jolting sounds such as the television, dog barking, yelling children, or fireworks. If disruptive sounds are infiltrating your baby’s sleep space, it might be a quick fix. Most sound enters a room from the gap underneath the door. Installing a toe kick or weather stripping can be a quick fix. 

White Noise Machines

If your baby is still having trouble sleeping, the solution might be to add noise.

White noise machines emit a steady, low frequency sound similar to radio static. These sound waves dull the louder, more disruptive noises in your home.

White noise machines come in several varieties. Personally, I loved the Skip Hop Owl Night Light. I used it as a night light for the duration of my breastfeeding days and still use the white noise function for my two year old. 

Sleep Surface

The comfort level of your baby’s sleep surface actually makes a huge  impact on the quality of your baby’s sleep. Your baby’s sleep surface should be flat, firm, and completely devoid of all blankets, pillows, or toys.

Having said that, your baby’s mattress should also be comfortable. Discomfort can be an issue particularly for older crib or portable crib mattresses. Check the structure of the mattress to ensure that there are no lumps or framing digging into your baby’s back. Just like us, lumps and bumps can cause backaches, making great sleep impossible.  

Safety

Great sleep starts with safe sleep, for you and your baby. A safe sleep environment not only ensures that your baby is able to sleep with security, but you can sleep more confidently.

Some of the concepts we’ve already discussed above (flat sleep surface, ideal room and body temperature), but there are a few other safe sleep guidelines you should keep in mind:

• Baby should sleep on his back
• Ensure that your home is cigarette smoke-free
• Room share for the first 6 months at least
• Independent sleeping is safer than bed-sharing
• Remove all loose bedding, including blankets, bumpers, pillows, stuffed animals, and loose-fitting sheets
• Make sure there are no strangling hazards near the crib, such as cords, strings, or wires
• Remove excessive clothing (bibs, hats, or loose swaddles) before bedtime

RELATED POST: Review of the Baby Breathing Monitor: The Cocoon Cam Plus

What’s Your Experience with Sleep Environments for Babies?

Hopefully by now you feel a little more confident about optimizing your baby’s sleep space.

With a few quick changes to your baby’s room, you can dramatically improve his sleep. Plus, if you’re reading this before your baby is born, you’re way ahead of the curve. 🙂

If after all this, you’re still experiencing sleep troubles, feel free to check out the rest of our baby sleep posts and download a free copy of our sleep schedule bundle.

There’s a sleep troubleshooting worksheet included that I think you’re going to love.

There are so many nuances to infant sleep that even experts don’t understand. If you have any experience creating the perfect baby sleep environment, I know the rest of our moms would love to hear from you. We need all the inspiration we can get!

Have fun creating an awesome sleep space, Mama! Good luck!

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• How to Get Your Breastfed Baby to Sleep Through the Night
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