You probably know it from your own bed – if the bed is not inviting, the room is comfortable, and the surroundings are quiet, it can be difficult to find the calm to fall asleep.
The same applies to your baby, who needs to feel relaxed and safe to fall asleep.
The Bed
The bed should be arranged so that it is nice, safe, and calm. There should be something to look at – but it is not a play mat. Therefore, keep the bed calm and ensure that it is not used as a “timeout” area during the day.
A good tip is to have things in the bed that your child only finds in the bed. The favorite teddy bear naturally goes everywhere, but if you also keep toys and sleep items separate, your child will not associate the bed with a playground.
If the bed is placed in a drafty area, it might be a good idea to use a bed rail or have other protection against drafts. For the same reason, children and babies should always sleep elevated off the floor and never directly on a mattress on the floor. The bed rail can also provide your child with more calmness because it shields against the surroundings outside the bed.
The Mattress Must Be New, Clean, and Firm
Mattresses for small children should be new, clean, and firm, because a worn or dirty mattress can pose a significant health risk.
When the mattress becomes too soft, your child's face can sink into the mattress and thereby prevent breathing. Thus, it is VERY important to choose a mattress that is specifically intended for your child's current size, so you are primarily sure that breathing is not obstructed – and equally important to ensure that the child gets a good night's sleep, as sleep is a large and important part of the child's overall development.
At the same time, a dirty mattress can stir up bacteria and other things that your child then inhales while sleeping. You can certainly use a second-hand mattress – perhaps from an older sibling – as long as you ensure that the mattress appears clean and firm, thus providing the perfect foundation for a good night's sleep.
Bedding is Like for Adults – We Think
It is never a shame to create the best possible conditions for the child – and our guess (yes, it is a guess) is that your child appreciates something nice and quality bedding just as much as you do.
At the same time, it is certain that babies and children can be a little more fragile than the rest of us – and this also applies to small particles and similar. Therefore, we recommend that you change your child's bedding at least once a week – especially if the child is challenged by, for example, asthma or allergies.
If your child has either asthma or allergies, it is very important to be cautious – and in principle, you can follow the advice even if your child does not have them, as this way you avoid irritating the child's skin and airways; thus creating the best conditions for the child not to GET asthma at a later time.
Regarding the bedding , it is of course important to buy it in good quality, produced from lovely materials – and preferably where you are sure that it has not been exposed to chemical materials during processing. You can ensure this by buying GOTS-certified and/or organic bedding. At Mammashop, we carry some VERY nice bedding from Done by Deer, which is super nice and organic. The same goes for bedding from Sebra and all the lovely bedding from Cam Cam Copenhagen.
When it comes to washing the bedding, it is almost a study in itself. First and foremost, it doesn't help much to invest in something lovely, organic bedding if later you wash it with a detergent that is not organic and contains harmful substances – therefore, pay close attention to what is in your detergent – and avoid all the harmful substances that may be in the detergent.
If your child is also allergic to pollen, it is a good idea not to dry the bedding outdoors when the pollen season is upon us – this way, you avoid exposing the child unnecessarily to pollen during the night.
